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HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0010.02 - Review Articles - XI-XVI - Proposed AmendmentFrom: Debbie H <hecht.deb@gmail.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 24, 2019 10:55 AM To: Charter Commission Subject: Boards and Commissions recommended changes Attachments: Charter Commission- Boards and Commissions proposed changes 4.24.2019.doc PLEASE FORWARD TO ALL CHARTER COMMISSION MEMBERS: Aloha Charter Commission members- RE: CHANGES TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS I propose a simple change of nominating people for Boards and Commission that should make the Boards and Commissions more effective AND allow the nominations to fill vacancies to happen more quickly and efficiently. WHY WE NEED CHANGES: 1. There are 37 active Boards and Commission on our island. Let's say there are 2 vacancies per board or commission per year, that would mean that a Mayor would spend their valuable time vetting 74 people per year. Is this something that we really want to ask the Mayor to do? Isn't there a better use of their time? Here is a list of the Boards and Commission: http://www.hawaiicounty.gov/boards-and-commissions. 2. The job is not getting done. You heard in one of the public meetings that the Mayor has a hard time appointing people to fill vacancies. Which means that some of the Boards or commission cannot function because of a lack of quorum. How does this serve the people of our island? THE PROPOSED CHANGES: 1. Council members should nominate commissioners or members. The council members know better who might be skilled in the areas that will serve certain boards or commissions AND who is best able to represent their district. 2. The Mayor should then get a chance to approve these nominations. Please see the attached proposed changes to this part of the Charter. Debbie Hecht Website: Ramblings, Thoughts and Theories: www.debbiehecht.com 1 Comm. No. 10.2 Proposed changes to Hawaii County Charter - ARTICLE XIII -BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: HERE IS THE EXISTING CHARTER - ARTICLE XIII WITH PROPOSED deletions, additions are underlined: Section 13-4. Boards and Commissions. Except as otherwise provided in this charter, all boards and commissions specifically established by this charter shall be governed by the following provisions: (a) The members shall serve staggered terms of five years. Upon the initial appointment of the members of a commission consisting of five members, one shall be appointed for a term of one year, one for a term of two years, one for a term of three years, one for a term of four years, and one for a term of five years. Upon the initial appointment of the members of a commission consisting of seven members, one shall be appointed for a term of one year, one for a term of two years, two for a term of three years, two for a term of four years, and one for a term of five years. Upon the initial appointment of a commission consisting of nine members, one shall be appointed to a term of one year, two for a term of two years, two for a term of three years, two for a term of four years, and two for a term of five years. (b) Nominations and Appointments: 1. In the case of a countywide nine -member commission or board, The_mayor, and confirmed by the council. and may be removed upon recommendation by the mayor and the approval of the council. Each council member shall nominate one person from their district. The Mayor shall do a background check of each person, and transmit a report of findings with recommendations to the council. The appointment must be confirmed by a majority of the county council within 45 days that the nomination was submitted or the nomination shall be deemed confirmed. 2. In the case of an area specific board, (such as the Community Development Plan Board, Leeward or Windward Planning Commission etc), the council member who is serving in the district which is affected by this board or commission, shall nominate members. The Mayor shall do a background check of each person and transmit a report of findings with make recommendations to the council. The appointment must be confirmed by a majority of the county council within 45 days that the nomination was submitted or the nomination shall be deemed confirmed. 3. Commission or Board members may be removed upon recommendation by the mayor and the approval of the council: or by recommendation of the majority of the council and agreement of the Mayor. (c) No member shall be eligible for a second appointment to the same board or commission prior to the expiration of two years, however, members of any board or commission appointed for a term of two years or less shall be eligible to succeed them for an additional full term. (d) No member whose term has expired shall continue to serve on such board or commission, except that if no successor has been appointed and confirmed, the member shall continue to serve for ninety days or until a successor is appointed and confirmed, whichever comes first. (e) Any vacancy occurring in any board or commission shall be filled for the unexpired term. (f) Not more than a bare majority of the members shall belong to the same political party. (g) Members shall receive no compensation but shall be reimbursed for necessary expenses incurred in the performance of their duties. Necessary expenses may be paid in advance as per diem allowance which shall be established by ordinance. Members of boards and commissions who do not receive compensation from their employers during the time they are serving on boards and commissions shall be reimbursed by the county for actual work hours lost at the straight time rate of pay of such members in their regular employment but in no case shall such reimbursement exceed five times the state minimum wage hour rate. (h) A chairperson shall be elected from its membership annually. (i) The affirmative vote of a majority of the entire membership to which a board or commission is entitled shall be necessary to make any action valid; except that in the case of a board or commission which has only advisory functions, the affirmative vote of a majority of those present shall be sufficient to make any action valid. (j) Each board and commission shall have the power to establish its rules of procedure necessary for the conduct of its business, which rules shall contain the time and place of all regular meetings, and which shall specify that a quorum shall be a majority of the members to which the board or commission is entitled. (k)The county shall maintain a website for each board and commission on which shall be posted the authority, powers, duties terms and other relevant information concerning the board or commission, the qualifications and criteria for selecting members, and the name of the contact person for the board or commission. Before taking office, the member shall provide biographical information which shall be posted on the aforesaid website. (k) (1) Notwithstanding any other provision in this charter, no person shall, by reason of occupation alone, be barred from serving as a member of any board or commission. (I)(m) The council Mayor shall act to confirm or reject any appointment made to a board or commission by the mayor council within forty-five days after receiving notice of the appointment from the council. In the case of a rejection, the Mayor will appear before the council to If the council Mayor does not confirm or reject any such appointment within forty-five days, the appointee shall be deemed to have been confirmed. (1)(n) The redrawing of council district boundaries during a commission member's term shall not affect a member's eligibility to represent the district to which the member was appointed."