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Mitchell D. Roth <br />11 <br />Gunfu of ('7.UffiUi'T* <br />Deanna Sako <br />'tIunaghl'g Direcrol. <br />Robert ff. Command <br />Offirr, of fhp Bapr <br />25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 - Hilo, Hawaii 96720 - (808) 961-8211 ® Fax (808) 901-6553 <br />KONA 74-5044 Ane Keohokalole Hwy., 13114 C - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii 96740 <br />(808) 323-4444 Fax (808) 323-4440 <br />March 19, 2024 <br />The Honorable Heather L. Kimball, Chair <br />and Hawaii County Council Members <br />25 Aupum Street, Suite 1402 <br />Hilo, HI 96720 <br />Dear Chair Kimball: <br />Re: Veto Message — Bill 109 Draft 4 <br />Charter Amendment Related To Terrns In Office <br />Pursuant to Section 3-12 of the Hawaii County Charter, I am disapproving Bill 109 <br />(Draft 4) and returning it to you. Bill 109 seeks to amend the County Charter by placing a thirty <br />(30) day window on a Mayor to fill vacancies upon taking office and a sixty (60) day window to <br />fill vacancies for department heads. These positions are critical to the administration of county <br />government, and a meaningful period to advertise vacancies and evaluate applicants are essential. <br />A thirty- or sixty-day window will foreclose a statewide or national search for department heads <br />and, in some cases, a meaningful inter -view process before placing an appointee before the <br />Council. Most department head positions carry mandatory credentials and work experience that <br />are not easily found.A thirty- or sixty-day deadline would also treat Mayoral appointed cabinet <br />positions differently than commission appointed cabinet positions. For example, the most recent <br />hiring processes for the police chief and director of human resources took more than four <br />months. A Mayor, and the people of Hawaii County, deserve a meaningftil period to fill these <br />essential positions. <br />Respectfully, <br />Mitchell D. Roth <br />MAYOR <br />Enclosures: Bill 109 (Draft 4) <br />c: Elizabeth A. Strance, Corporation Counsel <br />Comm. No. U IT 11 <br />County of Hawai'i is an Equal opportunity Provider and Eniplo,,er. <br />Ref. <br />Ref. Oate R 20 7 2' 12 4 <br />