Comm No 0012.04 - Testimony - April 1 Public Hearing

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CA -14: Relating to Updating Language for the Department of Research and Development: I went on the County website and licked on this proposal. What came up had nothing to do with R&D — it was about IT. So if the title is correct, then the Commission has not provided the public with the actual proposal so that we can discuss and decide. And if the title is not correct, then the notice requirement has not been fulfilled and additional meetings will have to be scheduled. Fix this. CA -15: Relating to Powers. Duties and Functions of the Director of Information Technology: no comment. CA -17: Relating to Establishing a Disaster and Emergency Fund: There is no question that the County should not be caught short in the future, and that we should be prepared. The proposed fund will limit itself to covering the expenses of the County departments and agencies in dealing with emergency situations. There is a big omission here: the impacted residents. The fund will use 1% of our tax dollars, but there is no provision for using any of it to help the tax payers who may have no other remedy. I will support this as a first step to establishing a fund, but feel very strongly that it needs to do much more than what is proposed. You will need a chapter 2. Don't forget the funders. An Issue that the Charter Commission Missed: The Commission has missed an opportunity to address the failure of this and previous administrations to fill all boards and commissions. Some, like the Arborist Advisory Committee have not been constituted for more than ten years — a violation of State law. Administration should be required to fill all boards and commissions within six months, so that the work of government can proceed. Perhaps we need a default rule, such as: if the mayor fails to act to fill any board or commission within six months of taking office, then the respective council person may fill the position so that his/her district is represented and so that the board or commission may begin to meet. At present, until all 9 slots are filled, the board or commission will not be allowed to meet, even if it has quorum (5). The administration can play political games with this issue to support its own agenda. If you still have time, please look into this matter and search for a solution. Mahalo.