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Its composition speaks to an effort to bring some diversity to The Water Board. I support the objectives of diversity, and I have no objection to members with academic backgrounds, a public advocacy background, government contract management, etc. In fact, I think it is a good idea to have a diverse Water Board. Diverse and a complete Water Board. Currently, The Water Board is incomplete. What is missing on The Water Board are members who have subject matter expertise. There is not a single member who has an Engineering degree, a Natural Resources degree or the related life work experience to reinforce their technology education. I imagine that you have been a Board Director. Perhaps a member of several Boards. I also have been a Board member, on several Boards. Boards of Directors have several functions: oversight, strategic direction, compensation review, etc. But their function also includes providing operational assistance to their enterprise. The Hawaii County Water Board has zero members who can actually assist the Chief Engineer / Manager and his operations team with Crisis Management ! Or who have a technical background and actually understand the Technology + Operations of DWS ! As a specific proposal for The Charter Commission to consider: The DWS supervisory board - The Water Board - should be expanded to include 2 additional full - voting members. These additional members - one from East Hawaii and one from West Hawaii - would be appointed by The Mayor and confirmed by the County Council. The education + work experience requirements of these At -Large members are that they must be degreed Engineers (Civil, Electrical, Mechanical, Process, Petroleum - all would be OK) or they must have a degree in related Natural Resources (a Mining degree or Hydrology, Geology, etc. Not Forestry - not related) and a work experience of at least 10 years that reinforces their technology education. A Professional Engineer license (PE) would also be desirable, but not absolutely necessary. Many highly -qualified engineers never actually pursue a PE certificate. At all times, one of these At -Large members should serve as a Board Executive - The Chairman or Vice Chairman of The Water Board. 4