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Testimony to the Hawaii County Council On the Appointment of Mr. Malcolm Saxby to <br /> the Water Commission, Presented by Robert Ritter on behalf of the Haw i'i unto! <br /> Green Party, August 17,1997 ~ ® <br /> <br /> Aloha, <br /> . <br /> Robert Gottlieb wrote in his book, A Life of Its Own, The Politics and Power <br /> o~~a{e~`~~ <br /> "Control over water has ultimately become tantamount to controlling the destiny of the <br /> land and the people who settle on the land." <br /> Because water is so important, the Hawaii County Green Party believes the committee <br /> should be faithful to Article XIII, Section 13-3 of the Hawaii County Charter which states, <br /> "No appointing authority shall appoint any person to any office or position which is <br /> exempt from the civil service laws until satisfied by proper investigation that the person <br /> to be appointed is fully qualified by experience and abilities to perform the duties of that <br /> office." And, although the qualifications for this position are not spelled out in detail in <br /> the Charter, the spirit and the words of the of the Charter makes it clear that someone <br /> without experience or ability should not be appointed. <br /> The Hawaii County Green Party would like to see the Council ask these questions. Is <br /> Mr. Saxby experienced or educated in the history, management and politics of water? <br /> Does he have any experience dealing with water issues? Does he have a working <br /> understanding of hydrology, the properties and chemistry of water, the complexity of <br /> aquifers and the disaster potential inherent in abusing them? Would he recognize and <br /> does he realize the consequences of poor water policies? Will anyone unfairly profit <br /> from his appointment or his voting? Is he willing to excuse himself from voting if and <br /> when any conflict of interest arises? <br /> The answers to these questions that go to Mr. Saxby's experience and ability should be <br /> the deciding factors in his appointment, not partisan politics. Our county, our citizens, <br /> our land, and our environment cannot afford mistakes that wind up costing us dearly in <br /> the long run. Our county government cannot afford the perception, real or imagined that <br /> it is not adhering strictly to the County Charter. <br /> Mahalo, The Hawaii County Green Party <br /> Hawaii Countv Green Partv Resolution for Chanae to the Hawaii Countv Charter, <br /> Article VIII Department of Water Suoolv. Adopted June 1997 <br /> Whereas: The Hawaii County Department of Water Supply and the Hawaii County <br /> Water Commission have no accountability to the citizens of Hawaii County; and <br /> Whereas: There is no public involvement in any of the planning that the Department of <br /> Water Supply undertakes; and <br /> Whereas: There are many communities in Hawaii County that are not served at all by <br /> the Department of Water Supply; and <br /> ;u0. ~z ~ , oz <br /> n.. MaY <br /> Bef ~ Presented P G <br /> 1 9 1991 <br /> <br />