HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0149.004 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK P/F
COUNTY OF HAWAI'I 6014041
RECEIVED
Time I L;qO AV( By 66,
From: Maya Parish I
To: Council Testimony Date 05 0 0/ q
Subject: Sunshine Law Public Comments
Date: Monday,May 06,2019 11:29:07 AM
Aloha,
I am disturbed by the recent public statements by Council Members Chung and Richards at the
Waimea Community Association meeting that they are looking for ways around the Sunshine
Law to hold their "ad hoc" budget committee meetings outside of the public eye and off the
public record.
Transparency is critical for public trust in our elected officials and processes, as well as for the
opportunity for the public to comment on work in progress being considered by those elected
to represent us that will affect our daily lives. The Sunshine Law is incredibly important. I
strongly disapprove of the recent maneuvers outlined below, that are in violation of the
Sunshine Law:
•
Comm 149 is Ashley Kierkiewicz's suggestion to form an Ad Hoc Committee that she wanted
to discuss in the March 12, 2019 Finance Committee meeting (the agenda for that meeting is
attached).
Comm 149.1 from Ashley Kierkiewicz is a draft scope of work and a proposed timeline for
this Ad Hoc Committee.
Comm 149.2 from Maile David is a request to place Comm 149 on the April 23, 2019 Finance
Committee agenda to discuss a letter from the Office of Information Practices dated April 3, "
2019 (included in Comm 149.2)that responds to a request from the Hawaii County
Corporation Council regarding whether or not the Ad Hoc budget committee could "run afoul"
of the Sunshine Law if it operated in the way proposed (apparently discussed in a telephone
call).
I would ask'why these council members feel the need to take their discussions out of the
public eye if these discussions are, in fact, serving the best interests of their constituents. I ask
that the Sunshine Law be kept firmly in place and these "ad-hoc" committee meetings to be
found in violation and to be terminated.
Mahalo,
Maya Parish
Comm. No. 1' Q'T
n
Ref. To: T I FCi
Ref. Date MAY 0 6 2019