Regents to learn about open-meeting laws

The University of Hawaii Board of Regents will follow at least one recommendation from a Senate Special Accountability Committee that looked into the fundraising concert debacle at UH-Manoa.

Board members will receive training on state open-meeting and public-record laws from the Office of Information Practices, board Chairman Eric Martinson said after a public meeting Wednesday.

“I think it’s a good thing,” Martinson said. “I think we need it.”

The accountability committee report criticized the regents for a lack of transparency and openness following the university’s loss of $200,000 in an alleged concert scam, and the reassignment of former athletic director Jim Dono­van to a new position in the UH-Manoa Chancellor’s Office with a salary of $211,000 a year.

The report contained 18 recommendations, including a management audit of UH by the state auditor.

Regents discussed the Senate report in a public session Wednesday. They generally praised the Senate committee for its work, but did not specify which recommendations they would follow.

Martinson thanked the committee for its work and said the regents would incorporate several recommendations into its follow-up on fiscal procedures at the university.

“There are a number of good recommendations here that we should carefully consider,” said regent John Holzman. “Transparency and accountability of our own proceedings — I think those are important, and it will help correct maybe some of the misperceptions of our role.”

But Holzman said some of the recommendations may be infringing on the university’s autonomy and the responsibility of the board to make decisions about the university.

“There’s lots of good advice, but we should bear in mind the importance of autonomy,” he said.

Regent Benjamin Kudo said the state sunshine law makes it difficult for the board to operate efficiently.

“Sometimes we’re hindered from receiving information and communicating with each other to be more efficient,” he said.

Regent Saedene Ota suggested the board consider a retreat to plan strategy for the board and the university.

Vice Chairman James Lee said some of the committee’s recommendations, including a review of board policies, can be handled by the board’s committees.

“Some of these recommendations will be studied carefully and we will follow through,” said regent Artemio Baxa.