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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 022 Draft 01 1994-1996COUNTY OF HAWAII ° STATE OF HAWAII RESOLUTION N0. 2Z 9~ WHEREAS, the demise of Hilo Coast Processing Company (HCPC) and the resulting displacement of workers will create tremendous burdens for both the affected families and the communities of Hilo and Hamakua; and WHEREAS, the 1992 announcement of the planned closure of the HCPC operations by officials of that firm and its parent company, C. Brewer & Co. Ltd. (C. Brewer), was coupled with responsible negotiations and agreements with those workers, by the way of their union representative, the ILWU, wherein this corporate subsidiary of C. Brewer committed itself to protect the pensions of retired workers, maintain worker's compensation payments after closure, provide severance pay to the displaced workers, and extended medical coverage for a period of time for displaced and retired employees; and WHEREAS, the affected workers, their families, and the greater community of this island appreciated the advance notice and relied on those financial commitments made by HCPC in lieu of undertaking public assistance measures; and WHEREAS, from time to time during the ensuing two years, C. Brewer demonstrated corporate support for and involvement with those HCPC commitments, through a variety of public remarks about the lands, workers, and facilities of its subsidiary; and WHEREAS, in December 1994, HCPC publicly reneged on its 1992 financial commitment to its workers and retirees, including those who became physically disabled while working in this heartland of C. Brewer holdings; and WHEREAS, C. Brewer owns and directs controlling interests in various other Hawaii Corporations which hold title to C. Brewer lands divested from sugar operations into such corporations in recent years, including C. Brewer Homes, Inc., Ka'u Agribusiness, Inc. - Orchard Division, and Mauna Kea Orchard Inc., in the County of Hawaii; and WHEREAS, at the very time one C. Brewer subsidiary is declaring bankruptcy and reneging on serious commitments to the people of Hilo and Hamakua, another subsidiary is seeking approval and support from the same community and the County of Hawaii for the zoning and development of its C. Brewer lands in the same area; and WHEREAS, it is apparent that the proposed residential development could have significant negative impacts on the infrastructure of Hilo town and surrounding rural areas unless zoning and development is coupled with proper and sufficient expansion of the affected public roads, parks and utility systems, schools, and County services; and WHEREAS, the C. Brewer development subsidiary, C. Brewer Homes, Inc., is capitalized by funds, experience, and the corporate reputation of its parent, C. Brewer, and C. Brewer has refused to continue its financial support to its other subsidiary, HCPC, at great expense to this community; and WHEREAS, the Council of the County of Hawaii is now deeply concerned about the ability of C. Brewer subsidiary corporations to fulfill their financial commitments as offered to gain community, political, and regulatory approvals in this County. -2- NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE COUNTY OF HAWAII that it requests C. Brewer & Co. Ltd. to re-evaluate its professed commitment to the people of Hawaii and its corporate policies toward sustaining its various subsidiaries and the people directly affected by its operations and development projects. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that copies of this resolution be sent to the Presidents of C. Brewer & Co. Ltd., Hilo Coast Processing Company, and C. Brewer Homes, Inc.; Governor Ben Cayetano; Mayor Stephen Yamashiro; the County Councils of Oahu, Maui, and Kauai Counties; ILWU Local 142, and ILWU Local 142 - Hawaii Division. Dated at Hilo, Hawaii this 4th day of January 1995. INTRODUCED BY: • ~i COUNCILMEMBER, HAWA COUNTY COUNCIL COUNTY COUNCIL County of Hawaii Htlo. Hawaii I hereby certify that the foregoing RESOLUTION wes by the vote indicated to the right hereof adopted by the COUNCIL of the County of Hawaii on January 4 , 199 5 , ATTEST: ~~~ ~~ (~ CO NTY CLERK CHAIRMAN & PRESIDING OFFICER AYES NOES AHS 8R ARARA&I X BONS-AHRAMSON X CSILDS X DS LINA X D02~NNG0 I{ 030RI0 X RESOLUTION NO