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HAWAI`I FIRE COMMISSION <br /> REGULAR SESSION MINUTES <br /> J U N E 26, 2025 <br /> WEST HAWAI`I CIVIC CENTER, COUNCIL CHAMBERS, BUILDING A <br /> 74-5044 ANE KEOHOKALOLE HWY., KAILUA-KONA, HI <br /> CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL <br /> Chair Kosaki called the meeting to order at 9.00 a.m. <br /> Present: Gerald Kosaki, Chair <br /> Steven Hirakami, Vice Chair <br /> Brian Cushnie, Commissioner <br /> Les Hanano, Commissioner <br /> Shon Magsalin, Commissioner <br /> Wesley Mattos, Commissioner <br /> Rick Porter, Commissioner <br /> Carlene Wolf, Commissioner <br /> Absent: Wayne Perrin Jr., Commissioner <br /> A quorum was present. <br /> Also present: Daniel Volpe, Deputy Fire Chief <br /> Sinclair Salas-Ferguson, Deputy Corporation Counsel <br /> Charisse Correa, Secretary <br /> PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS <br /> Police Commission Chair Rick Robinson and Vice Chair John Bertsch addressed the <br /> Fire Commission regarding the shared secretarial position. They provided historical <br /> context, explaining the role was "loaned" from the Police Commission as a temporary <br /> measure 12-15 years ago, but has since become permanent, with the Police <br /> Department funding the entire salary and office space. The Police Commission's <br /> workload has increased significantly, creating an "undue hardship" on the secretary and <br /> raising concerns about potential burnout. <br /> Several solutions were proposed by commissioners, including drafting a joint letter with <br /> the Police Commission, requesting an assistant to support the current secretary, and <br /> allocating the Fire Commission's budget for its own secretarial support, possibly <br /> including a student assistant. Bertsch highlighted that the Fire Commission has the <br /> authority under the County Charter to appoint its own staff. <br /> APPROVAL OF MINUTES <br /> Chair Kosaki asked if there were any comments or amendments to the minutes; there <br /> were none. The regular session minutes from the May 29, 2025, meeting were <br /> approved as drafted. <br />