HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0783.001 2020-2022 /Con CiC
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From: Kupuna Moopuna
Sent: Tuesday, June 14, 2022 9:28 AM
To: Council Testimony; Kimball, Heather; Chung, Aaron; Kierkiewicz, Ashley, Kanealii-Kleinfelder, I
Matt; David, Maile; Villegas, Rebecca; Inaba, Holeka; Richards, Tim
Subject: 6.15.2022 - County Council Meeting - BILL 168 - STRONG OPPOSITION ¢
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June 14, 2022
Re: Bill 168 — STRONG OPPOSITION
Aloha,
Kupuna for the Moopuna, a network of kupuna Hawaiian homestead beneficiary farmers of
the Hawaiian Homes Commission Act from Pana`ewa Hawaii, submit this testimony in
STRONG OPPOSITION to Bill 168.
The Hawaii County Board of Ethics communicated on April 7, 2022 to Bill 168 introducer
Council Member Lee Loy acknowledging Lee Loy's letter dated March 4, 2022 to the Board
asking that the Board consider expanding its membership of five members. Board of Ethics
meeting minutes of April 7, 2022 report that this consideration of expanding membership
was based on one conversation between Council Member Lee Loy and a County Board of
Ethics member as explained by Council Member Lee Loy.
Board of Ethics meeting minutes of March 16, 2022 and April 7, 2022 record numerous
acknowledgments and concerns over the difficulty in filling Hawaii County boards and
commissions. According to the April 7, 2022 meeting minutes, it is confirmed by Deputy
Corporation Counsel Frenz that the increase in member size does not relieve the quorum
issue. An increase in size means an increase in quorum which was the original issue of
having a quorum as discussed between Council Member Lee Loy and a Board of Ethics
member. In fact, Board of Ethics Chair Heintz states that an increase in member size
"...could actually increase the problem of having a problem rather than
decreasing..." to which Deputy Corp Counsel Frenz replies and confirms, "That's
correct Chair..." Nevertheless, encouraged by Council Member Lee Loy, the Board voted
4-0 (Chair Heintz abstained) on April 7, 2022 to approve the charter amendment process to
allow its voting community to increase its member size from five to seven members in spite
of not remedying the initial problem of quorum.
We believe the matter to increase this important quasi-judicial Board of Ethics
member size requires more time to give thoughtful consideration to important
matters concerning the ability to fill the seats, to remedy the quorum concern, and to
address equitable representation countywide.
comm. No.
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Ref. : P Co1�hUt
Ref.Date jLJ 1 5 2022
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Please of to Bill 168.
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M hal ,
-Kupuna for the o`opuna
Pana`ewa, Hawaii
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