HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0627.014 2022-2024 p/Council
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From: HULI Hawaii
Sent: Tuesday,January 09, 2024 4:36 PM
To: Council Testimony
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Cc: Inaba, Holeka;Villegas, Rebecca; Evans, Cynthia F.W.; Kimball, Heather; Kanealii-c .
Kleinfelder, Matt; Lee Loy, Sue; Kierkiewicz, Ashley; Kagiwada, Jennifer; Gimba,--�
Michelle M. CD— yc
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Subject: Bill 109 - Support - cr—;
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Aloha County Council Members, y'
Thank you for this opportunity.
HULI PAC strongly supports Bill 109, which Council members Dr. Inaba and Villegas are introducing to amend the
County Charter section relating to appointments and terms of county department heads.
Bill 109 is vital to bring much-needed clarity that addresses an ethical nomination, acceptance, and exit process. This bill
creates clarity and a more democratic system within our laws around re-evaluating department heads, deputies,
assistants, and private secretaries entering and exiting the administrative office.
As the law stands today, the Mayor's nominees are allowed full access to confidential information and the ability to make
changes before being accepted by the County Council. This is a network security issue and is entirely an unethical
process.
Currently, when a department head leaves, it is unclear if their entire team is terminated on the same day. This could
disrupt the process's continuity. Instead, the deputies, assistants, and private secretaries should holdover until replaced
by a director and be evaluated based on merit.
This bill would ensure that appointments for department heads are submitted within 30 days of the start of any mayoral
term and within the 60 days of the occurrence of any vacancy. Currently, if the Mayor does not appoint the sitting
department head, they could hold over indefinitely.
The department heads should only take office and have confidential access and the ability to make changes to the current
administration only after being confirmed by our County Council, including any Mayor going for a second term. It should
not be automatic that the current standing administration should be ushered in without proper evaluation to address any
current standing concerns from the public and the County Council, nor should they be allowed an indefinite position.
This bill is extremely important to clarify before our upcoming 2024 Mayoral election to bring more transparency, clarity,
and an ethical process for our future leaders.
Thank you
Maki Morinoue
Holualoa, 96725
HULI PAC, member
"The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the
new." - Socrates
HULI PAC - P.O. Box 168, Holualoa, HI. 96725 - www.hulihi.com Comm l� , , II.r`
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