HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 244 02/28/2006 2004-2006 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: February 28, 2006 Re: Comm. No. 696Bi11 No. 232
PLACE:Co uneil Chambers
TIME: 4:00 p.m.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Finance, [o which was referred Bill No. 232, reports as follows:
Bill No. 232, transmitted by Assistant Corporation Counsel Gerald Takase, via Communication No. 696, dated
February' 1, 2006, initiates a Charter amendment to Section 13-4, Article XIII of the Hawaii County Charter,
relating to composition and terms of Boazds and Commissions.
Section 13, Article XIII of the Hawaii County Charter sets forth the appointment requirements and duration of
terms for members of the various boazds and commissions of the County of Hawaii. Currently, when a
member of a board or commission resigns before the expiration of the member's term, a replacement is found
to serve out the remainder of the previous member's term. In many cases, the replacement is serving a term of
two yeazs or less. Because members cannot currently succeed themselves, in many cases, willing members of
the public would rather wait for a full term, rather than fill such a short term, thus no replacement is found and
the board or commission must operate with the vacancy for the remainder of the term. This has created
considerable hardship for these boards and commissions [o operate with less than a full membership to meet
quorum or having a sufficient number of votes to take action. I[ creates cancelled meetings or delayed actions
because of insufficient votes.
At present, the Charter precludes a replacement from being reappointed to the boazd or commission. On an
initial appointment, the Charter does allow a member to succeed themselves, this amendment would extend
this provision and its rationale to all members who serve a term of two yeazs or less to succeed themselves,
recognizing that this situation exists not only for initial appointments, but for all terms of two yeazs or less.
This Charter amendment would assist the County of Hawaii in ensuring that boazds and commissions are fully
and properly staffed with qualified members.
Pursuant to Article XV, Section 15-1 (a) of the Hawaii County Charter, amendments or revisions of the
charter may be initiated by ordinance of the council adopted after three readings on separate days. Upon
adoption of the ordinance the council shall provide that the proposed amendments or revisions be submitted to
the electors of the county for approval at the next genera] election.
Your Committee on Finance is in accord with the purpose and intent of Bill No. 232 and recommends it pass
first reading.
smc
Hues Noes A&e ex Respectfully submitted,
ARAIUICI X
HICA x COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
HOFFMANN X
HOLSCHiTH X '
IKEDA X
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ISBELL X ~~~k r~~.~__ l~~4 G,`e.~'G.
JACOBSON x VIR IA ISBELL, CHAIR
PILACO X FC REPORT,N~ 244
SAFAeIx X ADOPTED: M ~Z~~-