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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0183.012 2020-2022 P/Pc corPc.I Council Chair Maile David And Members of the County Council, Chair Ashley Kierkiewicz County of Hawaii Reference: Communication 183 Aloha Councilmember Kierkiewicz: c- - I am honored to presently serve on the Planning Commission, and I am committed to a collaborative open agenda and dialog. I write this letter in support of the dedicated work of the Leeward Planning Commission and to offer my opinions and observations on Commissioner Mark Van Pernis. I understand that my role as a commissioner is to listen carefully and respectfully to the those presenting, those commenting, to my fellow commissioners and the Planning Department. Then to ask questions, relying on each other as a body, to fully understand the scope of the requests brought before us and the implications to our community. Then through due process we discuss and make recommendations. Our commission meetings can last up to 8 hours. Each commissioner brings to the Comm. No. Ref. To: P (Pi' Ref. Date • APR - 6 2021 table their expertise and insights. Diversity is important and paramount to getting views from all sides. However, to allow accusatory and repetitive comments by Commissioner Van Pernis to go unmentioned would be irresponsible of me. His continued inappropriate conduct is time consuming, distracting and creates a negative work environment. Having served as a Chair for the CDP I have deepened my respect to watch how our past Planning Commission Chair and present Chair have respectfully tried to work with Commissioner Van Pernis. Many times, he is disrespectful to those participating in the meetings and is repeatedly asked to stay on track. The disappointing outcome is that it then it becomes necessary for the Chair to mute him. If this were someone merely asking questions, it would not be necessary to mute him. No one in the meeting should have to endure his behavioral abuse. I think that Mayor Roth's letter and request is valid. He is seeking to protect the integrity of the commission. Sunshine laws restrict the commissioners from personal discussions and with COVID guidelines in place we meet by Zoom. I do not know what other commissioners feel about Commissioner Van Pernis. r _ I appreciate Commissioner Van Pernis in many ways and do not doubt his knowledge of Kona. However, the Planning Commission is not a court room, nor are we participating in a litigation process. The Planning Commission is designed as a safe place to present projects and should not be his personal battleground. I am hopeful that bringing this to light will give Commissioner Van Pernis pause to reflect on his position as a commissioner and to step down. Respectively, Commissioner Barbara DeFranco