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MR. TRULSON: Mr. Yamada. You stated that there <br /> are too many commissions. Are you speaking of the mayor' s <br /> advisory commissions or like the police commission and the <br /> water commission? <br /> MR. ROBERT YAMADA: I think there are some <br /> commissions that are necessary. But there is a commission for <br /> this and a commission for that. I think these commissions are <br /> being used as a political football and I don 't think some of <br /> these commissions are necessary. Some of the people who are <br /> appointed don ' t even attend the meetings. They don ' t even <br /> have a quorum. And what do they discuss? The advisory <br /> committee just discusses among themselves. They are not <br /> executive committees but advisory committees . All the county <br /> members are paid either per diem or mileage at, I think , l5(t <br /> a mile. And this is all at a cost to the government. Don ' t <br /> you think that most of these elected officials should make <br /> their own decisions? That is what they are elected for. <br /> MR. SENSANO: Mr. Yamada. What is your feeling <br /> regarding this last statement on some departments? The <br /> department of water supply, for example, it says , shall come <br /> under the general supervision and control of the mayor. In <br /> several departments that is stated that the mayor has general <br /> supervision and control and yet some of these departments also, <br /> have`;a _commission. Like the police department, for example. <br /> The police department, for example, came before us and said <br /> that they would like to see this removed. What is your feeling <br /> as a former supervisor and councilman? <br /> MR. ROBERT YAMADA: I feel the police department <br /> is the most expensive department in the county. I think they <br /> are spending about $7 million dollars annually now. The police <br /> commission hardly has any revenue. It is a service department <br /> like the parks and recreation. $7 million doll,ars ;.is a lot of <br /> money. According to the committee, they have the right to <br /> appoint the police chief. I think this is wrong. They consider <br /> our type of government a strong mayor type. If we are going to <br /> leave it as a strong mayor type, I think the :mayor should have <br /> direct control over the police department and if he makes a <br /> mistake, he is going to be crucified. Now, if the commission <br /> makes the mistake, how are you going to go back to them? They <br /> are not elected by you. They were appointed by the mayor. I <br /> don° t think that is right. <br /> MR. SENSANO: So it is your feeling that it <br /> should be one either under the mayor or the commission? It <br /> shouldn ' t be both the mayor and the commission? <br /> MR. ROBERT YAMADA: No, I think it should be <br /> directly under the mayor. If it is going to be a mayor type. <br /> MR. ISHIDA: Mr. Yamada. On the matter of <br /> commissions, you indicated you feel some commissions were <br /> necessary. Is that correct? What commissions do you feel are <br /> necessary that are covered in the charter? <br /> -27- <br />