Comm No 0043.31 - Testimony - CA-26 - Qualifications for the Director DPW

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From: Lennie Okano-Kendrick <lokano@okahara.com> Sent: Thursday, June 6, 2019 8:13 AM To: Charter Commission Subject: CA -26 Proposal to Amend Section 6-2.2 Honorable Members of the Hawaii County Charter Commission: I would like to submit written testimony against CA -26 , the proposal to amend Section 6-2.2 of the County of Hawai'i Charter relating to Qualifications for the Director of the Department of Public Works to remove the requirement that the Director be a registered professional engineer and add that the required amount of years of administrative experience to be eligible for appointment as Director be related to the powers, duties, and functions of the Department of Public Works. A registered professional engineer (P.E.) is ethically obligated to protect the health, safety, and welfare of the public, and must always put the public's interest before others, including personal, company, organizational, or political interests. This is the lens a Public Works Director should be looking through when evaluating the critical issues that affect our community well-being whether it be during normal government operations or in crisis times of high emergency. Public Works are infrastructure projects, financed and constructed by the Government, for recreational, employment, and health and safety uses in the greater community, and include buildings, transport infrastructure, public spaces, and public services. On a daily basis, Engineers provide the expertise to improve their communities through these types of projects, and earn the privilege to be licensed, registered professionals only after demonstrating minimum educational qualifications, years of pertinent experience, and passing a certified exam. I believe the County of Hawai`i Public Works Director should have these minimum qualifications and experience. With the requirement for P.E. licensure waived, the County of Hawai`i risks other factors influencing the decision-making process at high levels of Our Government. Sincerely, Lennie Okano-Kendrick, P.E. Okahara and Associates, Inc. ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS 200 Kohola Street, Hilo, HI 96720 Website: www.okahara.com ph: (808) 961-5527 fax: (808) 961-5529 Email: lokano(&okahara.com 1 Comm. No. 43.31