HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0183.031 2020-2022 PI Pc
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April 1, 2021
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To: The Hawaii County Council
Re: Mark Van Pernis
My name is Keith Unger and I am a rancher in South Kona. I served on the
Leeward Planning Commission for 7 years (2013 — 2020), the last 5 years of my
term I had the privilege of serving as its chair.
I lobbied against Mr. Van Pernis' nomination to the Leeward Planning
Commission, and had concerns upon his confirmation.
My last hearing as commissioner on the Leeward Planning Commission was Mr.
van Pernis' first hearing.
The following is an email I sent to Councilpersons Eoff and David shortly after that
hearing detailing Mr. Van Pernis' behavior and requesting that they attend the
next hearing:
On Feb 22, 2020, at 3:39 PM, Keith <kaimiunger@gmail.com> wrote:
Aloha Karen and Maile,
I'm hoping you have already heard about our Leeward Planning Commission hearing this past
Thursday, but in case you haven't, I wanted to express my concern. Please feel free to call
anyone at the meeting to corroborate my report below and I encourage you to read the
minutes of the meeting when they come out.
Yesterday's LPC hearing was what I had anticipated. The Leeward Planning Commission
struggled all day to move the agenda forward. Commissioner Van Pernis was unprofessional,
rude, combative, got into arguments with applicants, spoke over applicants, pointed fingers and
was not interested in working through the process to find common ground or solutions.
He had applicants looking around in bewilderment and asking the other commissioners and
staff if they had to answer Commissioner Van Pernis' questions. Personal questions were being
asked about the applicants business, what they charged for rent and other services and he
asked one applicant to confirm that he had previously filed for personal bankruptcy. At one
point, Corporate Council Malia Hall had to interject and explain to Commissioner Van Pernis
that "this is not an inquisition and if you continued this line of questioning I will ask you to
leave."
Comm. No Vib'
Ref. To: 'G
Ref. Date t"' -
I have been on the commission for 7 years and have chaired it for the last 5 years and I've never
seen anything like this. If hearings like this continue,the professionalism and integrity of the
Leeward Planning Commission will be called into question by members of the public.
I am requesting that you attend the next commission hearing scheduled for March 19, 2020.
Aloha
Keith
And this was only his first meeting.
I strongly support the removal of Mr. Van Pernis from the Leeward Planning
Commission.
Mahalo for the opportunity to testify in this important matter.
Keith Unger