Berg outburst prompts discipline proposal

A Honolulu City Council committee voted unanimously to advance a measure setting a procedure to suspend a Council member without pay for up to a month if colleagues determine he or she has violated order or decorum of a Council meeting.

The City Charter already allows Council members to, by a minimum two-thirds vote, suspend a colleague for “disorderly or contemptuous behavior in (the Council’s) presence” for up to a month.

Resolution 12-206, introduced by Council Chairman Ernie Martin, establishes within Council rules a procedure for that to happen, including placing the matter with an investigative committee if the dispute cannot be resolved between the Council member bringing the complaint and the person being charged.

“We’ve had some recent incidences at the Council I think where members have gotten into conflict,” Martin said, adding that he wanted to establish “a clear-cut process” on implementing a suspension proceeding. “It provides the accused with a due process procedure.”

Earlier this month, Martin stripped Councilman Tom Berg of two committee assignments because of his outburst during a Transportation Committee meeting July 26. Several of Berg’s colleagues said the outburst made them uncomfortable. Police were called but no arrests were made. Berg became upset when Transportation Chairman Breene Harimoto ruled him out of order as he tried to question city transit officials.

Berg on Tuesday said he supported the resolution because the procedure laid out would allow someone accused to explain his or her behavior, and would allow the public to comment.

“The public needs to have faith that both sides will be heard,” Berg said, adding it would be important for constituents to offer input if there were a possibility they may lose representation on the Council.