GREAT Committee Meeting on Settlement Resolution 26-141 - September 1, 2026
Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee Meeting
The Government Relations, Ethics, and Transparency Committee met on September 1, 2026, at 1:34 PM to consider Resolution 26-141, which would authorize settlement of a federal lawsuit filed by a former Maui Police Department officer alleging the County failed to make required retirement and pension contributions during his U.S. Air Force service. The committee heard public testimony, discussed the case in open and executive sessions, and voted to recommend adoption of the resolution.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Jesse Lall testified via phone. He expressed confusion about which government is in control of Maui, referencing "Maui money" and the royal treasury. He claimed inside knowledge that the plaintiff "did something wrong" and had to leave the police department. He also complained about not being informed of a budget meeting earlier that day, stating that some members of the public are not afforded the same rights as others. He recognized the voice of a corporation counsel attorney, asked the committee to follow Hawaii laws over federal laws, and urged the committee to listen to the public more.
Discussion Items
- Deputy Corporation Counsel John Gores provided an overview of the case: Plaintiff Gershom Slonim was employed by the Maui Police Department in January 2015, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, left for basic training on January 27, 2015, returned in January 2019 with an honorable discharge, and resigned in 2021. He currently resides in California. The lawsuit alleges that the County violated the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) and HRS §88-132 by failing to make Employee Retirement System (ERS) contributions during his four years of active duty. After receiving the lawsuit, the County learned that Slonim had already cashed out his ERS account.
- Councilmembers asked questions in open session: Councilmember Tamara Paltin asked about cashing out ERS and the meaning of "willfully and knowingly" in the complaint. Councilmember Gabe Johnson inquired about cashing out before reaching ten years of service. Councilmember Keani Rawlins-Fernandez asked about the length of Slonim's military service (four years active duty). Councilmember Nohelani U‘u-Hodgins asked how long Slonim worked for MPD (ten years). Deputy Chief Wade Maeda also answered questions.
- The committee moved into executive session under HRS §92-5(a)(4) (consultation with legal counsel on powers, duties, privileges, immunities, liabilities, and case strategy) and §92-5(a)(8) (deliberation on matters requiring confidentiality by state/federal law or court order). All eight attending members, committee staff, and corporation counsel deputies participated. Councilmember U‘u-Hodgins briefly left to pick up her child but was permitted to rejoin upon her return. Legislative Attorney Peter Hanano provided the required summary after reconvening: the executive session discussed case strategy, assessment of strengths and weaknesses, settlement authority, and settlement efforts to date.
Key Outcomes
- Motion and Vote: Councilmember Tom Cook moved, seconded by Council Chair Alice Lee, to recommend adoption of Resolution 26-141 with non-substantive revisions. The motion passed 8–0 (Councilmember Yuki Lei Sugimura was excused for the entire meeting).
- Next Step: The resolution will be forwarded to the full Maui County Council for final consideration.
Meeting Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 3:02 PM.
Meeting Transcript
Well, the government relations ethics and transparency committee meeting of September first, twenty twenty-six come to order. It is one thirty four PM. I am your chair Colin Batungan. Members in accordance with the Sunshine Law, please identify by name who, if anyone is in the room, vehicle or workspace with you today. Committee Vice Chair Nohilani Hodgins. Council Member Tom Cook is excused for it for now. He will be joining us shortly. Councilmember Gabe Johnson. Aloha Chair, Councilmembers, committee members. There's no testifiers at the Nai District Office. I'm alone in my side of my workspace. And I am here and ready to work. Thank you, Chair. Thank you, Member Johnson. Council Chair Alice Lee will be excused for now. Oh, is she on? Oh, she's been waiting. Okay, I'll circle back to Chair. Councilmember Tamara Palton. Kyota Kako and Aloha. Thank you. Is Councilmember Rollins Fernandez online or in the wait room? Okay, she'll be excused for now. Councilmember Shane Tenenti. Aloha Winala, Chair Brub here at my whole private office. I'm here by myself. There are no testifiers in public chair. Thank you, Member Sonenti. Councilmember Yukide Sugimora, it will be excused for the entire uh meeting today. So that takes us back to Chair Lee. Kyota, Chair. Kyota, uhoha. And I'm in my workspace alone. I I do have a hard stop at 3 30. Is that okay? Yep, we'll still have quorum. Okay, thank you. Thank you, Chair. Okay, so with us from Corporation Council, we have with us filling in today, not in his fifth or sixth final or whatever we're at now. Um Deputy Corporation Council Tom Colby. Welcome back. He's filling in for Mr. Rowe, who will be the assigned uh deputy for this committee moving forward. Uh we also have with us deputy corporation counsel Gors. Kyota. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Uh, and then we have with us from the Maui Police Department, Deputy Chief of Police, uh Mayeta. Thank you, Chair. Thank you.
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