1999-02-20 Charter Commission Minutes

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INTRODUCTION OF COMMISSIONERSPage 2 of 29 of the 13 bargaining units – 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9 and 13. It might not mean much to you at this point. I was born and raised in Hilo and am non-partisan. STEVE BESS: I am Steve Bess, originally from Honolulu. Came to the Big Island in 1972, worked for the Corporation Counsel’s office, was the Corporation Counsel. Went into private practice for four years. Went back to Honolulu and worked for Kaiser Development Company, Benford. Now I am with Parker School. I work with Parker Trust as well as Parker School. KEVIN BALOG: I am Kevin Balog. I moved here when I was three years old so I’ve been here 31 years. Raised in Hilo, got married and moved to Paauilo. I am the past president, president and vice-president of the Honokaa Business Association, all at one time or another I’ve been on the Planning Commission. I’m a Lion Club Member and involved in a lot of different community organizations. I work for DeLuz Trucking. MARNI HERKES: I am Marni Herkes and I’m President of the Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce. I’ve lived on the Big Island for close to 50 years. I have three kids that live on the west side of Hawaii. I have been involved in a lot of different community activities, one of which is the League of Women Voters, and I’m still involved in a lot of community activities, which will come up as we go along. JOHN SANTANGELO: I am John Santangelo from Ka’u. I served on the Council for two years. I’ve been in Hawaii since 1966 and I immigrated to the Big Island in 1975. I’ve owned a business for twenty-some years in Ka’u with my wife. I’ve served on almost every community organization that comes up in Ka’u from Little League to PTA, and I am very honored to be sitting here with a group such as you all. I think the Mayor put together a heck of a group. NEW BUSINESS RUDY LEGASPI: We have Richard Wurdeman, our Corporation Counsel to brief you on three items. RICHARD WURDEMAN: I’ve been asked by Rudy to talk to you about three subjects that will affect you. First, the Financial Disclosure Law. Those of you who have been with the County before know there is a requirement that a statement be filed. It’s a pretty general statement. You make your entries by code letters, which relate to various categories. It really should not be any problem, although these matters by ordinance are kept by the Ethics Commission and are confidential unless brought up by the Ethics Commission pursuant to a complaint, you really have to assume that whatever you put down may become public. So if there really is something that you don’t want known, make your own decision. SANTANGELO: Richard, in reference to this, people like John and myself who just filed, do we have to do it again? WURDEMAN: I would say yes, it’s a different position. Any questions on that? Second, the Sunshine Law. As a commission set up to do very important business, you are subject to Chapter 92 of HRS, which is commonly called The Sunshine Law. Essentially that means that all of your proceedings have to be in public, in the open, and properly noticed. There some exceptions. Before I get into the exceptions, let me say that there is a lot of people in this County who come to all kinds of meetings with all kinds of opinions about the Sunshine Law and sometimes these opinions, to be quite frank about it in my opinion, are merely rendered to file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 2-20-99.html7/1/2011