In the wake of concerns around the handling of grants by the Office of Economic Development, Maui Mayor Richard Bissen has kicked off a series of measures aimed at reinforcing ethical standards within the county's government. According to an official release on the County of Maui website, Office of Economic Development Director Luana Mahi was placed on paid leave as of August 20, while an investigation into the department's grant administration practices is underway.
This action stems from an internal audit initiated in March by Mayor Bissen and the Department of the Corporation Counsel, aimed at scrutinizing the Office of Economic Development grants for compliance issues, after the administration received troubling indications about their management. In response, Mayor Bissen, on August 21, issued a series of directives, which include holding off on future funding for grants flagged in the audit, Mandatory, ethics training for County higher-ups, and a memo to reiterate the Administration's commitment to a solid ethical framework. Mayor Bissen emphasized the gravity of public trust, stating, "Safeguarding our County of Maui community, our people, and our values is a critical responsibility that can only be accomplished with public trust and confidence," and assured the zero-tolerance stance toward ethical breaches, as per the County of Maui.
The mandatory ethics training that took place on August 19 involved the county’s Deputy Directors and Directors and was run by the Corporation Counsel. The training is part of an ongoing effort to ensure the County of Maui's administration adheres to the highest standards of conduct. Additionally, future disbursement for the questioned grants will undergo a meticulous review process to ensure they fall in line with the numerous governing codes and stipulations of the grant agreements.
Mayor Bissen's memo serves as a stark reminder, and it steels the resolve of his administration towards upholding integrity at every governmental level. “I want to underscore my unwavering commitment to upholding a culture of the highest ethical standards within my Administration. We have a zero-tolerance policy for any ethical violations, and I want to assure everyone that all infractions will be met with appropriate consequences," Bissen's statement read, mirroring his Administration's staunch approach to handling the audit’s findings and preventing future discrepancies, as reported by the County of Maui.
