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

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission — Public Hearing April 4, 2019 Teleconferencing) purposes so that members of the public can testify or observe from there, we have no Commissioners there, and then we have the Commissioners here. So I would ask our Commissioners in Waimea please to introduce themselves. MR. BERGIN: Billy Bergin, district nine. MS. RICE: Sally Rice, Kona. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you and then Paul if... we would start with you. MR. HAMANO: Paul Hamano, Hilo. MR. HOPKINS: Kevin Hopkins, Hilo. MS. SAQUING: Marcie Saquing, Hilo. MS. TODD: Bobby Leithead-Todd district two, Hilo. MS. ZELKO-SCHLUETER: Jennifer Zelko-Schlueter, Hilo. CHR. ADAMS: And Doug Adams, Hilo. Copies of the protocols for this public hearing are available at the registration table. Let me just highlight a few. Registration to testify occurs at the registration table. I will call speakers to the table here in front with the microphones. 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 Page 2