HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0183.035 2020-2022 From: Janice Glennie
Sent: Tuesday, April 06, 2021 10:27 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Communication 183 - removal of Mark Van Pernis from planning commission
COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
Please enter into the public record. Mahalo. RECEIVED
Time 10176.M. By do
Aloha Madame Chair and committee members, Date APR 0 6 2021
I am testifying regarding communication 183 and am strongly opposed to it. It makes one's head spin to think about
the precedent-setting move by Mayor Roth to remove a sitting planning commissioner.
One might not have questioned the mayor's motives so strongly if 1) he had nominated this person himself rather than
the mayor before him, 2) if he had provided Mr Van Pernis with a written, publicly accessible document putting him
on notice that his actions were disagreeable to him, and 3) if he hadn't pushed to jump the queue by trying to fast
track this odd demand, that is, asking to take it straight to the full council rather than the normal process of going to
committee first—a process that's meant to allow for more public input in decision-making.
My opposition has less to do with Mr Van Pernis and everything to do with the mayor's apparent top-down, non-
inclusive, one lane approach to governance. Residents have a growing sense that the mayor wants to be surrounded by
people who agree with him, and, in this case, even wants them to have the demeanor he prefers. That's not how a
healthy democracy works. The mayor appears to be lacking an understanding of his role which is to represent all of
Hawaii county's residents by being inclusive and willing to make decisions based on information and views from
diverse perspectives.
Mr Van Pernis may not be the lamb or synchophant our mayor would like, but his questions on the planning
commission are important and enlightening. Does the mayor want the answers to important land use questions swept
under the rug or does he understand the importance of bringing sunlight to issues so that the public can see and judge
for themselves what's right or inappropriate for the use of their lands and other natural resources—decisions which
can improve or decimate their quality of life?
Removing an appointed commission volunteer has never happened. If you don't oppose this move, the mayor will be
allowed to significantly narrow the diversity of this commission in two days—that is, if you also confirm Leeward
Planning Commission nominee, Dana Asis's appointment to that very powerful and increasingly homogenous
commission.
County council members need to tell the mayor on their constituents' behalf to get back to the business of serving the
public and their pressing needs including protecting democratic process and honoring the diverse goals and nature of
our communities and residents.
Janice Palma-Glennie
Comm. No. In'
Ref.To: Q I L
Ref. Date APR e 6 2021