Board Packet for FC Meeting 10-23-25

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tY_os !% Gerald Kosaki,Chair C.Kimo Alameda,Ph.D. �,y,�r.. Steven Hirakami,Vice Chair Mayor / Brian Cushnie,Member Les Hanano,Member Shon Magsalin,Member Wesley Mattos,Member �rF"o 'M►'w Wayne Perrin Jr.,Member Rick Porter,Member COUNTY OF HAWAII Carlene Wolf Member Fire Commission 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 9 Hilo,Hawaii 96720 Phone: (808)932-2950 Fax: (808)932-2949 July 24, 2025 Kazuo S.K.L. Todd Hawaii Fire Department Chief 25 Aupuni Street Suite 2501 Hilo, HI 96720 Sommer J. Tokihiro Human Resources Director Aupuni Center, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 2 Hilo, HI 96720 C. Kimo Alameda,Ph.D Hawaii County Mayor 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, HI 96720 Dear Fire Chief Kazuo S.K.L. Todd, Human Resources Director Sommer J. Tokihiro, and Mayor C. Kimo Alameda,Ph.D.; The Hawaii County Charter, Section 7-4.5 states that the Fire Commission"may appoint such staff and engage such consultants as necessary for the performance of its duties." The Hawaii County Fire Commission would like to respectfully request that the County of Hawaii secure a secretary for the Fire Commission. The Fire Commission does not have a secretary dedicated solely to the Fire Commission. The Fire Commission is currently supported by Charisse Correa; however,Ms. Correa is an employee of the Hawaii Police Department and is required to perform duties for the Police Commission as well as the Fire Commission. Police Commission Chair Rick Robinson testified at our last meeting and informed the Fire Commission of the increased demands that the Police Commission has placed on Ms. Correa. The Chair of the Police Commission asked the Fire Commission to consider obtaining its own secretary to relieve the added burden the Fire Commission places upon Ms. Correa. In the recent past, Ms. Correa was out of the office and there was no one available to step in,which resulted in several months of cancelled Fire Commission meetings. This prompted the Fire Commission to look for alternative ways to remedy this problem,in the event a similar situation occurs again. In summary, the Fire Commission is respectfully requesting: (1) that the County secure a secretary for the Fire Commission so that the Fire and Police Commissions each have their own secretary; and(2) that the County initiate a contingency plan in the event the secretary for the Fire Commission is unavailable. The Fire Commission believes that if the Police and Fire Commissions have their own secretaries, the Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.