MINUTES

ETHICS COMMISSION

CITY AND COUNTY OF HONOLULU

 

Date and Place:            January 20, 2004

                                    Standard Financial Plaza

                                    Conference Room, Suite 211

 

Present:                        Robin D. Liu, Chair

                                    Lex R. Smith, Vice Chair

                                    Lolinda D. Ramos

                                    Raymond H. Fujii

                                    Susan Heitzman

                                    Robert J. Fishman

                                    Charles W. Totto, Executive Director and Legal Counsel (EDLC)

                                    Matthew J. Viola, Esq., Staff Attorney

Stenographer:               Norm Fisher 

 

I.       CALL TO ORDER

 

         The 371th meeting of the Ethics Commission (Commission or EC) was called to order at 11:45 a.m. by the Chair.


II.      APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION OF  
         THE NOVEMBER 25, 2003 OPEN MEETING

 

         The minutes of the open meeting of November 25, 2003, were unanimously approved.

 
III.    OLD BUSINESS

         A.     Setting the date(s) and time(s) of the November and December meetings

 

                  The EC confirmed the meeting for February 23, 2004, at 11:30 a.m. and March 22, 2004 at 11:30 a.m. in the Standard Financial Plaza Conference Room, Suite 211.

 

IV.   NEW BUSINESS

 

         B.     FY 2005 Budget

 
                 The EDLC reported that FY 2005 budget will be set at the same amount as the prior year.  This amount will not include the additional $20,000 that was requested.

 
         C.     Status report regarding the Revised Gifts Guidelines

  

                  The EDLC reported that Guidelines were transmitted to the Managing Director’s office from Corporation Counsel for minor changes. 

 
         D.          Further report on Resolution 03-240 to authorize the Ethics Commission to
                  impose civil fines

 
                 The EDLC directed the EC to a copy of his testimony on the resolution.  The EDLC reported that the resolution was passed out of the Executive Matters Committee on January 15, 2004. 

 

                 The EC moved into executive session to pursue confidential matters and seek the advice of its attorney.
 

V.     EXECUTIVE SESSION SUMMARY

       
        A.    Approval of the minutes of the executive session of the November 25,
                2003 meeting

               The minutes of the executive session of November 25, 2003 were unanimously approved.

         B.        Report regarding a request for advice whether a city officer may claim a door 
                 prize, the value of which is over $200, under RCH Sec. 11-102(a) and ROH
                 Sec. 3-8.8(b) (gift cap)

 

                 The EC reviewed facts contained in a letter dated January 12, 2004 from Corporation Counsel, and facts provided by the EDLC.  After discussing the matter, the EC moved to recommend that the city officer not accept the door prize because it would likely create an appearance of conflict of interest or special treatment.

VI.    ADJOURNMENT

                  The meeting was adjourned at 1:15 p.m.