HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0149.006 2018-2020 PIr-c
Testimony of Charles 0.Grigsby, PhD COUNTY CLERK .
.11 68-3549 Awamoa Place COUNTY Off' HAWAI'I
Waikoioa;HI 96738 RECEIVED � `
Time 2 OOP1t4 By eliP0
Date 02n q /f/1/a}/
Presented to the Finance Committee of the Hawaii County Council
at its meeting of May 7;2019
West Hawaii Civic Center
Kailua-Kona,HI
Greetings, •
It is my understanding that the State of Hawaii has a law that requires that meetings of governmental
bodies be conducted in the open with transparency for the people to be able tohear the deliberations
of public policy. The opening section of this law is particularly important:
HRS CHAPTER 92 - PUBLIC AGENCY MEETINGS AND RECORDS
PART I:-MEETINGS
§92-1 Dedara#ion of policy and intent. In a democracy, the people are vested:with the
ultimate decision-making power: Governmental agencies exist to aid the people in the formation
and conduct of public policy. Opening up thegovernmental processes to public scrutiny and
participation is the only viable and reasonable method of protecting the public's interest.
Therefore, the legislature declares that it is the policy of this State that the formation and
conduct of public policy—the discussions, deliberations, decisions, and action of governmental.
agencies—shall°be conducted as openly as possible. To implement this policy the legislature
'declares that:
(1) It is the intent of this part to protect the people's right to know;
(2) The provisions requiring open meetings shall be liberally construed; and
(3) The provisions providing for exceptions to the open meeting requirements shall be strictly
construed against closed meetings. (L 1975, c 166, pt of§1]
I would like to remind this Committee that this"Sunshine" law exists for a purpose,and that the
Committee should immediately halt its efforts to get around this law.
•
It is clear to me that this set of Councilors is not adequately committed to performing its work in the
public view.
Thank you for your kind attention.
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• 1 6 Comm. No.
Ref.To: PI FG
Ref. Date MAY 0 7 2019