HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0043.36 - Testimony - CA-26 - Qualifications for the Director DPWHawaii County Charter Commission Agenda on June 7, 2019
In regards to:
CA -26, Draft 3 for Second and Final Reading; Proposal to amend Section 6-2.2, relating to Qualifications
for the Director of the Department of Public Works, to remove the requirement that the Director be a
registered professional engineer, add that the five 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, and add the requirement that candidates possess a bachelor's degree in a field related to the
powers, duties, and functions of the Department of Public Works; as submitted by Chair Adams.
TESTI MONY:
Honorable Members of the Hawaii County Charter Commission:
I would like to submit written testimony against the proposed CA -26 Draft for amending the County of
Hawaii Charter. A registered engineer (PE) is ethically obligated to protect the health, safety, and
welfare of the public, and must always put the public's interest before all others, including personal,
company, organizational, or political. This in my opinion, is the lens a public works director should be
looking through when evaluating the critical issues that affect our community well-being. With the
requirement for licensure waived, we risk other factors influencing the decision-making process at high
levels.
In addition, I believe having a non -registered engineer acting as the Director of the Department opens
the County to liability for "unqualified" decision making.
Thank you very much for your time and your consideration.
Sincerely,
David B. Bills, P.E.
Bills Engineering Inc.
1124 Fort Street Mall
Suite 200
Honolulu, HI 96813-2715
Phone: 808.792.2022
FAX: 808.792.2033
Email: dbills@BiiisEngineering.com
www.BillsEngineering.com
Comm. No. 43.36