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ARSC,ME Local 152,AFL-CIO
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RANDY PERREIRA, Executive Direc:tm - Tel:808 543.0011 Fax:808 W8 0311
LOCAL 152,AFL-CIO
County Council "
County of Hawaii
Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs
Testimony by
Hawaii Government Employees Association
August 1, 2023
BILL- TY CHARTER
The Hawaii Government Employees Association, AFSCME Local 152, AFL-CIO would
like to provide comments on Section 3-4A of Bill 49 which reduces the time allotted for
the County Council to appoint a successor to a vacant County Council district seat.
The County Council typically meets every other week, a five (5) day notification is an
unreasonable amount of time for the County Council to deliberate and appoint a
successor for the vacated council seat at the next regular meeting. It's unfair to the public
that the selection process on a new council member may only be five (5)to ten (10)days.
It lacks transparency and community input — it fails to include a thorough and thoughtful
discussion with the public and community stakeholders regarding the selection of a
council member. We respectfully ask that the bill be amended in Section 3-4A to include:
`Within five days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays)
after the occurrence of any vacancy, the council chairperson shall
give reasonable notice of intent to all remaining members of the
council that on a regular meeting date, which is at least thirty days
(301 in advance, formal action shall be taken to fill the vacancy'.
Allowing the community at least thirty (30) days to digest and prepare for a discussion is
crucial, especially when legislative transparency and community input is paramount in
policy making.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide comments to Bill 49.
(117 ctfull Omitted,
Randy Perreira
Executive Director
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K,18 AAUULANI STREET, SUITE 401 HONOLULU, HAWAII 96813-2991 R . a
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