2014-10-16 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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Mr. Mitchell stated he feels it’s his duty to bring issues that might not have been brought up four years ago because there was no representative from the Leeward side of the island at the last of Cost of Government Commission - to be specific, the Mass Transit busing subsidy issue. Ms. Kierkiewicz offered to help with sections of the report. 7. ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT AGENDA Ms. Maddox stated to carry over the standard agenda items. Ms. Garson said to email Ms. Kualii specific recommendations and subcommittee reports to be agendized. If there’s a draft report, that would be agendized under item 6. Ms. Kierkiewicz asked about the amount of detail to be included in the recommendations for the agenda. Ms. Garson responded by saying it can be more generic and general, don’t use acronyms or short cuts so members of the public know what you’re going to talk about. Ms. Maddox asked if it was better to have the agenda with generalization even if a commissioner has specific language they would like to bring forth. Ms. Garson said it’s up to the commission, but best to have it written down. Ms. Maddox asked if a presentation was going to be made by Mr. Rolston. Ms. Kierkiewicz said Mr. Rolston was unable to make it this week. She asked if he could make the November 6, 2014 meeting, but has not received a response. Ms. Garson stated if Mr. Rolston does respond, his presentation will be agendized. Ms. Garson asked the Commissioners if they needed her assistance in requesting the presence of a particular department head. Mr. Mitchell and Ms. Maddox suggested the Department of Environmental Management. Ms. Garson stated the departments may or may not be able to attend, but we can ask and say that the Commission does understand if they are unable to attend. Ms. Kierkiewicz suggested a letter be sent with specific questions to the departments such as Department of Environmental Management, Civil Defense, Parks and Recreation and Fire. Ms. Maddox stated a letter could be sent, but an answer to that letter would not be one of the department head’s top priorities at this time, which is not intentional, but more a function of the demands on their time with the lava flow. Ms. Maddox stated that if anyone would like to invite someone to make a presentation to let Ms. Kualii know so she can issue the invitation. Mr. Mitchell said it’s really helpful to have department heads come to make a presentations. He stated that Mr. Jacobs from Information Technology gave a wealth of information in his presentation. Mr. Mitchell really wants a presentation done by the Department of Environmental Management because as the other departments were reducing their budget by 5%, the Department of Environmental Management did not, their budget gone up. The fees the department was supposed to be bringing in is going up by less than 1%. 6