Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0151.034 2008-2010William P. Kepoi Mayor Lono A. Tyson Director Ivan M. Torigoe Deputy Director June 2, 2009 (~uu~fu nf~- ttfirtti`i DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MAI 25 Aupuni Street Hilo, Hawaii 96720 (808)961-8083~Fax (808)961-8086 http~//co hawaii hi us/directorv/dir envmpe.htm J Yoshimoto, Chair And Members of Hawaii County Council Ben Franklin Building 333 Kilauea Avenue Hilo, HI 96720 VAGEMENT i) ~ ~~ ~- C i Z t= '-'_. r•.. L ~ .., ~ ~' tV _, _ ^ ~ ~ F r i- : r- ~ _ : :v : ,,_ ~_ N - r-~ Subject: Amendments proposed for Bi1136, Draft 3 via Communications 151.30, 151.32 and 151.33 Dear Chairman Yoshimoto and Council Members, Firstly, mahalo to you and the Council for your efforts during this very challenging budget crisis. Our department recognizes that during this economic recession, difficult decisions will be made in order to ensure the safety of our residents and the protection of our environment. As you may know, the Department of Environmental Management's administrative branch recently made reductions to both our FY 2008-2009 and FY 2009-2010 budgets. These cuts included a reduction of approximately $430,000 in the FY 2008-2009 budget and $444,000 in the proposed FY 2009-2010 budget. The department's Solid Waste Division's FY 2008-2009 budget has undergone a 5% reduction and approximately $2.9 MIL was cut from their proposed FY 2009- 2010budget. These reductions were made without any projected increase in department fees, including the sewer fee and landfill tip fee. The Department of Environmental Management has reviewed the proposed amendments to Bill 36, Draft 3, submitted under Communications 151.30, 151.32, and 151.33, which would decrease overtime and un-fund various positions. We respectfully request that you vote "No" on these amendments that would significantly impact our operations. The Solid Waste Division is a public safety agency responsible for operating and maintaining an island-wide solid waste collection, transport and disposal system. This system includes two (2) active landfills, two (2) in-active landfills, twenty-one (21) waste transfer stations, two (2) green waste recycling facilities, two (2) scrap metal recycling facilities, two (2) recycling centers and ten (10) certified beverage container redemption centers. Additional facilities expected to be commissioned this year include the East Hawaii Reload Facility, the West Hawaii Green Waste Recycling Facility and the West Hawaii Scrap Metal Recycling Facility. The Solid Waste Division manages approximately eight hundred (800) tons of material per day. Comm. I•So. SI.3 Ref. Ta: _ a-~ Ccunty of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer. R@f. Uat@ JUN 0 2 2009 Chairman and Members of the Hawaii County Council Page 2 6/2/2009 The Solid Waste Division has initiated plans to increase controls at each of these facilities. These controls require additional resources, including additional staff and are intended to (among other things) increase the lifespan of both active landfills and reduce the County's environmental risk and annual operating costs. Reduction in the Solid Waste Division staff resources will prevent these controls from being implemented and, when combined with previous cuts made to the initial proposed FY 2009-2010 budget will result in reduced services and increased risk to the County. We would like to note for your reference that the positions proposed to be unfunded by these communications, as they pertain to our department's administrative branch, are either filled, in recruitment, or will be requested to begin recruitment in the very near future. Specifically, positions 00-04667 Contracts Clerk and 00-04221 Accountant IV in Environmental Management Admin are currently filled and the 00-4803 Credit and Collection Clerk position, necessary for our department to address delinquent accounts, is proposed to undergo recruitment within the next month. Also for your reference, we would like to note that there appears to be some discrepancies in the figures included in Communications 151.30 and 151.33. With regards to Communication 151.30, Environmental Management Admin overtime is proposed to be reduced to $117,076, however, in the Mayor's May 5, 2009 budget submittal, it is already reduced to $75,504. Communication 151.33 proposes to un-fund Solid Waste position 00-04784 Environmental Engineer, however, the funds for this position are being reduced from the Environmental Management Admin budget instead of the Solid Waste Fund where it is budgeted for FY2009- 2010. It should also be noted that the Environmental Management Admin budget is funded by the three special funds that it oversees, therefore a reduction in Admin expenses does not result in a 1 to 1 impact to the General Fund. The Department of Environmental Management has prepared a fair and reasonable budget for FY2009-2010. It is our position that the proposed amendments included in the subject bill will adversely affect our ability to maintain services and protect the environment. Department staff will be available at today's Council meeting should you have any questions regarding the impacts these amendments will have on our operations. Best Regards and Aloha, Lono Tyson / DIRECTOR cc: William Kenoi, Mayor William Takaba, Managing Director Nancy Crawford, Director of Finance Ivan Torigoe, DEM Deputy Director Robin Bauman, DEM Business Manager County of Hawaii is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.