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/ <br /> TESTIMONY <br /> TO: HAWAII COUNTY CIDER COMMISSION <br /> FROM PUNA COMMUNITY COUNCIL <br /> RE: STRUCTURE OF COUNTY GOVERNMENT <br /> After examining the present County system and the proposed County <br /> Manager system, Puna Community Council recommends retaining the present <br /> Mayor/Council plan because we feel that the present system best preserves <br /> the checks and balances which protect citizens against exploitation and offers <br /> the best range of opportunities for citizen access to County government. <br /> Puna Community Council points out that the present system requires that <br /> the Mayor as well asthe Council must stayin touch with political reality <br /> tY <br /> through the election process and that this is beneficial to the electorate. <br /> With a manager, once he or she has been hired by the Council, there <br /> may not be an opportunity to "live" in the various communities which comprise <br /> our island. Moreover, there is a possibility of the manager and Council <br /> becoming "cozy" and for the Council to rely too heavily upon the.expertise <br /> of one person instead of becoming educated on the issues themselves and <br /> conducting broadbased discussions within the County districts. <br /> We feel that if changes are made in the structure of County government, <br /> those changes should strengthen the checks and balances between administration <br /> ' and council. Charter language at the present time gives the Mayor power to <br /> transfer funds and this has potential for abuse, or for expenditures without <br /> full discussion. It is our contention that this can be addressed in the <br /> Charter without changing the basic structure of government, a drastic remedy <br /> which is not nccded at this time. <br /> Submitted by Phillips <br /> Philli s <br /> Don Jacobs <br /> Ginny Aste 94, S7 5 C/ <br /> EXHIBIT B Richard Hahn <br /> 541 C(23• pages) <br /> h� " 72' 7 <br />