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TYLER: The issue that I have with all of this is one of the fiscal constraints
<br />under which the County operates, and I was ready to propose a Fire Commission. Mr.
<br />Chung and I talked about it a number of times. He says, well, go for it because there
<br />certainly seemed some desire on the part of the Fire personnel, but looking at the
<br />budget, it seemed to me that the best way to do that was to take the Police
<br />Commission budget and divide it in half, and I didn't think that 1 would get five votes to
<br />be able to do that, and I wouldn't make any friends with the Police Commission.
<br />HERKES: No.
<br />TYLER: If you go to a County Manager system, you'd probably save the
<br />County two or three million dollars a year and that would more than pay for a Fire
<br />Commission. So, how's that for an answer?
<br />HERKES: Thank you.
<br />RAY: Sue.
<br />IRVINE: You did mention this document we had from Keola Childs, which is
<br />critical of us going to a County Manager form of government, and he's quite strong in
<br />saying that trying to get a paid manager to move into our County, which is full of
<br />political preferences and a medieval land use environment, that's a quote, end quote,
<br />that we're kind of a big physical and political problem that would be too big for an
<br />appointed person, possibly from away, to solve. Do you have any comment on that?
<br />Also, in some of that literature that may have come from you, there is mention that you
<br />need a 'cohesive' political entity to make this a successful form of government.
<br />TYLER: Yes. Thank you for asking the question. I would like to comment.
<br />Mr. Childs did send me his first draft of that by e-mail and I did remember his comments
<br />with respect to that. Begin by saying we certainly can't go backwards and change what
<br />is or what has been, but I think we have, as we come into the new millennium and a
<br />new century, the unique opportunity to really improve accountability, and in terms of
<br />how we, as elected officials as well as appointed and hired, function with the public.
<br />And I think the days of partisan politics and deal making, while it exists in some areas,
<br />is actually becoming a thing of the past because of things like the internet, websites,
<br />ability for people to travel to meetings, and become informed, and perhaps some more
<br />vocal people,. like myself and others, who bring things to mind, whether you agree with
<br />them or not. It stimulates attention. Personally, 1 don't think it's a valid reason for not
<br />trying to do the right thing, and I happen to think it is the right thing, however, as I said
<br />earlier, 1 have a great deal of respect for Mr. Childs, and I think that he probably
<br />reflects a feeling that, perhaps some of you have, here on the Commission, certainly
<br />members of the community, but there's really no time like tomorrow, and the future, and
<br />you, I think, have the opportunity to at least put it out there to the people to consider.
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