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LaniFiau Properties, LLC <br />(PO. (Boz 9032 <br />Kaitua-zona, .ItI 96745 <br />('hone: (808)936-7129 • Ea.: (808) 329-8044 <br />�mait rsmith@tanihau.net <br />June 4, 2019 <br />Douglas Adams, Chair <br />County of Hawaii Charter Commission <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />Via email and video conference; charter.commission(c�hawaiicounty.gov <br />Re: Testimony in Opposition to CA- 26 <br />Requirement for Professional Engineer Licensure, DPW Director <br />and Chief Engineer <br />Chair Adams and Members of the Charter Commission. My name is Riley W. <br />Smith, P.E. I am a resident of the District of South Kohala and work in Kailua- <br />Kona. I am testifying in opposition to CA -26. <br />I have been and currently still am a licensed professional engineer, civil <br />designation and have been licensed in the State of Hawaii since 1980. I was <br />also the Deputy Director at the Department of Public Works, from 1993 to <br />1995. When I accepted the responsibility of that position, I regularly made <br />decisions that impacted the welfare of all residents of Hawaii island. This <br />included adoption of more stringent building codes, revisions to the drainage <br />ordinance, as well as establishing sound rationale to set speed limits, <br />operation of traffic signals and general highway safety. <br />Currently, the Department of Public Works is responsible for six divisions: <br />Administration, Automotive, Building, Engineering, Highway Maintenance and <br />Traffic. These divisions are responsible for the health and welfare of our <br />citizens. If you live or work in a building, if you are concerned that the building <br />you are in won't flood during a storm, or if you drive a vehicle on a County <br />roadway, you clearly want to be sure that the person in charge of this <br />infrastructure is qualified for the job. The Director and Chief Engineer must <br />currently possess a professional engineer's license. This license certifies that <br />he/she has been properly trained, so that your safety and that of your family, is <br />not compromised. <br />This person is responsible to supervise other positions that must also be <br />licensed (Building Division Chief, Engineering Division Chief) and should also <br />possess similar licensure, as the person being supervised. Otherwise, they <br />may not clearly understand the health and safety issues that are at stake, <br />when making important decisions that impact all of us. <br />Comm. No. 43.25 <br />