2000-05-31 Charter Commission Minutes

Home

minutes 05-31-00Page 2 of 54 We know that it can happen again. Anyone that serves two terms would have the chance that they would have the majority of the Police Commissioners to have been appointed by the person who would be the Mayor. If we change it the other way, we’d have a much better mix of people who would be appointing the folks, and that, of course, is the bottom line. That’s the major, major thing. That’s just got to get on the ballot so people have a chance to vote on that. And I appreciate your listening to me. RAY: Thank you. Any questions for Del? IRVINE: I just wanted to comment that we’ve been over this a lot, and Del knows we have, and it’s our impression that the Police Commission is empowered to do their job by the Charter, and we are, as you know, trying to beef up some of the wording, and if they wish to do so, they could do so, and I really don’t think that all members of every Board and Commission are under the thumb of the person who appoints them. I think you’ve noticed that on this Commission, that we do have a variety of people. And I guess I was confused about a lot of your requests. We had so many different things that we were trying to put in that I guess this one has sort of – PRANKE: This has been the major one. We’ve been talking about this for nine years. Okay, sorry. IRVINE: Okay, thank you. RAY: Marni. HERKES: Do you know what the votes were on the County Council? Each Commissioner is approved by the County Council. Do you have any idea what those votes were on the Commission? That’s the check and balance that was in the present Charter. PRANKE: I know that for two of the last Commissioners, Mr. Moe and Mr. Muller, it was six to two with one Council member absent. But on the others, I don’t know. But the newspaper stories didn’t even begin to tell what circus this was. If you’ve ever been to a kangaroo court, that’s what this was the other day at the Police Commission meeting. Members of the Police Commission were baiting Officer Tanny Cazimero. It was so sickening. Walter Moe was going on about how he felt afraid to be in there because Officer Cazimero had his gun, and the Police Commission had two officers in there who were brought in specifically to arrest and remove me if I caused trouble, who were in full uniform with their guns. The whole right side of the Police Commission was attacking both myself and Officer Cazimero in an attempt to get us to break, or something, so they could get us removed. This was a clear attempt to cover. RAY: Okay, I think we’re straying a little bit from the – HERKES: Yes, we don’t need to live that all over again. PRANKE: Back to your point. Yes, it’s true, they could if they wanted to, but as long as they’re appointed by one person, we can’t be sure that they will ever do anything except for what they’re told to be. One other thing happened with the Police Commission – it was a prior Commission but it was under the current Mayor – was that all of the people who applied for the job of Police Commission had their personal record books sent to the Mayor by the Police Commission illegally. And this was the first time that there was a majority on that Police Commission that had been appointed. That’s in their records. That’s in their minutes. This has not been a well run Police Commission since it’s inception, but the point is this could happen again. It’s not just because it’s this Mayor. It could happen again under any other Mayor if we don’t get it straightened out. And it’s a simple thing. The oversight committees aren’t necessary to running the community like the Water Board and the other Commissions are; the Planning Commission. They are oversight Commissions and they shouldn’t be appointed by the people they’re supposed to oversee. Thank you. I know I’ve said that before. RAY: Thank you. Jim Otterson, followed by Curtis Tyler. OTTERSON: I thought I was in the wrong place. The sun was shining here today. Anyway - HERKES: It’s raining in Kona, though. We’re happy. OTTERSON: I’m sure you should be. It’s very nice out there. I just wanted to ask a few questions. But talking about the Police Chief here brings up something that I know I’ve talked to you before. But if this Police Chief – I’m going to say it again – if he would have had somebody keeping tabs of him; him having a progress report every six months and once a year, file://\\coh01\cohweb\council\charter_commission\minutes\minutes 05-31-00.html7/1/2011