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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.14.22 COG Commission Minutes - ApprovedI OP COST OF GOVERNMENT COMMISSION c/o Office of the Mayor, 25 Aupuni Street, Suite 2603 • Hilo, Hawai'i 96720 • COST OF GOVERNMENT COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MINUTES / July 14, 2022 INTERACTIVE CONFERENCE TECHNOLOGY (ICT): ZOOM WITH IN -PERSON LOCATIONS FOR PUBLIC TESTIMONY PER AGENDA CALL TO ORDER [2:02 pm] Chair Konowicz called the meeting to order with quorum. ATTENDANCE Present: D9 Michael Konowicz, Chair DI Neal Herbert, Vice Chair D2 Matthias Kusch D3 Chantee Shiroma D4 Maddie Green D5 Shannon Matson D6 Kenneth Obenski D7 Daniel Malakie III Excused D8 Karie Wakat Additional: Keyra Wong, Deputy Corporation Counsel Pomaika`i Bartolome, Office of the Mayor Tyler Benner, HawaiSi County Auditor Jeannie Miskovich, COG Commission Secretary STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC None COMMUNICATIONS June 2022 issue of Environment Hawaii for review- Michael Konowicz [2:05] APPROVAL OF MINUTES FROM JUNE 23, 2022, REGULAR MEETING Comm. Obenski moved to approve the minutes Comm. Kusch Seconded the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: Ayes: (8) Unanimous 6/23/2022 Regular Meeting Minutes Approved [2:06] PRESENTATION ON IMPARTIAL AND FINANCIAL AUDITS OF COUNTY AGENCIES, PROGRAMS, AND OPERATIONS, RESPONSIBLE FOR PROCURING AN INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT TO CONDUCT A POST - AUDIT OF THE COUNTIES FINANCIAL TRANSACTIONS AND ASSISTS THE COUNCIL IN ITS ADOPTION OF ANNUAL BUDGETS. INITIATES AUDIT EVALUATIONS OR SPECIAL STUDIES, EITHER UPON REQUEST OF THE COUNTY OR ON ITS OWN INITIATIVE, BY TYLER BENNER, COUNTY OF HAWAI`I AUDITOR. [Power Point on File] Q&A - Comm. Herbert: Can the COG Commission request an audit? Depending on the assessed value to the community, as the Auditor has finite bandwidth; an unplanned engagement would displace a planned audit. Comm, Konowicz - Is the current issue [as addressed in the June issue of Environment Hawaii] regarding the Department of Housing and Community Development on the radar of the Auditor? Yes- there is a federal investigation currently. Who does the Auditor alert if there is evidence of potential criminal behavior? If concerning a current employee, there would be an internal investigation led by Department / Division head and could be turned over to HPD and/or County Prosecuting Attorney. All Departments come under the auditor's authority. There is a resolution on the upcoming ballot to allow for additional investigative/tactical reviews with limited scope. Suggestions for COG Commission recommendations - get Department buy -in that the recommendations are valid, supported, and backed by a strategic action plan. [See supporting document on File] Are the Departments accountable to County Auditor's recommendations? In the past there have no consequences to not adopting recommendations. The County Auditor has developed a remediation tracker to foster accountability. The Auditor is confirmed to a six -year term with the possibility of confirmation to an additional 6-year term. [2:53] [7] STATUS REPORTS OF PERMITTED INTERACTION GROUPS 7(a) BUILDING DIVISION - PIG met, sent email to Director Pause, await response 7(b) IT -, PIG met, focus on EPIC System 7(c) DEM PIG met Working with IT to design survey for all DEM employees 7(d) County Fleet - PIG met with John Andoh, Mass transit Administrator, questions emails to Department Directors, await responses 7(e) Board/Commissions - PIG met; letter drafted- await meeting with Director of Planning and B/C Secretary mailing list 7(f) Revenue - PIG met -- scheduled meeting with Director of Parks & Rec [3:00] [8] FORMATION OF PERMITTED ACTION GROUP (PIG) Public Access, Open Space and Natural Resources (PONC) Expenditures Agenda Item 8(a): To create a PIG relevant to PONC Expenditures with the scope of work as identified in 8(a) i Comm. Matson moves to create a PIG relevant to PONC Expenditures with scope as defined in 8(a) i Comm. Kusch Seconds the Motion Discussion: None Roll Call Vote: (7) Ayes: Comm.(s) Malakie, Shiroma, Matson, Kusch, Herbert, and Konowicz // (1) Abstention - Comm. Obenski Motion to create a PIG Relevant to PONC Expenditures with scope as determined in 8(a) i - Passes Members nominated to the PONC PIG Volunteers: Comm(s). Matson and Kusch Comm. Kusch moves to nominate Comm.(s) Matson and Kusch to the PONC PIG Comm. Matson Seconds the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: Ayes (8) Unanimous Motion to nominate Comm.(s) Matson and Kusch to the PONC PIG - Passes (3:10] [91 DISCUSSION OF ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON NEXT AGENDA Discussion: Hamana Ventura, Property Manager, Public Access, Open Space, and Natural Resources Preservation Commission (PONC) is scheduled to present at the next COG Commission meeting on July 28, 2022; Chair Konowicz discussed the "Communication" - June issue of Environment Hawaii and the desire of the COG Commission to request a presentation by Susan Kunz, Director, Department of Housing and Community Development; and PIG Status Updates [3:15] ADJOURNMENT Comm. Obenski made a Motion to Adjourn Comm. Shiroma Seconded the Motion Discussion: None Voice Vote: Ayes: (8) Unanimous Meeting adjourned at 3:15 p.m.