HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP GOREDC 025 2022/05/31 (2020-2022) REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS,
RELATIONS, AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
DATE: May 31, 2022 Re: Comm. No. 818/Bill No. 179
PLACE: Council Chambers
Hilo, Hawai`i
TIME: 2:31 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawai`i County Council
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
Your Committee on Governmental Operations, Relations, and Economic Development, to which
was referred Bill No. 179, reports as follows:
Bill No. 179, transmitted by Council Member Aaron S. Y. Chung, via Communication No. 818
dated May 20, 2022, amends Article XIII, Section 13-8 of the Hawai`i County Charter(2020
edition), relating to terms of office of department heads in the Executive Branch for those agencies
under the Managing Director, which provides that within 60 days of the County Council term
beginning on December 5, 2022, and within 60 days of the beginning of every alternate Council
term therafter, that all department heads appointed by the Mayor and approved by the Council
appear before the Council for a vote to retain each department head.
Council Member Aaron Chung introduced the measure stating that he was offering it up as a
vehicle for continual improvement to try to bring the uneven power between the Executive and
Legislative Branches more into balance.
Corporation Council, Elizabeth Strance, expressed concern that the proposed Charter amendment
may fundamentally change the distinction between the roles of the Executive and Legislative
Branches of the County Government. Specifically, Ms. Strance noted the potential for the
Council to infringe upon the Mayor's power to select personnel to carry out executive functions
under his or her administration. The Council may approve or disapprove of the appointments but
Ms. Strance was concerned that this measure would in a sense act as a performance review
conducted by the Council.
Several Council Members stated their support for trying to bring more of a balance of powers to
County Government. At the same time, many mentioned their concern for disrupting the ability
of the Mayor to enact his or her agenda within the four year term.
Assistant Corporation Counsel, J Yoshimoto, brought up the issue of it already being difficult to
attract and retain Deputy Corporation Counsel positions and the concern that this measure would
have a further"chilling effect" on hiring.
GOREDC Report No.25
GOREDC-25 Page 2 May 31,2022
Council Member Heather Kimball brought up another idea for bringing balance back to the
branches of County Government,that of the strong Managing Director model where the
Managing Director is hired by the Council and is the primary Administrator for County staff.
Several Council Members stated that they would be voting to support the bill in order to continue
the conversation.
The vote was taken on the motion to move this measure to Council with a favorable
recommendation passed with six"ayes."
Your Committee on Governmental Operations, Relations, and Economic Development is in
accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 179, and recommends its passage on first reading.
jik
AYES NOES ABS EX Respectfully submitted,
CHUNG X
DAVID x COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL
INABA x OPERATIONS, RELATIONS, AND
KANEALI`I-KLEINFELDER X ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
KIERKIEWICZ X
KIMBALL X � —�
LEE LOY x - I ATHER L. KIMBALL, CHAIR
RICHARDS X GOREDC REPORT NO.: 25
VILLEGAS X ADOPTED: JUN 1 5 2022