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<br />advocate, and Chair Bennett thanked Mr. Richards for looking at the EMC as a source that <br />can provide ideas and leadership. Mr. Richards said the point is to talk about the issues, as <br />we all want our county and community to be successful. <br /> <br /> <br />b. Discussion on the Commission’s monthly meeting schedule and length <br />of meetings. <br /> <br /> Chair Bennett said there was a proposal to have them meet every other month. He <br />asked for discussion. <br /> <br /> Motion and second: Commissioner Pequeño moved to maintain the monthly <br />meeting schedule and to extend the scheduled meeting time to two and one-half hours. <br />Vice Chair Olson seconded. <br /> <br /> Discussion: Deputy Director Noda pointed out that there is no hourly time limit on <br />the meetings, just the specification that they be on the fourth Wednesday of the month. <br />The agendas only show a start time. <br /> <br /> Motion amended, seconded, and vote: Commissioner Pequeño amended his motion <br />and moved that the EMC maintain its monthly meeting schedule. Vice Chair Olson <br />seconded, and all commissioners voted aye. <br /> <br /> Vice Chair Olson said that in the past they had also held meetings in other areas of <br />the island, so if there was an issue specific to an area, it might be more appropriate to do so. <br /> <br />c. Proposal to change Hawaiʻi County Code Section 2-207, which states <br />that the Commission has a 45-day review period to submit comments <br />and recommendations on legislation relating to the functions and <br />duties of the Department of Environmental Management to the County <br />Council, and that failure to act within the 45-day review period shall be <br />considered as an unfavorable recommendation. <br /> <br /> Chair Bennett said that if the EMC does not provide a yea or nay to a <br />recommendation within 45 days, the Code as currently structured deems it a negative <br />recommendation, and this is not appropriate. <br /> <br /> Director Kucharski said that in order to modify the Code, they need to have a <br />councilmember support it and provide the County Clerk a draft modification to be placed <br />on an agenda before the appropriate committee, where it would go through the usual bill <br />cycle. The wording could be made neutral. There were problems in the past with getting a <br />quorum, which made the 45-day deadline a problem. <br /> <br /> Ms. Noda said that a 60-day deadline may work, as that would cover two EMC <br />meeting dates. Director Kucharski said his opinion is that the 45-day deadline is <br />reasonable, as they have been having quorum, but the unfavorable recommendation if <br /> <br /> <br />