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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS, <br /> RELATIONS, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT <br /> DATE: May 31, 2022 Re: Comm. No. 818/Bill No. 179 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 2:31 p.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Governmental Operations, Relations, and Economic Development, to which <br /> was referred Bill No. 179, reports as follows: <br /> Bill No. 179, transmitted by Council Member Aaron S. Y. Chung, via Communication No. 818 <br /> dated May 20, 2022, amends Article XIII, Section 13-8 of the Hawai`i County Charter(2020 <br /> edition), relating to terms of office of department heads in the Executive Branch for those agencies <br /> under the Managing Director, which provides that within 60 days of the County Council term <br /> beginning on December 5, 2022, and within 60 days of the beginning of every alternate Council <br /> term therafter, that all department heads appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Council <br /> appear before the Council for a vote to retain each department head. <br /> Council Member Aaron Chung introduced the measure stating that he was offering it up as a <br /> vehicle for continual improvement to try to bring the uneven power between the Executive and <br /> Legislative Branches more into balance. <br /> Corporation Council, Elizabeth Strance, expressed concern that the proposed Charter amendment <br /> may fundamentally change the distinction between the roles of the Executive and Legislative <br /> Branches of the County Government. Specifically, Ms. Strance noted the potential for the <br /> Council to infringe upon the Mayor's power to select personnel to carry out executive functions <br /> under his or her administration. The Council may approve or disapprove of the appointments but <br /> Ms. Strance was concerned that this measure would in a sense act as a performance review <br /> conducted by the Council. <br /> Several Council Members stated their support for trying to bring more of a balance of powers to <br /> County Government. At the same time, many mentioned their concern for disrupting the ability <br /> of the Mayor to enact his or her agenda within the four year term. <br /> Assistant Corporation Counsel, J Yoshimoto, brought up the issue of it already being difficult to <br /> attract and retain Deputy Corporation Counsel positions and the concern that this measure would <br /> have a further"chilling effect" on hiring. <br /> GOREDC Report No.25 <br />