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an interest in having a Fire Commission, and I'm not sure where you are with respect to
<br />that, but 1 wanted to offer this material since it was sent to my office subsequent to the
<br />last meeting.
<br />RAY: We haven't formally taken it up but we have discussed it and so we
<br />would appreciate the materials.
<br />TYLER: Yes, and if your staff person would contact me, we'll get this to you.
<br />Two final items; one dealing with the possible different type of County governing
<br />system, and that is to consider a County Manager, county executive, these kinds of
<br />things. I know that I've spoken with some of you individually with respect to
<br />consideration of this matter. I understand that you have some materials before you
<br />today regarding one of the counties in Kentucky, and I'm sure that, based on some of
<br />the materials that Ms. Pisicchio and I shared with our Kona representative, she has
<br />probably shared those with you. 1 also realize that you have received a rather lengthy
<br />communication from former Council member Keola Childs, who is not in favor of a
<br />County Manager, and he gave his reasons. Therefore, I just wanted to state to you my
<br />own personal experience. In talking with fellow colleagues from other counties in the
<br />Continental United States, many of whom, it appears to be a majority of whom, use a
<br />County Manager system, and who previously had a system similar to that which we
<br />currently have. And what a huge difference it makes in terms of more accountability
<br />and direct relationships between the public and their elected officials as opposed to,
<br />really, a two-tier track that runs on and the Council and the Mayor does that, or
<br />doesn't do that, and the Council doesn't do this. In talking with many people over the
<br />last three years, as I've studied this possible proposal for this County, comments from
<br />individuals with whom I've spoken, seem to be quite favorably disposed towards
<br />wanting to consider this. It was not my intention to come here to go step by step
<br />through Mr. Childs' analysis, which I have a great deal of respect for Mr. Childs, and his
<br />reasons. Some of them are quite persuasive, and certainly have merit and deserve
<br />your consideration, but in my own experience, given the very positive comments I've
<br />heard from so many elected Council members, as well as those who are tiers of the
<br />Council, or Board of Supervisors, which are the official Mayor, the one that signs the
<br />proclamation, unties the maile and kisses the babies, that type of thing, is that it is far
<br />more equitable and fair, and more efficient in terms of getting the work of the people
<br />done, so I believe I've presented, at least to our Kona representative, most of my
<br />materials as well as some websites, and also to Mr. Ray, but if there's further
<br />information that you desire from me, I'll be happy to do what I can to provide it to you. I
<br />just ask that you consider this and I hope that the voters will have an opportunity to
<br />make a decision on this matter, one' way or the other.
<br />And finally, Mr. Chairman and members of the Commission, I just wanted to state, very
<br />briefly, a thought that was recurring to me in the last three months, during recent
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