HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0044.161 2020-2022 PtCourlci
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From: Stephen Proski COUNTY OF P,lis'€f_ i i
Sent: Tuesday, February 02, 2021 11:54 AM
To: Council Testimony Mt FEB —2 Ili 11: 58
Subject: Zendro Kern
We are writing to ask you to please review the Requirements for the Position of Director of the
Planning Department as set forth in Section 6-7.2 of the Hawaii County Charter.
According to the Charter, the Requirements for the job of Director are:
1. A Minimum of 5 Years' of Training and Experience in a responsible Planning Position-or- A
Degree in Planning, Engineering, Architecture, Geography, or Planning—Related Field.
2. No Less than 3 Years of related Experience in an Administrative Capacity.
3. Be Fit to Serve, without conflicts created by having worked for Clients and Projects that
will come before the Planning Department.
The Mayor's appointee for the job of Director, Mr. Zendo Kern, does not meet these requirements.
Mr. Kern also has conflicts of interest by working as a consultant for "KV3". KV3 is a Development
Company planning to build a multi-story Residential Project in Kailua-Kona, and their proposal has
been before the Planning Department and is now before the Council. Per the Charter this is a
conflict of interest for Mr. Kern
Mr. Kerns experience within his own Company as a consultant to Developers does not meet the
Requirement for 5 years' experience in a Planning Position
Mr. Kern does not have 3 years' related experience in a Planning-Related Administrative Capacity.
We respectfully request you to vote NO on his appointment based on his lack of qualifications
under our County Charter.
Section 6-7.2 of the Hawaii County Charter REQUIRES the Planning Director to:
Be Fit to Serve, without conflicts, created by his having worked for Clients and Projects that will
come before the Planning Department.
Mr. Kern is currently working as a Consultant to the Developers of a large residential project in
Kailua-Kona, named KV3, which is now before the Council. This qualifies as a direct conflict of
interest, and disqualifies him for the position to which he has been appointed.
Comm. No. 44
Ref.To: PI LoUhl.1l
1 Ref. Date FEB - 3 2021
If confirmed, Mr. Kern would also need to recuse himself from countless Developer Proposals due
to his conflicts of interest, which renders him unable to discharge the duties he will have sworn to
as Planning Director.
Please note also that Mr. Kern does not meet the "Training" and "Experience" REQUIRED
by Section 6-7.2 of the Hawaii County Charter.
We strongly urge Mayor Roth, that Mr. Kern's consulting job(s) do qualify as conflicts of interest
with regard to his position as Planning Director.
Respectfully,
Stephen Proski and Therese McCarthy
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
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