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Hawa~ ~ Island <br /> 1 Chamber of Commerce <br /> Es~abllshed In lfl9ri • 202 Kamehameha Ave. • Hlln, Hawaii 9x720 • Phone (A0211 9 3 5-71 J8 • Fax (riW1961-44 i5 <br /> <br /> June I8, 1997 email: hic<tainterpar.net <br /> Councilman James Arakaki, Chair <br /> <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> <br /> 25 Aupuni Street <br /> <br /> Hilo, HI 96720 <br /> <br /> Resolution 104-97: Requesting the Governor and State Legislature to Convene a Special <br /> Session to Address the Privatization Issue <br /> The Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce is in support of legislative efforts to address the issue <br /> of privatization in the wake of the Konno decision by the Hawaii Supreme Court. We support <br /> <br /> the County Council's call for a special legislative session in hopes that it will bring needed clarity <br /> <br /> to this issue. <br /> <br /> We continue our long standing commitment to cost efficient government and to the effective use <br /> of tax payers money. The County's ability to contract private services on a competitive basis is <br /> essential to the wise use of public funds. The Konno decision has many disturbing impacts, not <br /> <br /> the least of which is a substantial increase to the cost of doing the public's business. We urge this <br /> Council to take a strong stand on this issue and to commit what ever resources are necessary to <br /> meet this important challenge. <br /> There aze many members of our organization who have become unwitting victims of the Konno <br /> decision. From social service providers to recycling companies to collection agencies, these small <br /> businesses have been providing the County with quality services at a competitive price. The loss <br /> of County contracts and the general uncertainty from the fallout of Konno have had a profound <br /> impact on these businesses and a chilling impact on our island economy. <br /> In the short term, the privatization issue must be resolved as soon as possible and without further <br /> business disruption. On the longer term, we, as a community, need to address the more <br /> fundamental issues and policies that underlie the Konno decision. If Hawaii is ever to become <br /> vibrant place to do business, we must develop a more progressive approach to the relationship <br /> between the public and the private sectors and to harness the best of both to accomplish the best <br /> for our community. <br /> Thank you for the chance to submit testimony on this issue. <br /> Sincerely <br /> Je ey Melrose <br /> Ge4ernment Affairs, Chair Ya ~S <br /> 1lIL lfa L E G <br /> resen a Ce~NU~ <br /> Yd. !bt <br /> !at JUN j g 1997 <br /> RPfilialed with the ~ hamper of Commerce of [he United Stata~s <br /> <br />