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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2020_0417_BOE OP Minutes APPROVED COUNTY OF KAUAI Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Approved as amended 5/19/2020 Board/Commission: BOARD OF ETHICS Meeting Date April 17, 2020 Location Teleconference Start of Meeting: 1:00 p.m. End of Meeting: 3:52 p.m. Present Chair Mia Shiraishi, Vice Chair Susan Burriss, Secretary Mary Tudela. Members: John Latkiewicz, Dean Toyofuku. Also: Deputy County Attorneys Todd Jenson, Charles Foster. Boards & Commissions Office Staff: Administrator Ellen Ching and Administrative Specialist Anela Segreti. Excused Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call To Order Ellen Ching, Administrator, went over the meeting rules (on file). Chair Shiraishi called the meeting to order at 1:00 p.m. Roll call: Chair Shiraishi: present Vice Chair Burriss: present Secretary Tudela: present Mr. Toyofuku: present Mr. Latkiewicz: present Five members present, which constituted a quorum. Approval of Minutes Open Session Minutes of February 21, 2020 Mr. Latkiewicz moved to approve the minutes of February 21, 2020 as submitted. Mr. Toyofuku seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 Board of Ethics Page 2 Open Session April 17, 2020 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Communication BOE 2020-07 Written testimony from Ken Taylor dated February 2020 regarding letter from County Attorney, Matthew Bracken, dated February 6, 2020 regarding request for a response to Ken Taylor’s Communication dated January 17, 2020. Ms. Tudela moved to receive BOE 2020-07 for the record. Mr. Toyofuku seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 BOE 2020-08 Email from Madison Perry dated 2/27/2020 regarding recommendation to remove Councilmember Brun. Vice Chair Burriss moved to receive BOE 2020-08 for the record. Mr. Toyofuku seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 BOE 2020-11 Letter from Matthew Bracken, County Attorney, dated 3/12/2020 regarding Board of Ethics Impeachment Power. Mr. Latkiewicz moved to receive BOE 2020-11 for the record. Ms. Tudela seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Board of Ethics Page 3 Open Session April 17, 2020 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 BOE 2020-13 Possible conflict of interest dated March 11, 2020 from Council Chair Arryl Kaneshiro regarding C 2020-73 relating to Grove Farm. Vice Chair Burriss moved to receive BOE 2020-13 for the record. Ms. Tudela seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 Request for an Advisory Opinion None Business BOE 2020-12 Discussion and possible action regarding issuing a statement regarding Councilmember Brun. Ms. Ching read the draft statement into the record (on file), as well as an added statement from Secretary Tudela regarding the guide to ethical issues information (on file). Chair Shiraishi entertained a motion to approve. Vice Chair Burriss clarified that the motion is for the statement with amendment from Secretary Tudela. Ms. Ching asked Board to amend or withdraw motion to clarify the addendum is also approved. Chair Shiraishi clarified the issuing of the statement. Mr. Latkiewicz moved to approve BOE 2020-12. Vice Chair Burriss seconded. Mr. Latkiewicz moved to amend the motion to approve BOE 2020-12 with the addendum by Secretary Tudela at the end. Vice Chair Burriss Board of Ethics Page 4 Open Session April 17, 2020 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Ms. Ching suggested that it would be posted on the Board of Ethics webpage. She shared that she received other inquiries and will respond to those as well with the statement from the County Attorney (on file). seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 BOE 2020-03 Discussion and possible action by the Board of Ethics regarding letter from County Clerk, Jade Fountain-Tanigawa, dated January 31, 2020 regarding the 2019 County of Kaua’i Lobbyist Registration. Ms. Ching read the letter received from County Clerk (on file) in response to Boards letter for clarification (on file) into the record. Letter updated the Board on filings. She pointed out that Mr. Arakawa is current and Mr. Rietow is delinquent. Chair called for a motion on how to move on this information. Ms. Ching asked Deputy County Attorney for consultation. Todd Jenson, Deputy County Attorney, suggested sending a letter to the individual regarding complying with filing or forwarding a termination. Vice Chair Burriss moved to request Counsel to draft a letter for signature from the Chair on behalf of the Board of Ethics to