Comm No 0035.49 - Testimony - CA-18 - PONC Maintenance fund

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From: Lorraine Kohn <lorrainekohn@gmail.com> Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2019 12:57 PM To: Charter Commission Subject: 2% Land fund support, please Aloha Charter Commissioners - 63% of island voters voted 3 times to support the Land Fund Program. With your help we can improve the 2% Land Fund program. Right now there is $22 million in the Fund and $3 million in the Maintenance Fund. Only 9% of Maintenance Funds have been received by the nonprofit caretaking these properties. The program needs a point person to carry it forward. Why ONE FULL TIME STAFF PERSON WORKING ONLY ON THE 2% LAND FUND PROGRAM. We should not deplete the purchasing power of the Land Fund by paying too many people. The Program needs ONE consistent, full time staff person working ONLY on the 2% Land Program, not several part time workers. They can focus on land acquistions, obtaining matching funds and helping nonprofits with stewardship funds. WE ask that you include the following language in CA -18 that the Hawaii County Council approved unanimously on July 24th No officer, board member, or employee of the 501( c) 3 nonprofit organization or the organization that operates under the umbrella of a 501 c 3 nonprofit organization shall receive a salary (or payment for labor or received any reimbursement for the steward •' :.. - - . . - ..: ) or any portion of a salary from this fund for performing their duties or functions as an officer, board member or employee; however, compensation for specific duties such as labor, educational workshops and maintenance work may be paid to an officer, board member or employee if those duties have been specifically identified and officially approved in the detailed business plan submitted as part of the stewardship proposal. The 501( c) 3 nonprofit shall sign an agreement so stating these conditions and submit it with the application." PLEASE INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING LANGUAGE TO REPLACE YOUR CA -9 LANGUAGE: (3) (OUR PREFERRED LANGUAGE): "Pay for the salary, wages and benefits of one full-time staff member, employed by the Department of Finance dedicated only to advancing administering the activities contained within this section and Section 10-16 of this charter. This is in addition to a staff person provided in Section 2-215 of the Hawaii County Code." Mahalo for your assistance to make to improve the program save Hawai'i Island's great places! I AM A REALTOR. I AM WILLING TO DISCOUNT MY COMMISSIONS SIGNIFICANTLY IF A LISTED PROPERTY IS BOUGHT BY THE COUNTY. JUST ASK ME! Lorraine Kohn, owner/broker Paradise Found Realty 75-5751 Kuakini Hwy 208 Kailua Kona HI 96740 lorrainekohn@gmail.com 1 Comm. No. 35.49