MIN CHARTER 2019-04-01 (2018-2020) - Public Hearing

Home

Hawai`i County Charter Commission — Public Hearing April 1, 2019 At this time I would ask our Commissioners to briefly introduce themselves to include identifying the district they have been appointed from, and I will start over with Dr. Bergin. MR. BERGIN: My name is Billy Bergin and I live in the 9th district in Waimea. MS. GALIMBA: Aloha I am Michelle Galimba and I am from Ka`u. MR. HAMANO: I am Paul Hamano. I am from Hilo. MR. HOPKINS: Kevin Hopkins from Hilo. MS. RICE: Sally Rice from Kona. MS. TODD: Bobby Leithead-Todd from district two. MS. ZELKO-SCHLUETER: Jen Zelko from Hilo. CHR. ADAMS: And I am Doug Adams also from Hilo. We are expecting Marcie Saquing from Hilo. She is on her way. She had just flown in and so, she is driving as quickly within the speed limits that she can. Copies of the protocols for this public hearing are available at the registration table. To highlight just a few. Please register to testify at the registration table and I have received some of those registrations so I appreciate that. I will call speakers to the table. 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. 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 Page 2