HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0149.005 2018-2020 COUNTY CLERK OM,
COUNTY OF HAWAII
RECEIVED COW 19q
Time 11115 o'1 Bytie
From: Tanya Anne Date 05/0(.f19
To: Council Testimony
Subject: Opposition to Formation of Ad Hoc Committee re:County Budget FY2019-2020
Date: Monday,May 06,2019 11:04:07 AM
My name is Tanya Yamanaka Aynessazian and I oppose Councilwoman Kierkiewicz's
recommendation to form an Ad Hoc Committee to discuss issues relating to the proposed
County Operating Budget, Capital Budget and 6-Year Capital Improvements for Fiscal Year
2019-2020. I commend Ms. Kierkiewicz on seeing the critical need for deeper investigation
and discussion regarding the spending of our taxpayer funds. I recognize as a financial
decision maker at a local non-profit that bad decisions can often be avoided when more time is
allotted for ample discussion, allowing for more understanding and contribution from voting
members. However, the state Sunshine Law exists to ensure that public policy, including
deliberations, decisions and all actions taken, are conducted as openly as possible and that all
official business performed by, in this case, the County Council, are conducted in a public
meeting. What Ms. Kierkiewicz is proposing is to conduct a finance meeting in private, in
which discussion and deliberation and potentially a strategic financial direction is decided
upon. In essence, what is proposed is a meeting in which alliances and covert plans could be
made, without public awareness of all the relevant discussion - it doesn't matter if"secret"
decisions are made, what matters here is whether or not there is an appearance or opportunity
for such to occur.
As noted in the state's July 2018 Open Meetings Guide, prepared by the Office of Information
Practices,the privilege of serving on a government,board comes with the added responsibility
of adhering to the requirements and restrictions of the Sunshine Law statute.
Mahalo for the opportunity to voice my opinion on this issue.
Tanya Yamanaka Aynessazian
Tanya Yamanaka Aynessazian
PO Box 1860,Pahoa, HI 96778
(808) 747-4410
"Let yourself be silently drawn by the stronger pull of what you really love." Rumi
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Ref. Date Y"[0 6 2019