Report of the Cost of Government Commission - January 9, 2007

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Solid Waste Division need to be drug-free, as they aze driving lazge trucks on the highways, putting the public as well as themselves at risk. 6. Recommend taking the abandoned/derelict vehicle program out of the Police Department and placing it with the Department of Environmental Management. Backeround/Explanation: The current system involves a police officer placing a citation on an abandoned or derelict vehicle, dictating a report back at the station, sending it to the word processing division for typing (which involves atwo-week tumazound time), receiving the report back and proofreading and signing it, and then transmitting the report to the DEM, which then contracts out the towing of the vehicle. From the time a vehicle is cited to the time it is towed is substantial, and the vehicle should be removed sooner. The role of the Police Department in writing a report and having it typed could be eliminated. Instead, a form to report an abandoned/derelict vehicle could be made available to the public. This form would include the description of the vehicle, its location, and other essential information. The DEM could use the information from the form to hook up the vehicle. This would cut out the delay of having an officer dictate a report, having it typed, going back to the officer for proofreading and signing, going to the records division, and then finally going to the DEM. Details such as how DEM would verify the information in the report forms would need to be worked out. The COGC was informed that Oahu's Environmental Management Department handles the abandoned/derelict vehicle program. VIII. FINANCE DEPARTMENT A response dated April 28, 2006, to the COGC's questionnaire was received from the Finance Department. In addition, Deputy Director Nancy Crawford met with the COGC on Mazch 16, 2006, and again on November 20, 2006. Based upon the written response, the sessions with Ms. Crawford, and input from other departments, the following recommendations aze made: A. Have all departments revisit their telecommunication costs and verify the number of lines within their department. BackQroundBxplanation: It has come to the COGC's attention that many phone lines are being paid for which are not being used. Eliminating unused lines will save a lot of money. B. Recommend implementation of a five-day payroll lag. Back ound/Exalanation: At least one department complained about its payroll employees spending a lot of time on paperwork, making adjustments to time 8