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From: Yen Wen Fang <yenwen.fang@epinc.pro> <br />Sent: Thursday, June 6, 2019 11:57 AM <br />To: Charter Commission <br />Subject: CA -26 <br />I oppose CA -26, the proposal to amend Section 6-2.2 relating to Qualifications for the Director of the Department of <br />Public Works. It is vital that the Director's qualifications continue to include the requirement to be a "registered <br />professional engineer", more accurately, a "licensed professional engineer (P.E.)" because: <br />1. The Director frequently makes engineering decisions as part of their duties and responsibilities, in fact has the <br />power to over -rule engineering decisions made by his or her subordinates; many of these decisions potentially <br />affect the safety, health, and well-being of the public; <br />2. The adverse risks of an unlicensed engineer, or a non -engineer, over -ruling the engineering judgement of local <br />DPW engineering staffs, have been well-documented by the National Society of Professional Engineers (NSPE), <br />and is an unacceptable risk for Hawaii County; <br />3. Licensed P.E.'s are bound by the NSPE Code of Ethics for Engineers, which first cannon states that "Engineers, in <br />the fulfillment of their fundamental duties, shall hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public". <br />4. The very concept of engineering licensure was developed over a century ago after a series of engineering <br />disasters causing much damage and fatalities occurred, due to inexperienced persons making critical <br />engineering decisions. Degrading the nationwide system of licensed engineers in responsible charge of matters <br />of vital engineering decisions goes against the need to "hold paramount" the safety of the public." <br />Yen Wen Fang, P.E. I Principal <br />ENGINEERING PARTNERS <br />Main (808) 933-7900 <br />yenwen.fanq@epinc.pro 1 www.epinc.pro <br />Hawaii I Las Vegas <br />1 <br />Comm. No. 43.38 <br />