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official in an impeachment action. I found that unusual, it's not in the other Charters, and I <br />looked at the Oahu Charter. My experience is that a lot of times you might perform an act <br />that is within the scope of your duties, and some people may not be happy with that and may <br />very well move to try and impeach you. In one situation Councilmembers accepted some <br />funds from the State for marijuana eradication. It was sort of a "pass through" to the Police <br />Department, but because they accepted the funds and because some people felt that there <br />were insufficient program reviews of the whole program, there was an actual court case to <br />impeach the Councilmembers. The Councilmembers themselves could not be represented by <br />Corporation Counsel; they had to defend themselves on their own in Court. <br />If you understand the way the State contracts, when they pass through money to the counties, <br />they'll include a phrase in there that there is no indemnification from the state. So, they want <br />you to do something, and they'll give you the money even if it's "pass through" money from <br />the Federal Government, but they'll stick in a clause saying there is no indemnification. Not <br />only did the Councilmembers have to defend themselves personally against impeachment, <br />which they won, but they were also exposed to personal liability. I think it creates a "chilling <br />factor" for the Councilmembers to perform their duties. Whether you agree or disagree with <br />what they did, I think they should at least have the ability to be represented by the <br />Corporation Counsel if they're performing duties within the scope of their job. And in that <br />case, I believe they were. Those are the only two amendments that I have. Thank you. <br />CHR. HAITSUKA: I have a question for you, Mr. Kimura. In the materials that you gave us <br />today there is a proposed resolution from the Honolulu City Council, and there is some <br />language underlined. Is that the language that you want us to look at and consider? <br />MR. KIMURA: Pretty much, except for the title of the County. I think it says City and <br />County of Honolulu and for Hawaii it would just be Hawaii County. <br />CHR. HAITSUKA: Any other questions for Mr. Kimura? Thank you. Next we have <br />Brenda Ford in Kona. <br />(At this time Brenda Ford addressed members of the Charter Commission by videoconference form <br />the Kona County Council Office.) <br />MS. FORD: Good afternoon, I'm Brenda Ford. I'm speaking on Communication CA -4, <br />ARTICLE XII, Removal of Elected Officers. I'm speaking on two different Chapters. <br />Chapter 1 is on Recall. This section definitely needs some definitions in it. Some things that <br />are in the body of the Chapter need to be defined in a better matter. I think that it is <br />important that if somebody is recalled, they not be allowed to re -enter office. Currently, <br />vacancies are filled- -and the section I'm about to refer to needs to be amended too - -by the <br />County Council, or, if we cannot do it in 30 days, by the Chairman of the Council. I <br />personally think that a special election should be held if there is more than six months left in <br />the term of office for someone who has been either recalled or impeached. If somebody is <br />recalled, I think they should not be allowed to enter an elective office for at least four years. <br />And if a vacancy needs to be filled, and it's more than six months, I think a special election <br />3 <br />