HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 1097.002 2014-2016 PIFG
Murashige, Laura
From: Jeanne Teleia <jeanneteleia8@gmail.com>
Sent: Monday, November 14, 2016 9:48 AM
To: Council Testimony
Subject: testimony for Finance Committee meeting 11/15
Attachments: Finance Committee testimony.doc
I am submitting testimony related to Communication 1097, 1109 and 1171. Please see attached.
Malama Pono and in Nai'a spirit,
Jeanne
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Comm. No.
Ref. To:___T-71
i. Date OV 1 5 2 016
1
Re: Communcation 1097, 1109, 1171 November 14, 2016
I am greatly concerned and disheartened over the fiscal mismanagement that appears to be standard
practice in particularly between the Department of Public Works and Parks and Recreation and the Mayor's
office. The Finance committee appears to be ineffectual. We are looking to you to be the checks and balances
of our democracy.
Why isn't it standard procedure for projects that have bids that come in over budget or are
requesting overtime be AUTOMATICALLY referred to at least your committee for review before
anything is allowed to be signed by anyone? Where is the accountability for overtime or bloated projects
that are way over budget?
Looking at the list of projects on the county website from the last fiscal year of JUST the Public Works
and Parks and Rec department,the county(meaning taxpayers) is paying over$16 MILLION to make up for
the difference between the estimated costs (made by the 'professionals' in the planning and parks and rec
departments) and the actual project cost. NO ONE is questioning this and there seems to be NO PROCESS for
putting a hold on anything that comes in over the budgeted or estimated costs. THAT's the issue we must FIX.
Kukuihaele park is one of the biggest percentages over budget added to the taxpayers bill.
I ask that you hold meetings about THAT project in particular so we can look at the way it has
been handled financially and legally, not to mention the lack of democratic process.
Councilman Chung, I thank you. You even warned the Parks and Rec reps in the 9/20/16 meeting NOT
to give overtime. But where's the teeth and enforcement? Why DON'T you control them? According to the
list of projects in just one year, they are in fact, out of control if not completely incompetent.
When bids come in at least TWICE the budgeted amount or jobs suddenly need hundreds of thousands
in overtime, something is wrong or someone is incompetent at their jobs if they are so inept at predicting the
'real' cost of a job. Or the money is going somewhere else.
OR, are they rolling what is really going to be overtime into these exorbitant project costs and then
trying to say, as in the article you are talking about, 'the contractor takes care of any overtime'—referring to the
Kukuihaele Park project. BUT it's still OUR money in that double-the-budget contract!
At what point does gross incompetence lead to consequences like removal from a job? James Komata
hasn't even shown up at the last meetings when he was asked to appear and he and other reps often don't have
any real information for you. Saying"I don't know"is not adequate or competent and smacks of evasiveness.
That's disrespectful to you in my book at the very least.
We need you to do YOUR job and provide the checks and balances that are essential to a democracy.
We are not even talking here about the unethical and improper way the Kukuihaele park project was handled,
or the mess we'll be left with after they have decimated our open space and have inadequate funds for
maintenance, but we need to.
If I didn't live within my means, and just borrowed money and expected someone else to pay it back, I'd
be hauled into court,then jail and considered a scourge on society. This administration has currently nearly
DOUBLED the amount of debt service in one year from the $100 million bond and that's IF it doesn't go over
budget. According to this list from just ONE fiscal year from ONE department.... It's not looking good. The
County must do better. We deserve a better future than constant debt and rising taxes.
Thank you for your consideration and I really would like a response to my questions, especially about
having a meeting to discuss the financials of the Kukuihaele Park project.
Jeanne Teleia, Kukuihaele Resident
Jeanneteleia8@gmail.com