HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP PWIRC 047 05/18/2004 2002-2004REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC WORKS &
INTERGOVERNMENTAL RELATIONS
DATE: May 18, 2004 RE: Communication No. 573/Bill No. 255
PLACE: Councilroom
TIME: 9:04 a.m.
Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Communication No. 573 and attached Bill No. 255 is from AI Konishi, County Clerk, dated March 30, 2004, and was firs[
considered by Your Committee on Finance on April 19, 2004, and referred to Your Committee on Public Works and
Intergovernmental Relations for further review. Bill No. 255 was first considered by to Your Committee on Public Works
and Intergovernmental Relations on May 4, 2004 and deferred to allow members time to review Communication No. 573.3,
dated April 19, 2004, from the Department of Civil Service and Communication No. 573.4, dated May 4, 2004, from the
Office of the Corporation Counsel. Your Committee has reconsidered Bill No. 255 and reports as follows:
Communication No. 573 and attached Bill No. 255, proposes an amendment [o the Hawaii County Charter. The purpose of Bill No.
255 is to amend the Charter of the County of Hawaii (2000) to reorganize the Office of the County Clerk and County Council by
establishing an independent audit function within an Office of the County Auditor. Your Committee amended Bill No. 255 to Bill No.
255, Draft 2 to read as follows:
Section 3-_. Office Established; County Auditor.
(c) The county auditor may appoint the necessary staff for which appropriations have been made by the council.
Subject to the provisions of this charter and applicable rules and regulations adopted thereunder, the auditor
shall have the same powers with respect to the personnel of [he county auditor as executive branch department
heads have over their personnel. Staff shall be exempt from civil service laws and classifications~nd
excluded from collective bareainine.
Section 3- Powers, Duties, and Functions.
(4) Follow-up audits and monitoring of [compliance with] response to audits recommendations by audited entities.
According to Communication No. 573.1, Bill 255, Draft 2 incorporates or clarifies the points made by State Auditor Marion Higa in
the attached communication. Your Committee considered Communication No. 573.5, which asked for concurrence to defer Bill No.
255, Draft 2, due to conFlicting points of view between the Corporation Council (Communication No. 573.4) and the Department of
Civil Service (Communication No. 573.3) on the applicability of civil service laws and the impact of the legislation on the existing
Office of the Legislative Auditor. Your Committee discussed various issues including the fiscal impact of the legislation, the
independence of the proposed County Auditor, the status of employee positions under civil service laws and the need for clear and
concise language so the voters to make an informed choice.
Your Committee recommends Bill No. 255, Draft 2 be filed.
AYES NOES A&E EX
ARAKAKI X
CHUNG X
ELARIONOFF X
HOLSCHUH X
JACOBSON X
REYNOLDS X
SAFARIK X
TULANG X
TYLER X
Respectfully submitted,
COMMI"~TEE ON PUBLIC yOIj,~CS &
GARY
PWIRC REPOR~UN .0 4
ADOPTED: