HomeMy WebLinkAbout2008-01-09 Board of Ethics Agenda
BOARD OF ETHICS
101 Aupuni Street, Suite 325, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720
A G E N D A
Wednesday, January 9, 2008 – 10:00 a.m.
101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230
(Conference Room)
Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720
1. CALL TO ORDER
2. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes of the December 12, 2007, Regular Session.
Minutes of the December 12, 2007, Executive Session.
4. COMMUNICATIONS
The Board’s Informal Advisory Opinion that incumbents using County funds for mail-
outs within six months of an election may constitute an unfair advantage as defined by
Section 2-83 of the Ethics Code.
5. NEW BUSINESS
Board-initiated inquiry and possible investigation/hearing regarding whether it is a
violation of the Code of Ethics for Council members to use County funds to pay for
newspaper advertisements. The Board will consider a formal resolution, pursuant to Rule
5.2 of the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Board of Ethics, to determine whether
an investigation shall be conducted and a hearing held concerning an alleged violation of
the Code of Ethics by various Council members in using County funds to pay for
newspaper advertisements. If the resolution is passed, the Board may investigate the
matter and hold a hearing immediately thereafter, or may schedule a hearing for a future
meeting date. The Board may also consider issuing an informal advisory opinion
concerning this matter. (Includes Communication Nos. 2007-131, 2007-132, and 2007-
133, letters from Lincoln Ashida, Corporation Counsel, on the issue, and Communication
No. 2007-130, from Emily Nae‘ole.)
6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a.Report on status of Ethics Guide for Hawai‘i County Officers and Employees booklet.
b.Report on status of Board’s request for a time limit for incumbents who are seeking
reelection in an election year on sending campaign literature using County funds.
c. Report on status of Board’s request for authority from the Council to fine officials
and employees who violate the Code of Ethics.
d. Further review and discussion on the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Board of
Ethics,including:
(1) Further discussion on updating or developing a special code of conduct for Board
of Ethics members.
e. Ongoing discussion on the Sunshine Law.
7. EXECUTIVE SESSION
Review of Confidential Financial Disclosure Forms filed pursuant to Section 2-91.1(d),
Hawai‘i County Code, by County board and commission members, where personal
matters will be reviewed:
Name Board or Commission
Takashi Domingo (re-review) Planning Commission
Wayne Joseph Board of Ethics
Sean Oda Pension Board
Shelly Ogata Planning Commission
David Omura Pension Board
Paulette Pavao (re-review) Environmental Management Commission
Emma Yoshiko Sousa Pension Board
Michael Sumja Police Commission
8. ANNOUNCEMENT
The next monthly meeting of the Board of Ethics is scheduled for February 13, 2008, at
10:00 a.m. at the Department of Liquor Control’s conference room at 101 Aupuni Street, Suite
230, Hilo.
9. ADJOURNMENT
NOTE: If you require an accommodation or auxiliary aid and/or services to
participate in this meeting (i.e., sign language, interpreter, large print), please call
961-8304, ext. 101).
NOTICE TO LOBBYISTS
If you are a lobbyist, you must register with the Hawai‘i County Clerk within five days of becoming a
lobbyist (Article 15, Section 2-91.3(b), Hawai‘i County Code).
A lobbyist means “any individual engaged for pay or other consideration who spends more than five
hours in any month or $275 in any six-month period for the purpose of attempting to influence legislative
or administrative action by communicating or urging others to communicate with public officials.”
(Article 15, Section 2-91.3(a)(6), Hawai‘i County Code.)
Registration forms and expenditure report documents are available at the Office of the County Clerk-
nd
Council, Ben Franklin Building, 333 Kilauea Ave., 2 Floor, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720.
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