HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0089.003 2002-2004 STATEMENT OF MICHAEL L LAST
HAWAII COUNTY COUNCIL RECEIVED
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE llme..___.-._.. . By__~.`.
FEBRUARY 4, 2003 Dah ._--7~-
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THESE REMARKS ARE RELATIVE TO BILL 37, AND WHILE SOME OF THE
MEMBERS OF THIS COMMITTEE ARE AWARE OF THE FOLLOWING. THE
NEWEST MEMBERS MIGHT NOT BE.
IF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IS REQUIRED, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
CAN ASK QUESTIONS FOLLOWING THESE REMARKS.
SINCE ALL OPERATING COSTS ARE REQUIRED TO BE FUNDED
EXCLUSIVELY THROUGH USER FEES, THIS BILL ASKS FOR ADDITIONAL
REVENUE TO BE RAISED VIA AN INCREASE IN THESE USER FEES.
MY REMARKS ARE DIRECTF,D TOWARD NOT TO INCREASE USER
FEES. AND NONE OF THESE FEES, WHETHER INCREASED OR NOT, WILL
AFFECT ME.
DURING THE EARLY PART OF 1996 1 WAS EMPLOYED AT THE DEPARTMENT
OF PUBLIC WORKS, WASTEWATER DIVISION. DURING THIS TIME I HAD
KNOWLEDGE, FIRST HAND NOT SECONDARY, THAT ONE OF MY FELLOW
EMPLOYEES HAD FALSIFIED RECORDS AND WAS ABSENT WITHOUT
PROPER AUTHORITY, AND THEREFORE, AS A CONSEQUENCE WAS
INVOLVED IN THEFT.
THE DIVISION CHIEF FOR WASTEWATER WAS MADE AWARE OF THESE
ALLEGATIONS DURING NOVEMBER OF 1999.
SINCE THEN, AND AT MY INSISTENCE, THE DEPARTMENT OF
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Ref. Date ~ 0 4 ~003 .
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT HAD DONE WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN
DONE AS SOON AS THE ALLEGATIONS WERF, PRESENTED. I HAD ASKED
THAT THEY INTERVIEW THOSE INDIVIDUALS THAT I INDICATED WOULD
POSSIBLY BE AWARE OF, AND CORROBORATE THE FACTS AS I PRESENTED
THEM.
HOWEVER, NONE OF THESE INDIVIDUALS WERE ABLE TO ACCURATELY
AND CONCLUSIVELY SUBSTANTIATE ANY OF MY ALLEGATIONS.
THAT DOES SEEM QUITE ODD AND UNUSUAL.
PERHAPS, IT IS DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE INDIVIDUALS, WHICH 1
IDENTIFIED UPON THE REQUEST OF THE DEPARTMENT OF
ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, WHO WOULD BE ABLE TO OFFEK
ACCURATE INFORMATION, WERE NOT CONTACTED UNTIL MID 2002!
HOW COULD YOU EXPECT SOMEONE TO REMEMBER DETAILS OF AN
EVENT THAT HAD OCCURRED OVER SIX YEARS PRIOR. IT WOULD HAVE
BEEN BETTER, BUT NOT ABSOLUTE, IF THE PERSONS MOST FAMILIAR
WITH THE EVENTS OF 1996 WERE CONTACTED IN 1999. AN ADDITIONAL
THREE YEARS, FROM 1999 TO 2002, COULD ONLY CAUSE ACCURATE
RECOLLECTIONS TO BE MORE DIFFICULT.
HENCE THE REASON FOR FAILURE TO CORROBORATE MY KNOWN FACTS.
NOW WE HAVE A DEPARTMENT APPEARING BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE
ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL BURDEN BE PLACED ON CERTAIN
RESIDENTS.
I DO NOT MEAN TO IMPLY THAT IF IN FACT MY ALLEGATIONS WERE
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INVESTIGATED IN A TIMELY MANNER, AND THEY WERE FOUND TO BE
ACCURATE. PERHAPS NO ADDITIONAL REVENUE NEED BE RAISED AT THIS
TIME.
MY ONLY REASON FOR APPEARING BEFORE THIS COMMITTEE, AND I DO
SO REPRESENTING NO ONE BUT MYSELF, IS TO HAVE THIS BODY
EVALUATE MY REMARKS. AND LOOK AT THE PERFORMANCE OF THE
INDIVIDUALS WHO WE ENTRUST TO OVERSEE THE OPERATIONS OF THE
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT.
AS I STATED AT THE BEGINNING OF MY REMARKS, I AM PREPARED TO
RESPOND TO ANY AND ALL QUESTIONS THIS GOVERNMENTAL BODY
MIGHT POSE. INCLUDING THE ALL IMPORTANT;
"WHAT'S IN IT FOR MIKE LAST?°
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