Council chief slams Cabinet’s ‘condescending’ acts

City Council Chairman Ernie Martin said he was insulted by the behavior of some members of Mayor Kirk Caldwell’s Cabinet at this week’s Council meeting and made it clear that he expects them to act with decorum and respect at the meetings.

Martin made his remarks after a testy exchange over budget issues between Council Budget Chairwoman Ann Koba­ya­shi and Managing Director Ember Shinn during the Council meeting Wednesday at Kapo­lei Hale. More than a few Caldwell appointees were in the audience.

Martin said he observed the Cabinet members’ body language and facial expressions as Council members spoke. He gave no specifics on what behavior he found objectionable.

As Shinn walked away from the speaker’s lectern, Martin addressed the audience.

"One of the benefits of being the Council chair is being able to stand at this podium," Martin said. "And believe me, when I do stand at this podium, I do gaze into the audience and take a look at, you know, people here before us. Additionally, I look at the body language and the facial expression of Cabinet members while the Council members are making comments.

"I do not appreciate condescending body language or chatter while the Council members are making comments. And it will weigh into my consideration as I go through the budgets in the future review. I consider it as a personal insult as well as a personal insult for all the members of the City Council."

Martin then issued a warning to Cabinet members. "So be aware I do pay attention; I watch all," he said. "Not just people attending from the general public, but especially those from the Cabinet. That tells a lot as to the seriousness that a Cabinet member takes with respect to a Council member’s concerns or comments. OK, so that’s just a warning."

After the meeting, Martin declined to identify the Cabinet members he believed acted inappropriately but said it happened while Koba­ya­shi was speaking.

The actions go against Caldwell’s promise to work cooperatively with the Council, Martin said.

"You cannot say one thing and do another thing," he said.

Caldwell and Shinn declined to comment on Martin’s statements.

Kobayashi said she did not know what actions in the audience caused Martin to level his criticism.

"It must have been quite serious for the chair to make those remarks," Koba­ya­shi said.

In general, she said, "I just think that we should all be respectful of each other. That’s a given."