Lee Loy hit with ethics complaint: Business owner alleges conflict of interest in building code bill
A Kailua-Kona business owner has filed an ethics complaint against Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy, alleging she has a conflict of interest in voting on recent construction code measures because her daughter works for HPM Building Supply, which could benefit from provisions streamlining inspections of factory built housing.
Joe Belisario, owner of Hawaii Design Group, a degreed draftsman and end user of building codes, alerted the County Council during testimony Wednesday that he filed an ethics complaint that will “directly impact” Bill 44, a rewrite of the county construction code.
“It may be, I think, a good point of order to postpone Bill 44, if not kill it,” Belisario said before the council took up the bill on its final reading.
The council passed the bill on a 5-2 vote, with Kona Councilwoman Rebecca Villegas and Puna Councilman Matt Kanealii-Kleinfelder voting…
