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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> DATE: February 28, 2006 Re: Comm. No. 696Bi11 No. 232 <br /> PLACE:Co uneil Chambers <br /> TIME: 4:00 p.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Finance, [o which was referred Bill No. 232, reports as follows: <br /> Bill No. 232, transmitted by Assistant Corporation Counsel Gerald Takase, via Communication No. 696, dated <br /> February' 1, 2006, initiates a Charter amendment to Section 13-4, Article XIII of the Hawaii County Charter, <br /> relating to composition and terms of Boazds and Commissions. <br /> Section 13, Article XIII of the Hawaii County Charter sets forth the appointment requirements and duration of <br /> terms for members of the various boazds and commissions of the County of Hawaii. Currently, when a <br /> member of a board or commission resigns before the expiration of the member's term, a replacement is found <br /> to serve out the remainder of the previous member's term. In many cases, the replacement is serving a term of <br /> two yeazs or less. Because members cannot currently succeed themselves, in many cases, willing members of <br /> the public would rather wait for a full term, rather than fill such a short term, thus no replacement is found and <br /> the board or commission must operate with the vacancy for the remainder of the term. This has created <br /> considerable hardship for these boards and commissions [o operate with less than a full membership to meet <br /> quorum or having a sufficient number of votes to take action. I[ creates cancelled meetings or delayed actions <br /> because of insufficient votes. <br /> At present, the Charter precludes a replacement from being reappointed to the boazd or commission. On an <br /> initial appointment, the Charter does allow a member to succeed themselves, this amendment would extend <br /> this provision and its rationale to all members who serve a term of two yeazs or less to succeed themselves, <br /> recognizing that this situation exists not only for initial appointments, but for all terms of two yeazs or less. <br /> This Charter amendment would assist the County of Hawaii in ensuring that boazds and commissions are fully <br /> and properly staffed with qualified members. <br /> Pursuant to Article XV, Section 15-1 (a) of the Hawaii County Charter, amendments or revisions of the <br /> <br /> charter may be initiated by ordinance of the council adopted after three readings on separate days. Upon <br /> <br /> adoption of the ordinance the council shall provide that the proposed amendments or revisions be submitted to <br /> <br /> the electors of the county for approval at the next genera] election. <br /> <br /> Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 232 and recommends it pass <br /> <br /> first reading. <br /> <br /> smc <br /> Hues Noes A&e ex Respectfully submitted, <br /> ARAIUICI X <br /> HICA x COMMITTEE ON FINANCE <br /> HOFFMANN X <br /> HOLSCHiTH X ' <br /> IKEDA X <br /> ff /T <br /> ISBELL X ~~~k r~~.~__ l~~4 G,`e.~'G. <br /> JACOBSON x VIR IA ISBELL, CHAIR <br /> PILACO X FC REPORT,N~ 244 <br /> SAFAeIx X ADOPTED: M ~Z~~- <br /> <br />