2008-09-19 TGREENWELLFARMS - Laserfiche WebLink

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DOMINGO: Yeah, I can see that’s allowed. You mentioned they have to meet the OSHA standards and everything. Now, I’m looking at this picture here with the three – I don’t know what you call them – living quarters, which is not totally completed, because there’s some open trench and I see the plumbing that seems like only a PVC pipe. I only ask these questions because I read about this program and it brings me some memories of what our sugar industry embarked on many years ago when they needed labor for their sugar plantations; and they were brought here probably under similar conditions. And you know, I don’t know what the scale of their wages would be like and what kind of benefits, if ever they are going to have, or how they would actually recruit these individuals and find out if they are really healthy and strong to perform the labor that would be required of them. And then in the event any of them get sick, what would then cover the cost involved? Those are the kind of issues that run through my mind as I think about this. And my whole concern is to see that these individuals who come with some definite guarantees, that their needs would be met and they would be living in quarters and living in areas and be treated in a way so that, you know, at least there’s some dignity in their lives. Those are my concerns at this time. And I guess when the applicant comes up, I can further ask them those questions. Thank you. WATANABE: Do we have any further questions for staff? If not, may I have the applicant and their representative come up, please? May I swear you in then? Would you raise your right hand, please? Do you swear or affirm to tell the truth now before the Planning Commission? APPLICANTS: I do. WATANABE: Thank you. Mr. Melrose, are you going to start? MELROSE: Yeah, I’ll start, yes. WATANABE: Okay. Have you had an opportunity to review the Director’s recommendations and the conditions that were set forth? MELROSE: Yes. My name is Jeffrey Melrose. I live at 1405 Waianuenue Avenue. And I’m representing Greenwell Farms, with Tommy Greenwell beside me, who is the general manager of the Farms. Yes, we’ve had an opportunity to review the recommendations, the staff and Director’s recommendations, and don’t have any particular problems with them. I mean to make a little introductory remark. And I appreciate the wealth of the conversation here, and I really believe Tommy can provide a lot of insight to that. First off, the Greenwell family is, I mean, I’m glad to be here with them. I think they’ve been in the farming industry in Hawaii since the mid-1800s and have been in a continual use of this particular property in an agricultural way and have been farming coffee on it for well over 30 years or so. So they really are a player in the coffee industry, and have been for quite some time. As you know, labor is a big part of any agricultural activity. And certainly the coffee industry in Kona has some significant seasonal labor needs that, at least when I was growing up, that was reflected in the school system and they had a summer break during this period in time now and EXHIBIT B 5