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Harry Kim <br />Mayor <br />June 6, 2019 <br />(ountp of 9aihat`i <br />HAWAII FIRE DEPARTMENT <br />25 Aupuni Street • Suite 2501 • Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />(808) 932-2900 • Fax (808) 932-2928 <br />TO : DOUGLAS SHIPMAN ADAMS, CHAIR, <br />HAWAII COUNTY CHARTER COMMISSION <br />FROM : DARREN J. ROSARIO, FIRE CHIEF <br />SUBJECT : CHARTER COMMISSION PROPOSED AMENDMENT CA -6 <br />Darren J. Rosario <br />Fire Chief <br />Lance S. Uchida <br />Deputy Fire Chief <br />Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony regarding CA -6 which proposes to <br />add language to Section 7-4.3 Fire Chief regarding discipline. I am in support of the proposed <br />changes. <br />This change effectively puts the oversite of the Fire Chief to the Fire Commission who is <br />responsible for the hiring and, if needed, separation of the Fire Chief from service. In my review <br />of other documents, I could not find language that removed this authority from the Mayor. <br />Should discipline be moved to the Fire Commission, it should concurrently be removed from the <br />Mayor. This will alleviate the Fire Chief from being caught in the middle of two potentially <br />conflicting views. Removing the disciplinary authority from the Mayor will effectively complete <br />any politicalizing of the position of the Fire Chief The Fire Chief will be accountable to one <br />body. The Mayor or anyone, can submit request to the Fire Commission for an investigation of <br />any complaint against the Fire Chief The Commission would then act upon the complaint by <br />investigating and carrying out any corrective action (discipline) as allowed under this Charter <br />Amendment. <br />Thank you for the opportunity to provide this additional testimony and for the work that this <br />Commission has done. <br />Sincerely, <br />DARREN J. ROSARIO <br />Fire Chief <br />Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. <br />Comm. No. 20.3 <br />