2010-10-08 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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whether it be scanning, storing files to help preserve the critical documents and the various meetings held. From the gist of it, I got that this will basically streamline any or all departments’ operations including the director of R&D, Research and Development. Now, it was to my understanding that the Corporation Counsel office currently uses this method. Apparently there is a cost to having such a system set up whether it be a program fee or an annual fee. I have no idea. But because the Corporation Counsel currently uses it, I think that there are individuals in that office that can help and train the individuals involved in utilizing this particular process. So with that alone, that’s a big hurdle that I think that is resolved in a sense that now we have somebody already familiar with it, let’s utilize the individuals involved. How specific it will be, how difficult it would be, I have no idea. This was one of the ideas that was given by Randy. Other was to have maybe monthly staff meetings. Meetings via the VCC which is available. I don’t know where it’s available in the county, video conferencing, conference calling, etc., telephone call. This was also discussed. Because I think they need to have out of district meetings because since most of their staff are involved with multitude of various types of projects. So to have everybody meet all in one place, it’s very hard to do. So, the VCC, the telephone conferencing will assist them. Now one area which I was not necessarily surprised, but was interesting to me was that the department of Research and Development currently does not write their own grants, the grant writing for various projects and programs. Instead they have a grant specialist which informs the public of possible funding sources. But for the purposes of R&D, I think they need to seek and write grants specific to their upcoming needs even if it means training one or two, well one person to write grants or having someone seek and write grants for them. And even contracting a grant writer because I see that as these funds are in essence free monies that the county does not have to provide, the county doesn’t have to provide any money but the county will reap the benefits in the future to come from these grant monies. So therefore I think by even having someone do this and utilizing and look for the monies, I think it’s going to be a win-win situation. Health care and educational industries were also discussed. Because as it seems now, these industries, they have a significant potential for any kind of economic gain or whether it be through grant writing, additional funding for the County of Hawai‘i, and this is where I think maybe the County of Hawai‘i should start focusing on. This was just a tip of the iceberg but this is what was discussed in regards to that. I can go on and on and on regarding that but I’m going to cut it at that. Regarding our discussion with Scott Leonard, who is an employee of the Planning Department. I don’t know if I mentioned, but Randy Kurohara is the Director of R&D. Scott Leonard is an employee of the Planning Department. Scott too, supports the immediate implementation of the laser fische, the VCC, in lieu of face-to-face meetings where and when practical. What was very interesting in our discussions in addition to his long three or four page letter recommendations, was that he recommended that there be, to assist in monies a one time salvage fee of $150 that can be assessed at any point or at the point of purchase of a new car or when registering your own vehicle annually. This was discussed and very briefly. It seemed like a good idea but we’ll see how it comes out. Another discussion which Scott unveiled a desire to promote a proper construction of homes. I think this is a very good idea. Whether it’s going to be implemented is another question. But he called it a type two home construction. His 6