MIN CHARTER 2019-03-29 (2018-2020) - Public Hearing

Home

Hawai`i County Charter Commission — Public Hearing March 29, 2019 At this time I would ask Commissioners to briefly introduce themselves to include identifying the district they have been appointed from and I will start with our Vice -Chair. MS. ZELKO-SCHLUETER: Sure. Hi. I am Jennifer Zelko-Schlueter. I am from the Hilo district. MS. TODD: Aloha, I am Bobby Jean Leithead-Todd and I am from District two in Hilo. MS. RICE: Sally Rice and I am from the Kona. MR. HOPKINS: Kevin Hopkins from Hilo. MR. HAMANO: Paul Hamano from Hilo district also. MR. BERGIN: Billy Bergin, Waimea. CHR. ADAMS: And I am Doug Adams from Hilo. Copies of the protocols for this public hearing are available at the registration table. I am sure you saw them as you came in. Let me just highlight a few. As some of you have done, please register to testify at the registration table. I will call speakers to this table that is in front here. As you prepare to speak, please state your name, any organization you are speaking for, and the relevant Charter section or proposed amendment you are addressing. Speakers will have up to a total of six minutes for their testimony. Speakers may testify once during this public hearing. To avoid the potential of Sunshine Law violations and to emphasize the purpose of this hearing, Commissioners shall refrain from making comments or asking questions of testifiers during their statements. I would ask all of us to please maintain an appropriate level of decorum during the hearing. We are all looking forward to providing an equal opportunity for all testifiers to make their statements. And finally, to provide some context for this hearing, allow me to briefly address the Commission's efforts to date and what follows. First, this is the fifth Charter Commission since the County Charter became effective 50 years ago. The Commissioners, all of whom are County residents and none of whom are elected officials by statute, were appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council at the end of June, 2018 and have met at least once a month since July to accomplish our mission as the Charter outlines it. To study and review the operation of the government of the County under the Charter. We have done that by receiving information from County departments, the Mayor, and the Council as well as receiving over 500 separate communications from the public and the County. Page 2