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CHAIRMAN SAKATA: So actually your recommendation <br /> would be that you want to increase the commission members from <br /> seven to nine? <br /> MR. RICHARDS: We would like this body to consider <br /> that. Yes, sir. <br /> CHAIRMAN SAKATA: You will work it on this basis <br /> that it will be easier for you people to have a quorum if you have <br /> nine members rather than seven? <br /> MR. RICHARDS : Yes. Primarily there would be <br /> greater public participation. <br /> CHAIRMAN SAKATA: Also, you are basing this increase <br /> on the base, on the need in the sense of if you have a larger <br /> population in one certain section, you would see more participation <br /> from that area by increasing the commission members from that <br /> specific area? <br /> MR. RICHARDS: IL could be done that way, yes. <br /> CHAIRMAN SAKATA: As far as the police commission <br /> meeting is concerned, what is the percentage of commissioners <br /> present at the meeting. Do you find that many of them are absentees <br /> or do you really have a quorum at the meeting most of the time? <br /> MR. RICHARDS: I have found, Mr. Chairman, in my <br /> short tenure as a commissioner that the meetings are very well <br /> attended. We have had problems, however, when there have been <br /> vacancies that have not been filled and sometimes this does create <br /> a problem where as you have what appears to be a little more than <br /> a quorum, if all those appointed commissioners are able to attend. <br /> One or two that are off-island or ill can present a problem. <br /> CHAIRMAN SAKATA: At the present time, is the police <br /> commission up to seven members. <br /> MR. RICHARDS: No, sir. It' s currently at five. <br /> MR. ISHIDA: Mr. Chairman. Section 7-2. 7, you have <br /> indicated is ambiguous. Apparently, there have been difficulties <br /> in application. Can you enlighten us a little bit more as to why <br /> has it become ambiguous. <br /> MR. RICHARDS : Mr. Chairman, I would like the Chief <br /> to respond to that question. <br /> CHIEF OF POLICE: Mr. Chairman, I'm going to be <br /> very frank with you. I want to preface my statement by saying <br /> that Mayor Matayoshi is the best mayor I've ever worked for. He <br /> has been extremely good in working with the police department. He <br /> has told me time and time again, you do your job and you' ll get no <br /> interference from me. And I appreciate that. That' s the kind of <br /> mayor I like to work for. But that hasn' t always been the <br /> situation. I can remember two instances when I was personally <br /> involved when a mayor gave improper or even illegal instructions <br /> - 16 - <br />