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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM. 034s III N �Q N 11 MERLE K. LAI * /t •�'�'. • # Council Member - -, • • , N COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Hawaii County Building Hilo, Hawaii 96720 March 7, 1979 Mr. Kimiaki Sakata, Chairman and Members _ Charter Review Commission - 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, 'Hawaii 96720 Attached is Resolution 379 which was passed unanimously by the • County Council on Wednesday, March 7, 1979. The resolution endorses any legislation requiring more openness in the adminis- tration of the basic functions of our governmental system. The reason for this submission is that pending before the present State Legislature are Bills, which if approved will allow all the legislative branches of this State to adjourn into caucuses 1 and informal gatherings to formulate legislative decisions. This is in my opinion contrary to the Sunshine Law requirements 1 - and more importantly, it violates our Hawaii County Charter, Section 13-20. It is my hope that the Charter Review Commission will not only uphold but even make clearer without threat of challenges provi- sions of the Charter that call for open meetings. To allow caucuses in Hawaii County would erode our present Charter, which was approved by the voters of the Big Island and has been upheld by our court. Thank you very h u i 4"1.4 3 PA % - M rle K. Lai UNCILWOMAN CC:+.M. NO ==.:..,. --' a • County of Hawaii--State of Hawaii Resolution No. 379 • WHEREAS , the administrators and the policymakers of our governmental system have all been endowed with the public trust and have accepted the responsibility toward the develop- ment of a responsive and accountable form of government; and WHEREAS , . modern technology in communications has vastly improved the public awareness and participation on many controversial issues; and WHEREAS , in the past, government bodies have been .castigated for their decision-making proceedings , especially those conducted without proper public notices and attendance; • and WHEREAS , Section 13-20, Records and Meetings Open to the Public, Hawaii County Charter, has mandated that all meetings of the Council , Boards and Commissions shall be held in openness to the public, except as to matters affecting the privacy of an individual; and WHEREAS , the members of the Hawaii County Council feel that openness in government will assure the public of a responsible body of elected and appointed officials and it will also incite more public trust in their decisions . NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE • COUNTY OF HAWAII , that it endorses any legislation requiring more openness in the administration of the basic functions of our governmental system. • • • • 411 • BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Clerk of the County of Hawaii transmit copies of this resolution to the Honorable Richard S .H. Wong, President of the Senate, the Honorable James H. •Wakatsuki , Speaker of the House of Representatives , the Honorable Dennis O' Connor, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee, and the Honorable Dennis Yamada, • Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Tenth Legislative Session, State of Hawaii. Dated at Hilo, Hawaii , this 7th day of March , 1979. INTRODUCED BY: ;2 ' : COUN ,•`L MEMBER, COL' OF HAWAII (E„? „ "f„ fer zr‘ - WILLIAM S . KAWAHARA - ABSENT & EXCUSED • • . COUNCIL MEMBERS , COUNTY O1 HAWAII • ROLL CALI VOTE COUNTY COUNCIL - AYES NOES h/E County of Hawaii I4iIo, Dchlberp X Hawaii • Domingo X Fujii X I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION was by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County.of Hawoii on Dacia }C , ICEi e.harn X March 7 , 1979 Lei X �Samoshimo �X ATTEST: Tnjiri X Chr. Yomnthlro �X e Com. �� Z2) -C�� � �( \04..4. katefO�cei C-1O57/FC-127 R R. LEOAIIP1 .5 [Ilia.; K. Y :!'A A.mif O coUNTY CUR I nim nn &.I'rc. d' g Officer 379 UT ION NO.