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Page 7 of 23 <br />that doesn’t feel like full democracy to me and I would not like to see neighborhood boards started on <br />this island because I have a feeling that if they get started then there’s not much momentum or chance <br />for it to actually proceed to incorporated townships or cities. And I really feel that the differences <br />between Hilo and Kona need to be addressed by the citizens of those respective communities. And up in <br />Kohala where I’m from, we have an entirely different viewpoint, even from what’s going on here in <br />Waimea. Our communities shared some similarities in the past but increasingly we’re moving in <br />different directions and we don’t yet have a governmental mechanism for dealing with that so I would <br />not wish to have neighborhood boards on this island. <br />And that also ties into the issue that was raised about Mayor or County Manager. Again this is an issue <br />because we don’t have local government. Where I grew up, you have Mayors of townships and that’s a <br />reasonable sized unit for - geographically, etc. it’s more homogenous than this island is so that I would <br />much rather see a Mayor at a local level and a County Manager at a County level which is, we can’t put <br />townships in through the County Charter but it’s a goal of mine ultimately if we can ever get through the <br />State Legislature with it. But I wouldn’t want to do anything that would take away from that momentum. <br />RAY: Okay. Any questions? No? All right, thank you very much. <br />Our next speaker is Richard Boyd. <br />MARTIN: Actually I have a question. <br />RAY: Okay. <br />MARTIN: Just a simple question. If there were to be neighborhood boards and they were to have some <br />authoritative power, would you be in favor of that? <br />PATTON: If they had substantially the powers that a local government normally enjoys in the other 49 <br />states, yes. <br />MARTIN: Thank you. <br />RAY: Can you speak into the mike, please? <br />BOYD: I’ll try to do that. <br />RAY: Thank you very much. <br />BOYD: Yes, my name’s Richard Boyd. I’m from North Kohala as are most everybody over here except <br />this one gentleman from Waikoloa. So you can tell - <br />RAY: I think they must just trust their Chairman here in Waimea. That must be it, I don’t know. <br />BOYD: The Commission should note that North Kohala people care. Not to say that other community <br />people don’t care but we drove up here. <br />RAY: Thank you very much. <br />BOYD: And we’re here for a purpose. Anyway, I don’t disagree with anything that’s been said by Bill <br />so far or Lesley and I pretty much know what Ken’s going to say and I don’t disagree with what he’ll be <br />file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 7-7-99.html7/1/2011 <br /> <br />