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minutes 03-25-00Page 12 of 34
<br />provided that we don’t have at-large people. That’s going to put the smaller communities and people that don’t have much
<br />money at a terrible, terrible disadvantage. You can’t expect someone from Ka’u, that doesn’t have a lot of money, to compete
<br />with somebody from Hilo that has plenty of support, for at-large. So, we want you to take this very, very seriously. Thank
<br />you.
<br />Now, as far as Planning Commission powers are concerned, Mr. Yuen, we would like to have the language stated in such a
<br />way that those Special Management Areas, and I assume those areas are the ones that would be involved with Federal and
<br />State’s regulations also. Correct? Like seashore management and so forth? We are number 10 here.
<br />YUEN: The Special Management Area is an area that’s entirely mapped out currently, and it is generally around the shore
<br />line, and in some cases, it goes in a little bit.
<br />P. MARTIN: Okay. Those are areas that are of public concern. I guess what our concern is, we do not want to give any
<br />Commission the powers that should be reserved to the people, powers that should be reserved to elected officials, people who
<br />are responsible and answerable to us.
<br />Qualifications of Heads of Departments of Public Works and Department of Water Supply, etc., etc. There should be no, ever
<br />should be any, excuse not to have a qualified Department Head for any department. If that department has responsibilities for
<br />engineering things, then the head of that department should be an engineer. You cannot expect a non-engineer to be able to
<br />make the most informed decisions for the County. You can have an administrative person as an assistant if you like, but the
<br />person in charge should know what they’re doing. That goes for Parks and Recreation. You wouldn’t put a non-financial
<br />expert in the Finance Department. I can’t imagine that you’d do that. So if you’re not going to do that, you shouldn’t do it for
<br />DPW.
<br />And the only other thing that was brought up earlier, and I think that we should discuss it some more, is the Commissions
<br />situation. We’re very pleased to see the idea of districts for the Water Commission, that all districts are represented. We
<br />cannot, for the life of us, understand why all districts shouldn’t be represented for all Commissions; Police, Fire, etc., and we
<br />would like to see those Commissioners as nearly represent the people in their district as possible. It’s not in our best interest, I
<br />don’t think, to have the Mayor, whoever he or she is, with that kind of power. We would like to see the people that are going
<br />to serve on those Commissions as recommended and presented to the whole board by their own district Council people. And
<br />thank you very much for your attention. We appreciate your good work.
<br />RAY: George.
<br />G. MARTIN: Point of clarification. You know that the Department Head - As far as it went in the Planning Department, the
<br />individual that came to us and spoke to us and was not able to receive the position had a degree, but his degree came from the
<br />military, and our County or State, or whatever the case may be, didn’t recognize that degree although he was an engineer, but
<br />not a licensed engineer. So with a situation like that, the person had the capability of doing the job. He had the ability to do
<br />the job, but he couldn’t do it because of this criteria. What’s your stance on that now?
<br />P. MARTIN: Well, I would say to you that I was a previous airline Captain, and I might have known how to fly an airplane
<br />but if the Federal Aviation Commission didn’t give me a Captain’s rating, I wouldn’t be allowed to be a Captain. That’s it,
<br />and I think that we have to understand that what’s really important here is that we have qualified people. Now, there are
<br />going to be people who are qualified who don’t have the paperwork. Well, then you need to go get the paperwork.
<br />RAY: Next person testifying, Ann Mack. And the next person up is Keiko Bonk, followed by Patti Barry. So, Ann Mack.
<br />MACK: Good morning. My name is Ann Mack. My address is 76-6306 Kaheiau Street, Kailua-Kona. I just have a few brief
<br />remarks based on the information this morning.
<br />I am very much in favor of number 1, non-partisan elections.
<br />I am against number 2, having the Council have three at-large seats. I think we’re just beginning to get the benefits of having
<br />the Council members represented from all districts. I’d hate to see that changed.
<br />And, number 10, especially the proposals (e) and (f) regarding the Special Management Area. We need more public input.
<br />Not less. Thank you.
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