2006-09-07 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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toward the end part, where it's kind of hard to discern which is a recommendation and which is already preliminarily decided. STREMSKI: I told him directly. I could speak to what I said. Nothing has been decided, definitely. SAKAGUCHI: Yeah, yeah. STREMSKI: And I told him I don't know even if I'm supposed to be talking to you. I really don't want to. SAKAGUCHI: I appreciate that. I know it's hard to get a reporter off your back. STREMSKI: Oh, yeah, especially when I'm waiting for a call from my daughter, who was in an accident just before that, you know. I would never have answered the phone if it wasn't for that. But if I spoke out of turn I apologize SAKAGUCHI: - -I don't think anyone's blaming you. CHAIR: I don't think anything is out of line or anything is out of place as far as any comments to a reporter, to the public. And a reporter is most certainly free to write that article. I don't think you have any basis for reprimanding a reporter for doing his job. And if it says in there that it's to be decided today, that's what we're doing. And I don't see any violation in there, from what was spoken. I didn't read it. I personally didn't read it. But do you see anything in there that's in violation, or GARSON: Well, I don't think there's any sort of violation. You are all free to decide whether or not you're going to speak, whether or not you want to designate Myles to speak, or, you know, that's happened before. I represent the Water Board. I've cautioned them before, too, you know, but to make sure that they they've represented as themselves. But that also doesn't mean the reporter's gong to print that CHAIR: - -Going to print, yeah GARSON: --Because, you know, like you said, I'm only representing this is my personal opinion. They're going to take whatever they want, right, from what you say, so they're not going to print that, you know, whether or not you say it. So, you know. CHAIR: I think sometimes something like that is kind of healthy, to get input. I mean, we got input from Corporation Counsel, from Mr. Kamelamela, on an issue that was brought up. But sometimes criticism is healthy, so I really don't see a problem with the article for myself. SAKAGUCHI: Yeah. I'm not above your right that criticism is good, but at the appropriate time. After we have finally decided on these things, I think no problem if any member of the public says I think you're really wrong and can I give you my input. I think CHAIR: - -I think this is the appropriate time, personally. I think this is the appropriate time for criticism, when the agenda goes out and we are going to discuss this, and someone has 7