2006-05-04 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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Mr. Sakaguchi expressed concern that a developer makes money selling land that is on the grid, which then imposes a burden on County, which has to maintain and connect the system. He feels developers should have to pay the County for this. Ms. Nicholson asked Mr. Sakaguchi if he was suggesting that whenever someone develops a piece of property, they would need to pay a fee to Wastewater. Mr. Sakaguchi said he was trying to figure out how to contain costs when developers come in and cause them to increase. Developers should either pay for their own system or pay the County to do so. Ms. Beck said that many developers, when they connect to the County, ask that the system be dedicated to the County. So the developers are putting up the costs, which they probably receive back from the sale of the homes. Mr. Sakaguchi said that the maintenance costs are passed to the County. He likened it to developers requiring a road to be put in, to County standards, and afterwards the subdivider gives the road to the County. He gives credit to Mayor Kim when he does not accept a road. Ms. Nicholson asked about Ms. Beck's recommendation on the two -week lag in payroll. She asked if employees submitted their time sheets electronically or manually. Ms. Beck explained that time sheets are not transmitted electronically because of the approval process, wherein they have to be signed off on by supervisors and department heads before going to payroll clerks to be processed. She said that payroll clerks are busy between pay periods because they have to go back and correct the inaccurate time sheets. Ms. Stremski said that is why the State government changed its system. They were overpaying and had to collect. Employees would have to estimate their time on the last day of the pay period, resulting in being paid for time not necessarily worked. Ms. Beck said she does not know who could be approached about the lag, that it might be the Civil Service Department. However, she does feel it would be a good idea. The Chair said the lag is appropriate as a recommendation for the Commission to make. The commissioners discussed problems that might come up, as the unions would have to agree to the lag, and it would require a period without a paycheck. Ms. Stremski pointed out that there was squawking among State employees when it first took effect, but it eventually worked out. Ms. Nicholson asked Ms. Beck how many conferences she goes to. Ms. Beck said she attends conferences within the State from time to time, and goes to the mainland about once a year. Ms. Nicholson wondered how Honolulu works, whether they rely on consultants to the extent Hawaii County does. Ms. Beck said she assumed so, as all the consultants she talks to are very busy, though she knows not all their clients are county clients. She said this would be good to research, but she does not have the time as she is trying to keep her own section afloat. Ms. Nicholson said she does not know enough to address the issue on hiring consultants versus employing more engineers. She is concerned on finding the physical space for the