2000-02-09 Charter Commission Minutes

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minutes 02-09-00Page 5 of 41 that. If it simplifies things, and it makes people more accountable, then I would certainly be in favor of it, and I’m telling you this, of course, as an elected official. RAY: Were you aware that Maui County empowered their Salary Commission to set the Executive salaries, I think, seven or eight years ago? And I’ve gotten input from them that’s worked really well. I spoke with Linda Lingle about that. TYLER: Good. Well, I know they increased the Council members’ salaries to about $48,000 or so. I know that. HERKES: So you can’t be entirely opposed to it. TYLER: No. No, I’m not. I’m just trying to look at it from a real simplistic standpoint. HERKES: I know. TYLER: And I’m not asking you to go into work that you haven’t already considered. Just giving you a comment. I was pleased to read about what I read in the newspaper regarding the Managing Director having additional duties and requiring Council confirmation. I think those are good steps. As all of you know, I favor a County Manager. I understand this is not something that you’re going to move forward on to the ballot, and I respect you for your decision. But this is certainly a move in the right direction, so I wanted to give you some positive feedback. And I’m glad that you’re looking at that because I think it would make a big difference. And in terms of rearranging other duties in the Executive Branch, perhaps that’s going to be very helpful too. I assume, by looking around here, that this is something that’s going to make government work better for all of us, including the Administrators. I read some reports regarding the Legislative Auditor, and as I recall, you are considering, instead of a political appointment, more like a Marian Higa type of appointment, that would go for a longer period of time. Is that correct? RAY: We toyed around with that but that just really didn’t seem to make sense in terms of that not really being the function of the office. As you know, it’s not an Auditor’s Office. TYLER: That’s correct. RAY: So we’ve kind of gone the other direction. Now we’re recommending it being called the Legislative Research Office, and increasing the description and, hopefully, the tie-in in terms of appointments and staff reviews, and whatever, but basically, it’s a political appointment. It’s tied to the County Council Office, so we tried to address that major dynamic. TYLER: Okay. So what I had read previously, you’ve had some changes since what I read in the newspaper, I guess a month or so ago. RAY: But you know, you’re being a Council person and intimately familiar with this office, once you take a look at this proposed language, if there are any suggestions you have in terms of how to make this office operate more professionally and more independently, but still be a part of the Council Office, and still be subject to political appointments, we’d certainly appreciate it, because I think that’s clearly an interest of a lot of the Commissioners. We still can’t figure out how to do it anymore than we’ve come up. TYLER: I will review it and give you some input if I feel that I have some to give. I was surprised to see Term Limits on here, and you’ve explained - RAY: That was just in relation to the 6-3, yes. TYLER: I am not in support of the decision to put this back on the ballot. I think the people have spoken very clearly, but I respect that you work in a democratic situation, and I think it will be soundly defeated. At least I hope it is, but anyway, that’s my two cent’s worth on that. file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 02-09-00.html7/1/2011