Laserfiche WebLink
10 <br />Hilo, Hawaii 96720 <br />April 24, 2019 <br />Via email to: charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov <br />TO: Hawaii County Charter Commission <br />RE: Comm. No. 43.1 Regarding the Qualifications of the Director of the <br />Department of Public Works <br />Honorable Members of the Hawaii County Charter Commission: <br />I would like to submit written testimony against the proposed CA -26 Draft for <br />amending the County of Hawaii Charter. A registered engineer (PE) is ethically <br />obligated to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and must always <br />put the public's interest before all others, including personal, company, <br />organizational, or political. This in my opinion, is the lens a public works director <br />should be looking through when evaluating the critical issues that affect our <br />community well-being. With the requirement for licensure waived, we risk other <br />factors influencing the decision-making process at high levels. I fear that this <br />amendment may have been initiated as a reaction to the challenges of finding <br />and retaining trained engineering professionals, which I do agree is an obstacle <br />that needs creative solutions to overcome. However, lowering the bar for this <br />particular position does not seem to be a solution that is acceptable nor in the <br />best interest of the public. <br />Another reason I am opposed to this amendment is that it potentially limits the <br />pool of qualified candidates to existing employees within the department. While <br />there may very well be qualified individuals within the department, allowing <br />others from the private sector, or other public sector employees, to be considered <br />helps to bring in new ideas and a broader perspective to the position. <br />Thank you very much for your time and your consideration. <br />Austen W. Drake, P.E. <br />Comm. No. 43.15 <br />