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minutes 03-18-00Page 14 of 27
<br />BOUCHER: Well, in general, Maui runs very well, I think. Okay, well, I stand corrected, perhaps. But maybe we need to
<br />make the public aware of -
<br />RAY: Yes. We’re just starting. This is our second public hearing and we’ve got eight months to go before the election so,
<br />hopefully, people will engage the discussion.
<br />BOUCHER: Item number 6, Planning Department Functions. I think that’s a good idea to move to Public Works. Often these
<br />responsibilities are very inter-related already, and I think it’s a good idea to try and consolidate as much as possible.
<br />RAY: Okay, so there again, Peter, what this does is - This was also an Administrative suggestion that we create a Division of
<br />Permitting, and take over all the administrable functions. We decided not to go with that suggestion in total, so what we’re
<br />proposing is just to eliminate language in the Charter which would preclude a future Administration, if they wished, to
<br />reorganizing. So, in other words, all this does is takes some language out of the Charter which would mean - If you wanted to
<br />do that later, you’d have to make a change in the Charter, so it just eliminates that language so, if in the future, the
<br />Administration and the Council wanted to back a reorganization, so that’s what this does. It’s not setting up that Division of
<br />Permitting as was requested by the Administration. It just makes it easier for that to happen if it should be pursued in the
<br />future.
<br />BOUCHER: Well, I think that’s a good idea. I think that’s a good move.
<br />RAY: Okay.
<br />BOUCHER: Number 12, Impeachment. I think some of the events we’ve seen recently would strongly lead one of the
<br />average citizens to endorse clarifying some of those issues. I think it’s a little bit ridiculous what’s been happening lately, so I
<br />support that.
<br />SANTANGELO: And Peter, with that, we went far and wide, across the country, how was that handled, and it is a way of
<br />empowering the people to hold their public accountable but to try to also address harassment. So, you’re right.
<br />BOUCHER: Right, and I think it’s very appropriate. Number 13, I think, is just a housecleaning amendment for you, and I
<br />support that.
<br />Likewise, number 16, the Police Commission. In light of events, I think it’s appropriate.
<br />Number 18, also in light of events, although I may have a conflict - I don’t have a conflict of interest. I think it’s appropriate.
<br />It’s sad that our Civil Service employees often times make more than their supervisors, and I don’t think that’s correct. But
<br />yet, the Council is under pressure from the public not to - You have to put your vote out in the public on whether you should
<br />raise their salary, and that’s a difficult position to be in. I can appreciate that, so I think it’s good to put it in an impartial
<br />Commission.
<br />RAY: By the way, this is something else, not that we want to be total copy cats of Maui County, but I think they
<br />implemented this in Maui in 1994, and I talked to ex-Mayor Lingle about it, and it seems to work very well there. It hasn’t
<br />caused any huge salary raises, and it’s been very well excepted, and it’s been just a lot more professional - pay raises to
<br />reflect the competitive nature in the private and the public sector. So, I think it’s worked well there. I think this one will be a
<br />tough one for the public to embrace, but we’ll see.
<br />BOUCHER: I think it’s completely appropriate. For what it’s worth, I’m glad to hear you’re trying to model on Maui because
<br />in my division, personally, I use Maui often as my model. I think they’ve done a lot. They’re very progressive.
<br />RAY: We took some stuff from City and County as well, and also from other Charters we’ve looked at in other jurisdictions.
<br />BOUCHER: But Maui, I think they’ve done a very good job.
<br />RAY: Yes, we liked a lot of the stuff.
<br />SANTANGELO: I think the Salary Commission, as you said, the way it’s got to be sold, and it’s up to people like yourself,
<br />so it’s really good to hear this, Peter. This empowers a Commission of the public to come in and take a look at things. And
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