HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0810.005 2020-2022 COMM,810
McCully Works
69 Railroad Ave. A-19
Hilo, Hi. 96720
808-933-7000
Council Testimony, Bill 174
Second Reading, July 6, 2022 COUNTY CLERK
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVEDS�,p,/
Aloha Chair, Date a '!c 0 5 2022
I write to you in Full Support of Bill 174, which seeks to improve the
delivery of services to our community through the separation of the Building
Division from the Department of Public Works.
The issues surrounding the efficient processing of Building Permit
applications are long standing, though the conversion to the EPIC system is
easily blamed as well. In fact in my time as an applicant from the 1970's
through the current period I've watched a steady increase in the time until
now it is impossible to predict how long an application may take. This is a
great cost to our community and requires deep consideration of how to
approach the problem structurally as well as process.
A new Department of Building would allow full concentration of the
Directors attention towards the issues at hand. The most important aspect of
Bill 174 is the department would be managed by individuals with
administrative experience rather than limited to those with engineering
licenses. While those particular criteria may be important for one stamping
plans or even reviewing plans a department is made up of personnel with
varied skills and they need to be brought together by a director who is
process oriented and results driven. This department director must have
actual experience in both building and development to effectively bring the
permit and inspection process into a coherent service to meet the publics
expectations.
The cost of a new Department should not be considerable, especially when
compared to the expenses incurred by a long suffering public awaiting their
Permits.
Mahalo, James McCully
Comm.Na.
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