2006-07-20 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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building permits for the east side, but the east side can issue them for Kona. These issues will slowly be corrected. Ms. Nicholson asked whether it would make sense for the Building Division to have a different work schedule, such as four ten -hour days, or having the permitting section open on Saturdays. Mr. Kajikawa said he is short- staffed as far as the building permit employees. Sometimes supervisors have to go up front to help the clerks, who take the brunt of the complaining public. He said he does not want to be open on Saturdays, as they would need to increase the staff. Some employees may not be willing to work on Saturdays, as well. The staff would have to be bigger to handle working on Saturdays. Ms. Nicholson asked whether any privatizing would help the Building Division. Mr. Kajikawa said that as far as the building permit side, he did not want privatization. Too many peoples' hands would be involved. Though the procedure is not that complicated, things can get altered. As far as the repair and maintenance side and the design side, they could probably use privatization. The design side does not have professionals, so they hire architects to do the design work. They could probably hire construction managers, too. Mr. Sakaguchi asked why Mr. Kajikawa had left private practice, and he said he got tired of drawing after awhile. The commissioners thanked Mr. Kajikawa for coming, and he left the meeting at 11:50 a.m. The Chair asked if anyone had suggestions for the list of recommendations based on the two presentations just held. Ms. Nicholson commented that she finds it disturbing that some of the answers they get do not support the written responses sent out by the departments. She feels they need to be wary in looking at some of the responses prepared by the department heads. The responses they received should not be taken as a given, because there are clearly some differences of opinion. The Chair said they could decide on each one as they went down the list, take either side. Mr. Sakaguchi wondered who makes the decisions, whether the Council on a political basis does so, or the mayor. He felt it was sad for the departments and divisions to be so constrained budget -wise, as they have the potential to move the County ahead. Mr. Sakaguchi had to leave the meeting at 11:55 a.m. Ms. Nicholson said it was difficult to come up with any specific recommendations from either Mr. Nakasone or Mr. Kajikawa. She said it was clear, however, that Mr. Nakasone is unhappy that deputy directors and the managing director are not within the civil service. He is concerned about the lack of continuity. She was not sure they should recommend that a director or deputy director be civil servants. Mr. Joseph said he would not support that, either. 13