UH plan would
target corruptionThe regents consider barring
companies convicted of crimes
from getting contracts
Contractors bidding for work from the University of Hawaii must be free of illegal campaign contributions and other criminal convictions, under a policy being considered by UH regents.
Interim Regent Ted Hong, who wrote the proposal, described it as a "scared-straight program" for companies who profit from what he called the "three C's" -- connections, contracts and campaign contributions.
Hong pointed to the construction of a new campus for UH-West Oahu as an example of why the policy is needed.
"Whatever form that project takes on, it will be a cash cow," he said. "We have to make sure the university remains free of the corrupt alliance of the past."
The proposal covers company employees and family members who are assessed fines of more than $5,000 by the Campaign Spending Commission and also incorporates state and federal violations of money laundering, credit card fraud, computer crimes, false advertising, forgery, theft and similar crimes.
It would apply to convictions after the policy is adopted.
UH President Evan Dobelle said he endorses the policy change in principle. University officials said their main concern was how the policy would be implemented.
Other regents supported the proposal but also had concerns about approving the policy without fully understanding how it would work and its effect on university contracts.
"It's an important position that we're going to take," said regent James Haynes. "It represents the character of this board, and we can't lose sight of this."
But Haynes said it was premature to adopt the policy.
The board's Committee on Finance and Facilities instead voted to take up the matter next month. In the interim, regents and the administration said they would work to refine the proposal.
Regents also got a briefing yesterday on how much money needs to be spent on repair and maintenance at the 10 UH campuses.
UH Director of Capital Improvements Jan Yokota told the facilities committee the university needs to spend between $32 million and $64 million a year to maintain buildings worth $1.6 billion on its campuses.
But in the last 12 years, the university has spent as little as $2.7 million a year. Last year's repair and maintenance budget was nearly $34 million, but only about $8 million is being spent this year on repair and maintenance.
Regents complained that in their tours of campuses, they have seen buildings and dorms that are falling apart and a burned-out classroom at the UH-Hilo campus has not been fixed nearly two years after a fire.
They also complained that by not spending money now on repairs, the university is increasing costs down the road.
The committee passed a motion to make repair and maintenance a priority and for the administration to figure out a way to pay for it without depending on appropriations from the Legislature.
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Other matters discussed
In other matters before University of Hawaii regents committees yesterday:>> The Finance and Facilities Committee approved an agreement with Hiluhilu Development to continue planning for a university village with classroom space for a UH-West Hawaii campus.
>> The committee approved the hiring of William Bakamis, associate director of the Applied Physics Laboratory at the University of Washington, as a consultant for up to $75,000. Bakamis will help the university negotiate with the Navy and federal government to develop a proposed University Affiliated Research Center.
>> The Academic Affairs Committee was briefed on the creation of a College of Pharmacy at UH-Hilo. The four-year pharmacy school, which is still in the early planning stages, would graduate 66 students a year and would require the construction of a $25 million building at the campus.
