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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -12 June 7, 2019 <br />on the Charter Commission and for allowing me the time to testify this morning. <br />I am not in support of the current wording for Charter Amendment No. 26, in <br />reference to the removal of licensure requirements for the position of Public <br />Work's Director. I believe that it is important that this position is held by a <br />licensed engineer to help protect the welfare of our community and our County. <br />Licensed engineers much like doctors are required to adhere to high standards of <br />ethics. The decisions that are made by the Director of Public Works have direct <br />impact on the welfare of our community and of our County. For this reason, it is <br />important that these decisions are made based on sound engineering judgment and <br />ethics and are not motivated by politics or money. I ask that you please consider <br />voting against Charter Amendment No. 26 in reference to the removal of the <br />licensure requirement for the position of Director of Public Works. If you <br />absolutely feel that you need to do something regarding this issue, I ask that you <br />please postpone your vote on Charter Amendment No. 26, and that you include <br />the engineering community in discussions that can help reword the amendment in <br />a manner that helps preserve the public's trust and welfare. <br />The engineering community has not been included in any conversations regarding <br />this amendment. By engaging the engineering community, you will find willing <br />participants and may also gain some valuable insight into our profession and how <br />engineers enhance the safety and health of our community which we live in. As <br />you, we are here to serve our community. Thank you very much for the time <br />allowing me to testify in front of you. Thank you. <br />CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. If I could ask Mr. Ono please to come to the <br />microphone. Mr. Beck. <br />CURTIS BECK: Proposal No. CA -26 in opposition. <br />MR. BECK: Thank you Commissioner. My name is Curtis Beck. I am testifying <br />on CA -26. I have been a licensed engineer in Hawai`i since 1983 and like Mr. <br />Tamimi, I am opposed to amendment No.CA-26. What I would like to say in <br />addition to what Mr. Tamimi had to say is that this matter is not just a matter of <br />concern to local engineers, but rather it is a matter of nationwide concern. Why <br />do I say that? Like some of my other colleagues, I have been affiliated not only <br />with the Hawai`i Society of Professional Engineers but also deeply involved in <br />the activities of the National Society of Professional Engineers or NSPE, so for <br />the past 20 years now, I have represented Hawai`i Society of Professional <br />Engineers in various capacities and have served on several boards, commissions, <br />and task forces, including the Board of Ethical Review, on which I served for six <br />years. In 2005 I served on a special task force appointed by the NSPE Board of <br />Directors entitled "The Taskforce on Overruling Engineering Judgement", which <br />dealt with concerns related to those that have been raised by our local PE's <br />(Professional Engineers) on proposed Charter Amendment No. CA -26. In its <br />final report in 2006, the Taskforce on Overruling Engineering Judgement, said <br />this: "Today, engineers sometimes report to politicians, public administrators, and <br />Page 5 <br />