Mr. Rietow. Secretary Tudela seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 Board of Ethics Page 5 Open Session April 17, 2020 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION BOE 2018-17 Discussion and possible action by the Board of Ethics to provide explicit recommendation(s) on how to improve the existing countywide disclosure requirement and to discuss and propose a fine schedule for non-compliance. Review and discuss HRS section 46-1.5(24), County of Honolulu Chapter 6 Ethics Board Sec. 3-8.5. Chapter 14 Ethics Board of Appeals. Ms. Ching asked County Attorney’s if they wanted to defer this item. Mr. Jenson stated that they are prepared to discuss this item, but will defer at the Chair’s discretion. Chair Shiraishi stated that the agenda is full and deferral would be best. Secretary Tudela moved to defer BOE 2018-17. Vice Chair Burriss seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 Disclosures Employees: 1. Ernest Barreira, Assistant Chief Procurement Officer Chair Shiraishi entertained a motion to approve. Hearing no discussion Chair Shiraishi called for the vote. 2. Michelle Lizama, Deputy Director of Finance Chair Shiraishi entertained a motion to approve. Hearing no discussion Chair Shiraishi called for the vote. Mr. Latkiewicz moved to approve the disclosure of Mr. Barreira. Secretary Tudela seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 Secretary Tudela moved to approve the disclosure of Ms. Lizama. Vice Chair Burriss seconded. Board of Ethics Page 6 Open Session April 17, 2020 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Volunteers: 3. Jan TenBruggencate, Charter Review Commission Chair Shiraishi entertained a motion to approve. Hearing no discussion Chair Shiraishi called for the vote. 4. Carolyn Larson, Kaua’i Historic Preservation Commission Chair Shiraishi entertained a motion to approve. Hearing no discussion Chair Shiraishi called for the vote. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 Vice Chair Burriss moved to approve the disclosure of Mr. TenBruggencate. Secretary Tudela seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 Secretary Tudela moved to approve the disclosure of Ms. Larson. Vice Chair Burriss seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Board of Ethics Page 7 Open Session April 17, 2020 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION 5. Melvin Chiba, Planning Commission Hearing no discussion Chair Shiraishi called for the vote. 6. Laurie Yoshida, Salary Commission Chair Shiraishi entertained a motion to approve. Vice Chair Burriss asked what it means when it says home address exempt. Mr. Jenson responded that they are not sure what this individual meant. He stated that the only exemption he is aware of is if a person is a victim of domestic violence or crime, there is an address protection program. He went over the requirement in the Charter that owned property, including home’s address must be disclosed as part of the disclosure. He suggested that the disclosure be sent back asking for clarification as to why their address should be exempt. Mr. Foster added that he checked case law, there is Nakano v. Matayoshi 68Hawaii148 that the State Supreme Court has weighed in on this and find it legal to disclose address. Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 Secretary Tudela moved to approve the disclosure of Mr. Chiba. Vice Chair Burriss seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 Mr. Toyofuku moved to approve the disclosure of Ms. Yoshida. Mr. Latkiewicz seconded. Board of Ethics Page 8 Open Session April 17, 2020 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Secretary Tudela shared that it is important to go back and ask for a clarification. She feels they need to vote no to approve. Ms. Ching stated that the motion could be withdrawn. Chair Shiraishi entertained another motion. 7. Gregory Kamm, Board of Water Supply Chair Shiraishi entertained a motion to approve. Vice Chair Burriss questioned if some of the information seems to be dropped off the forms. Anela Segreti, Administrative Specialist, responded that the form did drop off some of his responses and he addressed them by email which was read into the record (on file). Vice Chair Burriss was satisfied with the information. Mr. Toyofuku withdrew his motion to approve the disclosure of Ms. Yoshida. Mr. Latkiewicz withdrew his seconded. Secretary Tudela moved to return the disclosure of Ms. Yoshida for clarification on exempt home address. Vice Chair Burriss seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 Mr. Latkiewicz moved to approve the disclosure of Mr. Kamm. Mr. Toyofuku seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 Board of Ethics Page 9 Open Session April 17, 2020 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Board recessed at 1:44pm and resumed at 1:57pm Roll call: Chair Shiraishi: present Vice Chair Burriss: present Secretary Tudela: present Mr. Toyofuku: present Mr. Latkiewicz: present Five members present. Deputy County Attorney, Todd Jenson-present Deputy County Attorney, Charles Foster-present Executive Session Pursuant to Hawai’i Revised Statutes §92-4, §92-5 (a) (2) and (4), §92-6 (a) (b), the purpose of this Executive Session is to consult with the Board’s legal counsel on issues pertaining to Resolution 2019-1 to consider the evaluation, dismissal or discipline of an employee or officer of the County in which charges have been alleged against an employee or officer where consideration of matters affecting privacy will be involved; provided that if the individual concerned requests an open meeting, an open meeting shall be held;, the Board’s and the County’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and /or liabilities as they may relate to this item, deliberate and take such action as appropriate. ES-014 Executive Session Minutes of February 21, 2020 ES-016: BOE 2020-12 Pursuant to Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) Sections 92-4 and 92-5(a)(4) the Board requests an Executive Session with the Office of the County Attorney to consider questions and issues pertaining to the Board’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities and liabilities as it relates to Councilmember Arthur Brun. ES-015: BOE 2020-09 Pursuant to Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) Sections 92-4 and 92-5(a)(4), and Kaua‘i County Charter Section 20.05(B), the Office of the County Attorney, requests an Executive Session with the Board, to provide the Board with examples of code amendments providing for fines for failure to file disclosure statements. This briefing and consultation involves providing legal advice and discussion on the amendments and documents as they relate to this agenda item. Board of Ethics Page 10 Open Session April 17, 2020 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION ES-017: BOE 2020-10 Report, discussion and possible action on Resolution 2019-1 for an investigation under Rule 6.2 into an allegation that an employee or officer of the County has breached the Code of Ethics as set forth in the Kaua'i County Charter section 20.02 A and E, the Kaua'i County Code 1987, as amended by June 2019 Code Supplement, Article 1, Section 3-1.4 and 3-1.6. No officer or employee of the county shall: a. Solicit, accept, or receive, directly or indirectly, any gift, whether in the form of money, service, loan, travel, entertainment, hospitality, thing, or promise, or in any other form, under circumstances in which it can reasonably be inferred that the gift is intended to influence the officer or employee in the performance of the officer or employee’s official duties or is intended as a reward for any official action on the officer or employee’s part. b. Use county property for other than public activity or purpose. The Chair entertained a motion to move into Executive Session. The Board moved into Executive Session at 2:03pm. Vice Chair Burriss moved to go into executive session. Secretary Tudela seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 Return to Open Session The board resumed in Open Session at 3:49pm Roll call: Chair Shiraishi: present Vice Chair Burriss: present Secretary Tudela: present Mr. Toyofuku: present Mr. Latkiewicz: present Five members present. Board of Ethics Page 11 Open Session April 17, 2020 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Ratify Board actions taken in Executive Session. Secretary Tudela moved to ratify decisions made in Executive Session. Mr. Latkiewicz seconded. Roll call vote: Chair Shiraishi: aye Vice Chair Burriss: aye Secretary Tudela: aye Mr. Toyofuku: aye Mr. Latkiewicz: aye Motion carried 5:0 Announcements Next Meeting: Friday, May 2020 – 1:00 p.m., Location TBD Vice Chair Burrisss asked about next meeting date. Ms. Ching stated that the Board will be notified of the date. Vice Chair Burriss raised the question regarding receiving communication on ES-017: BOE 2020-10. Board will receive for the record at the May meeting. Adjournment Without objections Chair Shiraishi adjourned the meeting at 3:52pm Submitted by: Reviewed and Approved by: Anela Segreti, Administrative Specialist Mia Shiraishi, Chair ( ) Approved as circulated. ( X ) Approved with amendments. See minutes of 5/19/2020 meeting.