HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0212.000 2002-2004 Environmental Commission
Background: The Hawaii County Environmental Commission was created when the
majority of voters elected to create this Commission during the 2000 Election. The
County Administration then created a Director of Environmental Commission and
appointed Commission Members to represent each voting District. The Commission
Membership is to serve in an Advisory Capacity to the Director who is paid a yeazly
salary to serve in that appointed position while the Commission Members are being
reimbursed for expenses incurred during travels in the County. When this system was
created and published in the Tribune Herald I had no knowledge that this Commission is
unable to address issues other than the priorities assigned by the County. The present two
priorities aze Sewage and Solid Waste which are quite important since these issues may
be used as the means to gain additional revenues which the County requires to meet all
financial obligations. I have spoken before the Environmental Commission on two
sepazate occasions and have found out some of the limitations imposed on the
Commission by the existing procedural system. 1t seems that this particular Commission
is established to only address issues that the County deems necessary; imposing
limitations on the public to voice their concerns about other Environmental issues.
Question: What other Commission within the County has a Director appointed above
the Commission'? Is there a Director above the Liquor or Police Commissions`? Is there
any Commission that is in the Advisory status other than the Environmental
Commission?
Opinion: It is my personal belief that majority of the voting public is not awaze that the
Environmental Commission is limited to address only those issues assigned by County
Government. Needless to say, I was surprised by my discovery, disappointed and highly
disturbed on the County reaction to meet the request from the public. The existing
structure and functions assigned to the Commission can be compared to a puppeteer
performing a show. The puppeteer being the Administration, the strings attaching to the
puppet as the Director, and the Commission Members are the puppets performing the
dances. The puppeteer performs only those selected performances assigned by the
Administration. It may be quite easy for County Administration to dismiss all critique of
the structure and functions of this Commission by stating "This is a new Commission and
will require time to mature". But this explanation does not address the real issue which is
another layer of Beauracracy since the County Council or Administrator must
recommend to the Director of Environmental Commission to address a specific issue.
Under the present structure and assigned function of the Commission how may an
individual taxpayer in the County report an Environmental concern to County
Government whi h is equally or more important than the County priorities? I azn highly
disturbed that County Administration is under the assumption that County Government
priorities are the only important Environmental problems. And Citizens of this County
are not able to voice their concerns about other Environmental issues. This is similaz to a
"Gag Order" where Government suppresses the citizens by not being able to express their
concerns in the area of Environment. How wrong County Government is.
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Environmental problems will only be resolved when County Government gains the
support of the public to create a workable solution to all problems. And I do not see this
happening.
The above criticism is made of the structure and functions of the Environmental
Commission and is not directed at individuals. However there must be a better way of
conducting business between Government and its citizens in this highly critical area
where the whole population of the County will feel the effects of decisions made by
County Government. Environmental issues, such as, VOG and its effects, Quality of
drinking water, Pollution in Rivers, Pollution of Coast Line areas, have an effect on the
total populace as well. There are many other issues but the above seem to be the most
prominent.
John Y. Ota
1 Nanea St
Hilo, Hi 96720