MIN CHARTER 2019-04-25 (2018-2020)

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -10 April 25, 2019 Council members to nominate people. The Council members know more about the people in their district than any Mayor or any staff person, or any other district. And I suggest that the minimum number would be two, but certainly not more than that. You start having difficulties finding people and then you have seats that are vacant. We have vacancies all over this County and I gotta tell you a story about my husband. Brilliant man, certified purchasing manager applied for a position on one of the Commissions, and was told by the current Mayor that he hadn't lived on the island long enough to know what was going on. Not everybody has to be born and raised here to know what is going on. And this happened years ago but we need qualified people not just people the Mayors want, who will do their bidding. So please let Communication 31 go through as it is written by Ms. Hecht, thank you Debbie, and that is the end of my testimony. Thank you. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. Moving back into Hilo, we will go with Ms. Hecht. DEBBIE HECHT: Proposal No. CA -18 and CA -31 in support, Comm. No. 46 and Proposal No. CA -27 in opposition. MS. HECHT: Good Morning Commissioners, my name is Debbie Hecht speaking on Communication 46 on the special election, CA -18, on restoring the ability to pay workers in the non-profit stewardship group for PONC, CA -27 on the use of conservation easements, and CA -31 on Boards and Commissions. You should have a paper that I left at your desks that is a handout of the language that we have been working on for CA -18. On Communication 46 regarding the special election, for only the Charter Commission amendments, I see no reason to spend $445,000 for mail in ballots or $774,000 for a regular election. There is nothing so pressing that needs to be changed before November 3, 2020. That will be a Presidential election. There should be a good turnout, so we can really see what the people of Hawai`i want in terms of changing the Charter. I believe that we would... it would be better to have more time to fully educate people as to the pros and cons of this issue. The League of Women Voters provides that service for you know, at their expense and needs time to do the pros and cons research. We keep hearing the County is so strapped for money. Why spend this money for an unnecessary election? Please vote no. At first reading and right on this handout it is the red part, at first reading you returned the Maintenance Fund to what now exists in the Charter. I think this might have been because you were concerned that Board members would be paid to serve on the Board and that is not the case at all. I gave you a handout, this handout and we have compromised language to the current language in red. What we added was that unless they are paid for specific duties that are approved as part of their business plan, and that was to six. So no officer, Board member, employee of the 501(c)(3) non-profit or the organization that operates under the Page 10