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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -5 November 9, 2018 <br />it passed and it began to happen and then it was suspended, and then it was <br />forced to be brought back up for a vote again and again the people passed <br />it. And the point I want to make here is the people of this island, I believe, <br />do not want, we do not want our island to end up like Maui and Oahu, and <br />Kaua`i where everything is oven -un, local people are out of the picture. <br />Not to bring in other issues, but in housing, housing is getting to be out of <br />reach for local families to even live here and so this is, this Open Space <br />Fund is an opportunity for us to protect what we have. I heard it stated <br />that the choices weren't even good choices. Those choices that have been <br />made so far, have not been made by one person I am sure you all know. <br />They have been made by a lot of people. A lot goes in to seeing if it <br />qualifies. If a landowner doesn't want to sell, they are out of it. It is no <br />longer pursued. It has got to be a mutually accepted thing so the point <br />being is the people of this County, this is our vision for our island, to have <br />these places protected. The fund has not been used yet, but it could be <br />used to protect agricultural lands which are important. It could be used to <br />protect the fishing trail down to the coast so people can go and fish like <br />they always did and not be squeezed out by development. I feel that <br />looking at that Open Space Fund sitting there with 16 million dollars in it <br />is really difficult for County employees, politicians to look away from <br />that. It is like a low hanging fruit. Lets get that and do this. I believe if <br />there had been no two percent fund, that money would have been spent <br />already. It wouldn't even be here. <br />CHR. ADAMS: Sir, please summarize. <br />MR. REPLOGLE: I am sorry? <br />CHR. ADAMS: Please summarize. <br />MR. REPLOGLE: Yes. Okay. In summary, I know for a fact that a <br />County employee for misbehavior, misconduct threatening activities was <br />asked to go and get some help and when he refused, he was suspended and <br />he stayed home for an entire year with full pay and when he returned he <br />had a month's vacation, had all his medical through that year, and he just <br />went back to work, and I don't know where all of you come from but I <br />have never heard of a business that did that. Take a year off full pay, <br />everything, come back in January and carry on. And I know this is not an <br />isolated incident. I feel the County would be better served if somehow the <br />Charter Commission could figure out a way to do away with this type of <br />waste. I know it is only one employee, but there could be more. I don't <br />know all what's going on but... <br />CHR. ADAMS: Thank you. <br />Page 3 <br />