CHC 1979-05-01 PH - Laserfiche WebLink

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just another department of the county' s executive branch. The water commission should be abolished and their duties and responsibilities turned over to-the executive branch or a legislative branch as may be appropriate to make the operation of this department consistent with the operation of other county departments. We feel that the head of this department should be appointed by the mayor with the approval of the county council . We also feel that the requirement that the head of this department be a registered engineer should be deleted as this, too, is a position requiring administrative ability rather than engineering skill. I might interject here, Mr. Chairman, that in our meeting with the head of the department of water supply, in response to a direct question he told us that as long as he has been managing the department of water supply, he has not had to make a single decision that has required the abilities of an-engineer. Our next recommendation deals with Article X, financial procedures. It is recommended that the charter be amended to provide that there shall be an expenditure ceiling for the operating budget which shall limit expenditures to the total revenues of the county, exclusive of state or federal funds or grants. It is further recommended that the charter be amended to provide that the net bonded debt shall not exceed 5% of the full market value as determined by the tax office of real property in the County of Hawaii. With regard to Article XI, initiative and referendum, we refer to Section 11-2, limitations to powers. It is recommended that this entire section be deleted from the charter. The net effect would be to eliminate all limitations to the power of initiative. And finally Article XIII , general provisions with regard to Section 13-4, boards and commissions. A provision should be added which will provide that a person ' s occupation or business shall not, in itself, be a bar from someone serving on any board or commission of the County of Hawaii. And .finally, we feel that a Sunset provision should be added to the county charter which would provide that at least once every four years the council critically review every program supported by county funds and unless the council favorably authorizes its continuation at the then current or modified levels the program would be terminated. We feel that the council should adopt procedures and details to implement this new section. That is the conclusion of our presentation , Mr. Chairman. I would be most happy, to answer any questions that you or the members of your commission may have. MR. TRULSON: Mr. Santos. To come up with questions to something you have worked on for a long time, evidently, right off the top of my head is a little difficult. I have one regarding initiative and referendum, Section 11-2. -15-