Council to Take Another Look at Ethics Bill

In a move that would bring the spotlight back onto a bill relating to the Board of Ethics, the Hawai’i County Council decided Monday to take another look at introduced amendments in January.

The ethics bill, initiated by Kohala Council Woman Margaret Willie, is an amendment to article XIV, Section 14-5 of the Hawai’i County Charter, relating to the Board of Ethics.

Under the initially introduced amendment, the Board of Ethics would increase its membership from five members to nine, decrease member’s terms from five years to four, add council district residency requirements, and allow each of the council members the opportunity to nominate two individuals from his or her council district to serve on the board. One of these individuals would be appointed to the Board by the mayor, pending Council confirmation.

The Finance Committee, made up of all nine members of the Council, had issues with the amendments in early December, when the committee voted two to six against the bill.

County Council members will take another look at the bill during their Jan. 22 Council meeting.