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i <br /> 3 <br /> i <br /> REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS <br /> AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT <br /> DATE: October 15, 2019 Re: Comm. No. 527/Res. No. 351-19 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawaii <br /> �3 <br /> TIME: 10:06 a.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawaii County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Governmental Relations and Economic Development, to which was referred <br /> Resolution No. 351-19, reports as follows: <br /> Resolution No. 351-19, transmitted by Council Member and Committee Chair Ashley L. <br /> Kierkiewicz, via Communication No. 527 dated September 26, 2019, requests approving the <br /> nomination of a new officer, as required by the Hawaii State Association of Counties (HSAC) <br /> Bylaws, to the Western Interstate Region(WIR) Board of Directors. <br /> This resolution listed the slate of representatives for the National Association of Counties <br /> (NACo) and WIR, a caucus of NACo. It noted that Council Member Herbert M. "Tim" Richards <br /> is a presidential appointee to the NACo Board of Directors, and because of this, County of <br /> Kaua'i Council Member Mason Chock hoped to reassume his position on the WIR Board of <br /> Directors and replace Council Member Richards. <br /> Committee Vice Chair Susan Lee Loy assumed the role of Chair for this meeting as Council <br /> Member Kierkiewicz introduced the resolution and needed to speak on the measure. Council <br /> Member Kierkiewicz explained that at the August 26, 2019 HSAC Executive Committee <br /> meeting, there was pressure to have Council Member Richards resign from the WIR Board so <br /> that Kauai Council Member Chock could reassume the position he formerly held and currently <br /> wanted. She made clear at that time that she did not believe this to be equitable, as each of the <br /> counties was equally represented on one of the four Board of Directors positions available <br /> between NACo and WIR, and if the measure before your Committee were to pass, then Hawaii <br /> County would have no representation. She shared that she expressed reservations at that meeting <br /> but felt this was a decision that should be made by the full County Council,particularly with <br /> input from Council Member Richards. She further stated that Council Member Richards was fine <br /> with relinquishing the position so long as it was to a fellow Hawaii County Council Member. <br /> Council Member Valerie Poindexter stated that she could understand the desire to retain a <br /> Hawaii County Council Member for the WIR Board of Directors, but that the seat served to <br /> represent the State of Hawaii and not individual counties. She recalled that Kauai Council <br /> Member Chock did an excellent job when he previously held the position, and that he had <br /> originally been the nominee for this term. She noted that most importantly, whoever took the seat <br /> should have the time and energy to support it. She stated she was in favor of the resolution. <br /> GREDC Report No. I <br />