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June 6, 2019
<br />To: Hawaii County Charter Commission
<br />Douglas Adams, Chairman
<br />Subject: Proposed Charter Amendment CA -26
<br />I oppose CA -26, the proposal to amend Section 6-2.2 relating to Qualifications for the Director of the
<br />Department of Public Works. It is vital that the Director's qualifications continue to include the
<br />requirement to be a "registered professional engineer", more accurately, a "licensed professional
<br />engineer (P.E.)" because:
<br />1. The Director frequently makes engineering decisions as part of their duties and responsibilities,
<br />in fact has the power to over -rule engineering decisions made by his or her subordinates; many
<br />of these decisions potentially 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
<br />judgement of local DPW engineering staffs, have been well-documented by the National Society
<br />of Professional Engineers (NSPE), 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
<br />that "Engineers, in the fulfillment of their fundamental duties, shall hold paramount the safety,
<br />health, and welfare of the public".
<br />I also object to the proposed charter amendment on a personal basis. Prior to my retirement, I was
<br />formerly the Wastewater Division Chief for the County of Hawaii for many years. Initially this position
<br />reported to the Chief Engineer, now referred to as the Director of Public Works. Under several Chief
<br />Engineers over the years I never had the situation arise where I would question the decisions of the
<br />Chief. When the Department of Environmental Management was formed as a result of a previous
<br />charter amendment, the requirement for having a Professional Engineer was eliminated. The position
<br />was eventually filled by a non -engineer. Although I cannot recall if any of my technical decisions were
<br />actually overruled, numerous issues arose where I disagreed with administrative and managerial
<br />decisions. This ultimately led to my resignation and early retirement. To this day, I am disappointed in
<br />this outcome, since I believe that this resulted in a major setback the Wastewater Division, the
<br />Department and the public at large.
<br />If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to call me on my cell at_
<br />Thank you very much for your consideration.
<br />Pew J Boor, P.E.
<br />Comm. No. 43.43
<br />Peter J. Boucher, P.E.
<br />Hilo Hawaii 96720
<br />pboucher@hawaii.rr.com
<br />June 6, 2019
<br />To: Hawaii County Charter Commission
<br />Douglas Adams, Chairman
<br />Subject: Proposed Charter Amendment CA -26
<br />I oppose CA -26, the proposal to amend Section 6-2.2 relating to Qualifications for the Director of the
<br />Department of Public Works. It is vital that the Director's qualifications continue to include the
<br />requirement to be a "registered professional engineer", more accurately, a "licensed professional
<br />engineer (P.E.)" because:
<br />1. The Director frequently makes engineering decisions as part of their duties and responsibilities,
<br />in fact has the power to over -rule engineering decisions made by his or her subordinates; many
<br />of these decisions potentially 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
<br />judgement of local DPW engineering staffs, have been well-documented by the National Society
<br />of Professional Engineers (NSPE), 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
<br />that "Engineers, in the fulfillment of their fundamental duties, shall hold paramount the safety,
<br />health, and welfare of the public".
<br />I also object to the proposed charter amendment on a personal basis. Prior to my retirement, I was
<br />formerly the Wastewater Division Chief for the County of Hawaii for many years. Initially this position
<br />reported to the Chief Engineer, now referred to as the Director of Public Works. Under several Chief
<br />Engineers over the years I never had the situation arise where I would question the decisions of the
<br />Chief. When the Department of Environmental Management was formed as a result of a previous
<br />charter amendment, the requirement for having a Professional Engineer was eliminated. The position
<br />was eventually filled by a non -engineer. Although I cannot recall if any of my technical decisions were
<br />actually overruled, numerous issues arose where I disagreed with administrative and managerial
<br />decisions. This ultimately led to my resignation and early retirement. To this day, I am disappointed in
<br />this outcome, since I believe that this resulted in a major setback the Wastewater Division, the
<br />Department and the public at large.
<br />If you have any questions or need additional information, please feel free to call me on my cell at_
<br />Thank you very much for your consideration.
<br />Pew J Boor, P.E.
<br />Comm. No. 43.43
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