HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0437.004 2004-2006 Hawaii Island Economic Development Beard
ISLAND OF OPPORTUNITY'
september 1 s, zoos
Constance R. Kirin, County Clerk ~ _
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96'720
Sent Via facsimile and U5 Mail
RE: Your letter dated September 6, 2005 letter to Mark McGuffie, Executive IJirector, HIEDB
Deaz Ms. Kirin:
The following is the pertinent background. I received a phone call from Mr.Capellas asking
HIEDB to tum over all files relating to the Kea'au Recycling and Reuse pilot project. I explained
to Mr. Capellas that copies of all files relating to this project are available to him at the
Department of Environmental Management Office, (DEM) County of Hawaii. Mr. Capellas
seemed to be satisfied with this explanation.
HIEDB has now received a letter from you asking us to confirm that there are no files here at
HIEDB. Mr. Capellas apparently misunderstood me. As you would expect, we do have "files or
contracts" at our office, which are copies of the files and records submitted to DEM. HIEDB
retains all files to all of its projects, especially all Federal projects. Our staff always tries to
comply with all appropriate federal rules and regulations.
Decisions as to the nature and extent of recycling efforts on this island are political in nature, and
the County Council and the County administration properly resolve such issues. HIEDB's role
was to secure federal funding in compliance with all federal requirements
HIEDB first teamed of a report on the County~s recycling programs authored by Mr. Capellas
through an article in the Hawaii Tribune Herald on August 23, 2005. On or about August 28,
HIEDB fmally obtained a copy of this document, which was noted to be an "80%" product. It
became clear to us that the phone call from Mr. Capellas was in regazds to this report.
As we have testified on September 8, in our view this document contains a number of
inaccuracies, misrepresentations and misunderstandings regazding HIEDB's role in connection
with this project.
Quite frankly, I would be very surprised if HIEDB's procedures were not in basic
compliance with Federal roles and regulations, since we are now in our fourth year of funding
from the EPA. To the best of my knowledge, none of the various audits and procedures have
been questioned. Again, as noted above, HIEDB is not a political decision maker. Since 2003,
Hawaii Innovation Center at Hilo 1 17 Keawe Street, Suite 107 Hilo, HI 96 720-2 81 1
Ph (808) 935-2180 Fax (808) 935-2187 hiedb~hiedb.org www.hiedl6~yn, No. ~37'
Ref. TopiQ~~'~ pl~,
Ref. Date
HIEDB, via Congressional legislation, has been able to secure over 1.38 million in support for
recycling efforts on Hawaii Island.
We understand that this incomplete report by Mr. Capellas has now been assigned a County
Council number for further review and follow-up and is now an "official" report. HIEDB also
learned on September 13 that there was an Addendum to this report and has just obtained a copy.
We called Shazon Henry of DEM, she said that she has turned over all files to your office.
We have the highest respect for the County's interest in this issue. We believe that most of these
alleged irregularities can be addressed through communication and open discussion. However, it
is also very important that HIEDB be cleazed from any and all derogatory statements contained
in this report so that it can continue its role in promoting responsible economic development on
Hawaii Island.
Yours sincerely,
-
Mark McGuffie
Executive Director
ec: Timonie Hood, EPA Region HIEDB Board of Directors
Mayor Harry Kim Warren Lee
Ms. Bazbaza Bell, DEM Bob Saunders
Mr. Laurence Capellas Richard Henderson
Hawaii County Council Bany Mizuno
Stacy Higa Roberta Chu
Virginia Isbell Winston Chow
James Arakaki Richazd Ha
Pete Hoffman Patricia Provalenko
Fred Holschuh, M.D. Barry Taniguchi
Donald Ikeda Bob Bethea, Esq.
Bob Jacobson
K. Angel Pilago
Gary Safarik