Big Isle Council Faces Ethics, Deer, Rubbish

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HILO » An odd conglomerate of ethics, axis deer and rubbish enlivened an otherwise routine session of the County Council yesterday.

It all started innocuously enough with a resolution introduced by Councilman Sherwood Greenwell protesting the introduction of axis deer to the Big Island and urging that the exotic game animal be kep away until further ecological studies can be conducted.

Greenwell cited the opposition of the Governor’s own committee on ecology and opposition of various agricultural interests.

Despite opposition of Majority Leader Robert Yamada, the resolution passed 4-3, with two members absent on a Mainland trip.

Later a proposed bill which would require all vehicles transporting any load to "cover or otherwise adequately contain" such load came up for first reading.

The bill was designed to require refuse trucks to use a cover to avoid spilling trash along the highways. But Yamada protested that, as worded, it might work a hardship on sugar canehaul trucks. He cast the only dissenting vote.

Council Chairman Ikuo Hisaoka then suggested that Yamada should declare an interest in the issue, as required by the Code of Ethics, because one of his family firms has a contract hauling bagasse for Mauna Kea Sugar Co.

Yamada started to object, but acceded and asked that his "no" vote be withdrawn.

Still later, Hamada asked Hisaoka for "clarification" of his policy on ethical decisions.

The majority leader noted that Greenwell had been allowed to vote on the axis deer resolution although he has an interest as a ranch manager.

Yamada "has a point," Greenwell said, and he asked that the resolution be reconsidered and deferred pending a ruling on his involvement by the Board of Ethics.

Councilman Dante Carpenter said it might be argued that he (Carpenter) has an interest because he works for a sugar company. But he said this did not influence his "Aye" vote on the resolution.

Carpenter also voted "aye" on the load-covering bill.

The Council, after some arguing, voted to defer the axis deer resolution as asked by Greenwell. And the anti-litter bill was referred back to committee for further study.