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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2006-01-19 Police Commission MinutesHAWAII COUNTY POLICE COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES JANUARY 19, 2006 HAWAII PUBLIC SAFETY BUILDING, HILO CALL TO ORDER Chair Pudding Lassiter called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Pudding Lassiter, Chair Melvin S. Morimoto, Vice Chair John M. Bertsch, Member James A. Frazier, Member Louis Kaoiwi, Member Karolyn P. Lundkvist, Member Betsy Mitchell, Member Anita Politano Steckel, Member Also Present: Lincoln S. Ashida, Corporation Counsel Josie Pelayo, Secretary Absent: Kaloa R. N. Robinson, Member APPROVAL OF AGENDA COMMISSIONER BERTSCH moved and COMMISSIONER KAOIWI seconded to approve the agenda as submitted. The motion carried unanimously. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS TIM REES stated that he had questions regarding the Chief of Police evaluation form. Wants fairness for both sides. Wants to know the parameters and whether the form would be made available to the public. Stated that the San Jose Commission has a website link to the Hawaii County Police Commission. COMMISSIONER BERTSCH stated that they would be developing the form during the meeting. They want it to be a clear and concise tool that the commission could use for an assessment of the Chief. When the form is filled out, it will become and employee - employer document. The Mayor, Managing Director, and County Council will be informed of the commission's evaluation, but it may not be the form that is given to the Chief. CHAIR LASSITER stated that they are not yet able to tell him if the form would be made available to the public. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: Development of Chief of Police Evaluation Form COMMISSIONER LUNDKVIST stated that she would like to like to see COMMISSIONER KAOIWI's suggested sliding scale. COMMISSIONER POLITANO STECKEL stated that she could not write her own evaluation. Doesn't think the commission could do an evaluation of the Chief, and that some outside body should do the evaluation. CORPORATION COUNSEL ASHIDA stated that the voters of Hawaii County decided that it is the responsibility of the Police Commission to evaluate the Chief. If she cannot do the evaluation, she should let him know. Hawaii County Police Commission Regular Session Minutes January 19, 2006, Page 2 COMMISSIONER BERTSCH stated that a few of them have been through a number of evaluations of the Chief. It is not easy to do, but they have to do it. They have to develop an evaluation form that they feel comfortable about. Every month the Chief and his staff give a presentation to the commission. He suggested that she look at the global picture and ask herself what she could evaluate the Chief on. COMMISSIONER POLITANO STECKEL stated that she wants to change the County Charter so that the Police Commission does not evaluate the Chief. CORPORATION COUNSEL ASHIDA pointed out that this is just her personal opinion. Following a discussion, all agreed that the purpose of the meeting was to develop an evaluation form and to evaluate the Chief using that form. The desired results would be to develop a format that is meaningful and interpretive of measuring the Chief's performance, vis -a -vis, his previously accepted goals. Recess was called at 4:12 p.m. The meeting reconvened at 4:17 p.m. COMMISSIONER BERTSCH moved and VICE CHAIR MORIMOTO seconded to use Form #3. Discussion: COMMISSIONER KAOIWI stated that he would like a sliding scale. COMMISSIONER BERTSCH stated that he liked Form 3 because it didn't have a sliding scale. By using this form they would be giving the Chief good quality input, whether it is positive or negative. He asked that they set aside the sliding scale and work on developing the form. Translating words into a scale could be inflammatory. The motion carried unanimously. EXECUTIVE SESSION (closed to the public) COMMISSIONER BERTSCH moved and COMMISSIONER FRAZIER seconded to conduct an annual performance evaluation of Police Chief Lawrence Mahuna where consideration of matters affecting privacy would be involved and a closed session is requested and to consult with Corporation Counsel on questions and issues pertaining to the commission's powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities pursuant to HRS 92 -5 (a) (2) and Hawaii County Charter 13 -20 (b). The motion carried unanimously. Executive session convened at 4:40 p.m. Regular session reconvened at 9:20 p.m. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS — None. ANNOUNCEMENTS CHAIR LASSITER announced that the Police Commission's next meeting would be on January 20, 2006, at 9:00 a.m., at the Hawaii Naniloa Resort, Palm Lounge, 93 Banyan Drive, Hilo. The Chief's evaluation form would be typed and given to him for his review prior to the meeting. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m. SUBMITTED: APPROVED: JOSIE PELAYO, SECRETARY PUDDING LASSITER, CHAIR