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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0183.049 2020-2022 From: kathleen mcrae COUNTY CLERK Sent: Monday, May 03, 2021 1:35 PM COUNTY OF HAWAVI To: Council Testimony RECEMDi ae Subject: Mark Van Pernis Tj��K. Zei� Dates MAY 0 3 2021 1 am writing in support of Mr. Van Pernis remaining on the Leeward Planning Commission. I have closely read all the articles concerning Mayor Mitch Roth asking the County Council to remove him from the commission. I have come to my conclusion that he is valuable as a commissioner who does his homework, asks good questions and is an asset against the pro-development bend we see from our Mayor and other Commission members. It was interesting to read about the training he recently received"from county corporation counsel about planning commission rules and procedures since the council committee meeting". Additional, he states that"to the best of my recollection, this was the first time I received this complete instruction and saw everything presented. It was certainly helpful and informative of proper behavior and limitations re the commission. I would have behaved accordingly rather than lawyering had I been previously so instructed in detail". Mr. Van Pemis, and anyone appointed to a commission, should have this training before they are sworn in. It is concerning that this is not done and, therefore, an outcome like this can occur. I hold our Mayor responsible for this failure. I know a person appointed to the Transportation Commission. He was given an hour of training and most of the time was on the Sunshine Law. He has been on the commission for two years and has been to one meeting about a year- and-a-half ago. At that meeting, they mostly approved, or reviewed, taxi cab licenses; some of these licenses had been waiting for approval for over a year. The report on our bus system was five minutes long. He asked if he could take a tour of the bus base and was told "no, commissioners really don't do that". This person was in Seattle shortly after being appointed to the commission. He went to the Seattle bus system and they spent four hours with him touring and informing him of their operations. He has not been able to apply any of that knowledge or his previous experience with transportation systems to his commission appointment here. He did state that there is an upcoming meeting scheduled for May. When he inquired about his Transportation Commission not holding meetings he was told that "there really isn't money to hold meetings". Of course, COVID has prevented in-person meetings but no communication is not understandable. Mr. Van Pernis has asked for an ADA accommodation and it is the law that he receive it. I was intimately involved in a commission on Oahu for several years. The whole commission endeavor needs improvement, and certainly training is essential, for a commission to be accountable to their mission. I was very saddened to read the quotes from Commissioners Nancy Carr Smith and Barbara DeFranco; both would benefit from training on the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), as well as sensitivity training. Ms. Van Carr stated she couldn't express her opinion to the commission that the time it took to understand Mr. Van Pernis's questions being expressed was "a waste of time" but said it to the paper to print just fine. Ms. DeFranco talked about Mr. Van Pernis questions taking to much time and are "repetitive and irrelevant". I hope the accommodation he has requested to put his questions in writing will help these poor women who don't want meetings to take to long. Perhaps they would befit from the same training Mr. Van Pernis received from the county corporate counsel. Mr. Van Pernis has received several letters of support in Nest Hawaii Today. Those who know him say he asks good questions, does his homework and is prepared. That is extremely important to being a valued commissioner. I sincerely hope the County Council retains Mr. Van Pernis and accommodates his speech impairment with the lawful ADA accommodations. t , Comm. 1 49 Ref.Tos Ref.