MIN CHARTER 2020-07-24 (2018-2020)

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Hawaii County Charter Commission -16 July 24, 2020 MS. ZELKO-SCHLUETER: It is hard to follow that one. But it has been, like everyone else mentioned, a real pleasure to serve with all of you. I have served as Doug's Vice -Chair on several different... in several different organizations, so nothing but love for you Doug. I think you do an amazing job. I really appreciate it. I, I would like to echo actually what Mr. Hamano said. This staff, J, Shannon, Jon... you folks have been... I can't imagine anyone more professional or easier to work with. I think the County is very lucky to have you folks so thank you very much and I think the last comment I would make... anyone that worries that Commission members chosen by the Mayor or anyone else doesn't really accurately reflect the community concerns, I think we have had a very diverse group of folks on this Commission, with very different views, but we all were very respectful of each other and I think really represented Hawaii Island well and our residents, so thank you very much. CHR. ADAMS: Thank you Vice -Chair Zelko-Schlueter. So let me just close this up with a couple of comments. And by a couple you know I mean like 14 or 15. I appreciate first of all, all the kind comments. That's very nice of you and I know what the truth is so... When we started this a couple of years ago, and I learned that I was going to be appointed as the Chair, I was scared to death. I think we all kind of understand that. At some point we have all had the opportunity to be in charge of our peers kind of idea and so I knew some but I didn't know all of you. I wasn't necessarily familiar with the staff, with the exception of Mr. Yoshimoto who we'd had the opportunity to work together. I felt sorry for him. And I just have to say that my ability to do what I am called to do within the rules that we have, would have been impossible if you all hadn't been the team that you developed into. I really do think that as many of you stated, the ability to bring your concerns and opinions on matters that are important within a document that is not a day to day document, but is more of a foundational document, to listen to the County, Directors, and Deputy Directors, and other members of the staff, to listen to the public. We had folks that were passionate about some of the things that were going on. We know that we have that in the County. And it was our responsibility on a... on a decennial basis, we are the ones that were called and accepted, and were willing to listen to our fellow citizens on these issues. And so I applaud you all for that because I think that that kind of gets lost in the wash a little bit right. We... we hear it, and sometimes the passion can be not as clear as perhaps the person that is explaining it wants it to be, and what we hear is, we hear the passion or the anger, but not necessarily the message. Yet you guys were able to, I think, work through that and discern really what, what was going on. And that allowed us then to have conversations and dialog that I think informed the documents that we presented to the Council and then received back from the Council and amended and then what we are going to be doing in terms of presenting as ballot questions and then the summaries for the voters to vote on come here in November. Page 18