2004-07-16 Police Commission Minutes

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Hawaii County Police Commission Special Meeting Minutes July 16, 2004 Page 4 COMMITTEE REPORT • Budget and Finance (Nara /Manago): Vice Chair Manago stated that they needed to look at the 2005 budget. The commission can make recommendations to the Chief, the Chief makes recommendations to the Mayor, the Mayor reviews and makes adjustments, and then it goes to the County Council for reviews, adjustments, and approval. Commissioner de Silva stated that his reading of the Charter is that they have to review the budget and make recommendations to the Mayor. There is nothing that says anything about the Council, so he wonders if going before the County Council puts them in a strange position. Vice Chair Manago stated that in the past the County Council requested that they make a presentation. Commissioner de Silva stated that he doesn't think that they, as an oversight board, should be a lobbyist for the police department. Corporation Counsel Ashida stated that the Police department reports directly to the Managing Director, not the Mayor. If a commissioner goes to the council and makes recommendations, which may not be consistent with the Mayor's budget, package that may create conflict. Before going to the council, recommendations should be reviewed by the Managing Director and the Mayor's office. Commissioner de Silva stated that they are there to check on the department and make recommendations to the Managing Director, that's all. He sees it as a conflict to testify before the council in favor of the budget offered by the department. They don't have to decide on this, just think about it. Vice Chair Manago stated that the commission has been pushing accreditation, and the money would have to come from the County Council. Commissioner Bertsch stated that the according to the Charter, they do oversight of the budget. They are to affirm the budget, but they could also go against the submitted budget as well. If they were taken out of the process, they would not be afforded the ability to contradict what the community wants over what the department wants. He doesn't want to lose that ability. Commissioner stated that with accreditation, taking that position could be very positive in that it brings it to the forefront and makes people more aware of it. He sees a real value with lobbying in this case. Commissioner Bertsch stated that they should not be placed in a position of lobby. They should just give a report based on information they received and the collective feelings of the commission. When Chair Hara and Vice Chair Manago went before the County Council, their report was based strictly on facts and where they need to be fiscally with the