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REPORT OF THE <br /> COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL <br /> OPERATIONS AND EXTERNAL AFFAIRS <br /> DATE: May 14, 2024 Re: Comm. No. 857/Bill No. 160 <br /> PLACE: Council Chambers <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i <br /> TIME: 1:00 p.m. <br /> Council Chair and Members <br /> Hawai`i County Council <br /> Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 <br /> Your Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs, to which was referred <br /> Bill No. 160, reports as follows: <br /> Bill No. 160, introduced by Member Holeka Goro Inaba and Member Ashley L. Kierkiewicz via <br /> Communication No. 857, dated April 17, 2024, initiates an amendment to Article III, Article VI, <br /> and Article XVI of the Charter of the County of Hawai`i (2022 Edition), relating to Corporation <br /> Counsel. <br /> This bill moves provisions for the Office of the Corporation Counsel currently in Article VI and <br /> under the supervision of the Managing Director into Article III, Legislative Branch, and provides <br /> the County Council the sole authority to appoint and remove the Corporation Counsel. <br /> Members Inaba and Kierkiewicz explained the provisions of the bill, saying that the appointment <br /> of Corporation Counsel would work similarly to that of the County Auditor. The appointment <br /> would be a public process, with committee members representing both the Legislative and <br /> Executive Branches. <br /> Several members wondered what problem this piece of legislation would solve and discussed <br /> alternative options to the bill, including the hiring of a staff attorney who would be employed by <br /> the Office of the County Clerk. The introducers clarified that this bill would not resolve any <br /> pressing issue, but would give more opportunity for input from the Hawai`i County Council. <br /> GOEAC Report No. 141 <br />