HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0334.010 2024-2026P 006&C,
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From: Aaron Stene
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2025 10:40 AM
To: Kimball, Heather, Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Kagiwada, Jennifer; Hustace, James; Inaba,
Holeka; Council Testimony, Galimba, Michelle M.; Villegas, Rebecca; Onishi, Dennis
Subject: Bill 64 Testimony - Important
Aloha Hawaii County Council,
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I support Bill 64 which amends the requirements to be the head of
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Department of Public Works. Hawaii County has had a difficulty in
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finding qualified candidates to lead this department. The candidates
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they've found are either too old, or don't have appropriate managerial
abilities.
I strongly believe having a strong managerial background supersedes
the requirement for an engineering proficiency. The lack of managerial abilities
has caused issues for the department at least once recently.
DPW needs someone who can appropriately lead a diverse
level of departments. An engineering background isn't as important.
The division level chiefs in building and engineering should be
professional engineers. These two divisions need a leader with
professional engineering background. I don't agree the director should be
held to the same standard.
Comm. 14D.21SAA
Ref. To j I_
Ref. Date J - 1 2026
Sincerely,
Aaron Stene
Aaron Stene
aaron m stene@gmail.com
808-333-0996 (Cellular)
808-325-2041 (Landline)
From: Aaron Stene
Sent: Monday, June 16, 2025 6:12 PM
To: Council Testimony, Hustace, James; Inaba, Holeka; Baez, Wendy; Villegas, Rebecca;
Onishi, Dennis; Kierkiewicz, Ashley; Kanealii-Kleinfelder, Matt; Kagiwada, Jennifer,
Galimba, Michelle M.
Subject: Bill 64 Discussion Should Include Splitting DPW Into Two Departments
I was thinking about Bill 64 more over the past couple days. If you read my testimony about this proposed
bill, the only divisions that really need
to have a PE licensed chief are building and engineering. The other two divisions, automotive and
highways, don't really need a chief with a PE license.
This approach really strengthens the argument to split the department into two. It would reduce the
oversight responsibility of the director managing
four divisions to having two directors managing two divisions each.
I believe it's a good thing that Councilman Inaba introduced Bill 64. It has merits upon itself, but
hopefully it will spur discussion of this larger issue
of splitting DPW into two separate departments.
Aaron Stene
aaron m stene(c-b9mail com
808-333-0996 (Cellular)
808-325-2041 (Landline)