HomeMy WebLinkAboutREP FC 278 06/01/2000 1998-2000 REPORT OF THE
COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
DATE: June 1, 2000 Re: Comm. No. 775/Bill No. 257
PLACE: Council Chambers
TIME: 10:55 A.M.
Council Chair and Members
Hawaii County Council
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 257, reports as follows:
Bill No. 257, transmitted by Chief Engineer Robert T. Yanabu, via Communication No. 775,
dated Apri16, 2000, amends Chapter 21, Article 4, of the Hawaii County Code, by adding a new
section relating to water service shutoff and amends Chapter 21, Article 4, Section 21-32 of the
Hawaii County Code, relating to sewers.
Bill No. 257 authorizes the shutoff of water service by the Department of Water Supply to
enforce the collection of sewer user fees. Currently, the Department of Public Works-
Wastewater Division has no means by which to force payment of delinquent fees. Because the
County does not have the ability to withhold sewer service, the delinquent fees have been a
major revenue loss for the County. The Department of Public Works-Wastewater Division has
discussed and coordinated this amendment with the Department of Water Supply, who concurs
with this proposal.
Some members of Your Committee agreed that the Wastewater Division needs a mechanism to
collect its bills. However, it balked at the possibility of cutting off access to a vital resource such
as water.
A motion to approve was made and seconded, followed by a vote by the eight members in
attendance. The final vote, as reflected below, prompted the Committee Chair to forwazd this
measure to full Council with a negative recommendation.
Your Committee on Finance forwards Bill No. 257 to Council with a negative recommendation.
smc
AYES NOES A&E EX
Respectfully submitted
CHUNG X
ELARIONOFF X COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
JACOBSON X
LEITH EAD-TODD X
PISICCHIO X L
SMITH X
TvLER X AARON S.Y. CHUNG, CHA
vncoNC X FC REPORT NO. 78
ARAKAKI, e.o.M. ADOPTED: