MIN CHARTER 2019-06-07 (2018-2020)

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -12 June 7, 2019 STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS: SUSAN DURSIN: BRENDA FORD: The Chair directed the Commission to proceed to the next order of business, Statements from the Public on Agenda Items. CHR. ADAMS: At this time we will take statements from the public. If I could ask our facility in Kona how many testifiers we have in Kona. MS. BAEZ: Good morning Chair, there are three testifiers here. CHR. ADAMS: And we have several testifiers here in Hilo, so let's start with Kona. If I could ask our testifiers in Kona please to come to the table there and I would remind everyone to please when you come to provide your name, the agenda item that you are speaking to, there is the three minute limit, and then if you are speaking about more than one agenda item it is a five minute limit total, without objection. Alright, thanks. And I will let you decide there in Kona who the first testifier is. Proposal Nos. CA -9 and CA -19, commenting. MS. DURSIN: My name is Susan Dursin. I am from Captain Cook and I would like to thank you once again for your community service. Once again I want to express strong support for the wording in CA -9 which would establish a single position in the finance department paid for by the 2% Land Fund and dedicated solely to its work. This would facilitate the purchase of land of course and it would also allow additional attention to grant writing which could bring even more money from outside sources than has already been attracted. And then also, CA -19, I support the wording there, allowing non -profits to pay board members and employees for their work... their maintenance work which is of course very strenuous work and it has been shown that it is very difficult to keep volunteers working year after year, so this is badly needed. Both amendments with the proposed wording would make the 2% Land Fund more effective. We have learned a great deal since 2006 and both of these amendments capitalized on what has been learned, like going out to you that this program is widely admired across the state and even on the mainland, and it enhances the reputation of this County. In any case, I hope that you will help to make the 2% Land Fund work even better. Thank you for considering my comments. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. Ms. Ford. Proposal Nos. CA -9, CA -18, and CA -19 in support. MS. FORD: Thank you. Hi, I am Brenda Ford, one of the co-authors of the PONC (Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources Preservation Commission) Fund and the PONC Maintenance Fund. I support CA -9 for one Page 2