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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-08-25 Fire Commission Minutes - Special Meeting William P. Kenoi Toby Taniguchi Mayor Chairman Scott Stabo Vice-Chairman Hawai‘i County Fire Commission nd c/o 333 Kīlauea Avenue, 2 Floor, Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 Phone: 961-8251; Fax: 961-8622 1 SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES August 25, 2011 West Hawai‘i Civic Center, Council Room, Building A, 74-5044 Ane Keohokālole Highway, Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i 96740 CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order by Chair Taniguchi at 9:03 a.m. ROLL CALL PRESENT: Chairman Toby Taniguchi Vice Chairman Scott Stabo Commissioner Laurie Bass Commissioner Kimo Lee Commissioner Kaloa Robinson Commissioner Luahiwa Namahoe Commissioner Greg Henkel Commissioner Byron Moku ABSENT: None. A quorum was present. ALSO PRESENT: Lincoln Ashida, Corporation Counsel Jennifer Kualii, Fire Commission secretary Martha Rodillas, Secretary to Lincoln Ashida 1 Minutes in italics are verbatim. Blanks indicate inaudible or indecipherable speech. Hawai‘i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer Commissioners: Laurie Bass, Greg Henkel, Kimo Lee, Byron Moku, Luahiwa Namahoe, Kaloa Robinson, Scott Stabo and Toby Taniguchi STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS Chairman Taniguchi announced the Commission would be taking public testimony in both open and closed sessions. Testimony of Jo Kim: My name is Jo Kim. I appreciate the opportunity to come and speak to you on behalf of Glenn Honda who is candidate for the Fire Chief position. I know that the Fire Chief position is one of the highest paid positions in the county and most important. ---. I know that the commission was established to depoliticize the appointment of the Fire Chief and you’re in charge of finding the best qualified candidate to represent our county. So what --- important characteristics of the Fire Chief. I think of a leader as someone that really --- with feeling confidence, that they are knowledgeable about their duties to they bring in the best ---, someone who is not boastful, who’s not arrogant, who has a feeling for public service, really, really speaks well, Glen Honda. I think you’re looking for someone that is innovative because of these times of economic hardship, we’re going to have to figure out how to do more with less, I think Glenn’s a really thoughtful person and will be able to bring that level of innovation to the --- position. I think you’re looking for someone who will make decisions on the merit, to be able to analyze the qualities that you’re looking for, make decisions not based on emotion but really, have a clear vision of where the department needs to get ---. --- to be able project confidence in the ability --- fire department, to respond to natural disasters, to respond to emergency situations, and I think Glen’s a steady person, is a --- person and that the kind of people we want as our representative to represent the County. I think you’re also looking for someone who is professional in the abilities and a good judge of character and I entrust Glen implicitly in making those kinds of decisions. --- for myself --- as you know --- for 16 years, I think you have --- so rather than go through each their qualifications --- look at the broader picture who will be the guy --- perhaps you don’t know him personally, but I think that he’s a person who’s really strong in technique, that ---represent out County very well. Thank you very much for the opportunity to ---. Chairman Taniguchi noted that there being no other public testimony in Open Session, he would entertain a motion to move into Executive Session. At 9:08 a.m., Commissioner Robinson moved to go into Executive Session to consider the hire and/or evaluation of applicants for the position of Fire Chief, where consideration of matter affecting privacy will be involved, to deliberate or make decisions upon matters that require the consideration of information that must be kept confidential pursuant to a state or federal law, or a court order and a closed session is requested 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 (a)(4) and Hawai‘i County Charter Section 13-20(b)). The motion was seconded by Commissioner Henkel and carried unanimously by voice vote. 2 At 4:10 p.m., Chairman Taniguchi called the Regular Session back to order. Chairman Taniguchi noted that the Commission, having received and examined applications, having gone through two rounds of interviews, having received and read numerous written testimony, having received verbal testimony, the Commission is prepared to move towards a vote for the next Fire Chief of Hawai‘i County. Chairman Taniguchi thanked the candidates that came forward for being willing and for having the courage to go through this very trying and difficult process. He also recognized the spouses of each candidate as well as their family, their friends and supporters. Chairman Taniguchi also acknowledged and thanked Commission Secretary Jennifer Kualii for keeping the Commission organized and on track as well as Corporation Counsel Lincoln Ashida and Martha Rodillas for providing guidance relative to the legal basis of deliberations and proceedings and lastly, his fellow Commissioners for taking time away from families and away from places of employment to participate in this process. Chairman Taniguchi stated that while he does not know if the Commission will agree entirely on a single candidate today, what he does know is that the Commission agreed that all four candidates are very, very well qualified and the Commission is extremely proud and pleased that the County of Hawai‘i Fire Department was able to produce four viable candidates for the Commission’s consideration. Chairman Taniguchi announced the Commission has decided to use a secret ballot method of voting; essentially what that entailed is that each Commissioner would be given a ballot with the names of the four candidates on it. He stated the Commissioners would then be asked to check the name of their candidate they would like to see promoted to the position or rank of Fire Chief for Hawai‘i County as well as sign the ballot. At the end of the procedure, Commission Secretary Jennifer Kualii would be asked to collect the ballots and officially read the vote of each Commissioner into the official record of today’s proceedings. Chairman Taniguchi stated one of the reasons why the Commission elected to go with this method of vet voting, as opposed to roll call, open voting is, the Commission didn’t want to put any undue pressure on any Commissioner during a roll call, verbal vote. He stated all Commissioners would be voting at the same time, all Commissioners would be voting privately and each Commissioner does not know how each one will vote. Chairman Taniguchi noted that once the votes are read into the record, if the Commission does not have a clear majority of votes, the Commission has agreed to return into Executive Session to continue deliberations. If, at the end of the Commission’s vote the Commission has a clear majority, that individual would then be named or appointed to the position of Fire Chief- Elect as the official act of the Fire Commission. Chairman Taniguchi asked the Commissioners to be mindful of each other, that no matter what, all candidates are all part of the same Hawai‘i County Fire family and should be afforded and treated as such. 3 Chairman Taniguchi asked Commission Secretary Kualii to distribute the ballots and instructed the Commissioners to wait on voting. Chairman Taniguchi instructed the Commissioners to check off on the ballot the candidate they feel should be appointed to the position of Fire Chief for Hawai‘i County and to sign the ballots. (The voting began). Chairman Taniguchi noted the completion of the voting and asked Commission Secretary Kualii to read into the record the vote of each Commissioner. Commission Secretary Kualii read into the record the following: Commissioner Lee voted for Darren Rosario. Commissioner Lee, is that correct? Commissioner Lee: Yes. Commissioner Moku voted for Darren Rosario. Commissioner Moku, is that correct? Commissioner Moku: Yes. Commissioner Bass voted for Darren Rosario. Commissioner Bass, is that correct? Commissioner Bass: Yes. Commissioner Henkel voted for Darren Rosario. Commissioner Henkel, is that correct? Commissioner Henkel: Yes. Chairman Taniguchi voted for Darren Rosario. Chairman, is that correct? Chairman Taniguchi: Yes. Vice Chairman Stabo voted for Darren Rosario. Vice Chairman Stabo is that correct? Vice Chairman Stabo: Yes. Commissioner Robinson voted for Darren Rosario. Commissioner Robinson, is that correct? Commissioner Robinson: Yes. Commissioner Namahoe voted for Darren Rosario. Commissioner Namahoe, is that correct? Commissioner Namahoe: Yes. Mr. Chairman, there are eight votes for Darren Rosario. 4 Chairman Taniguchi announced Fire Chief-Elect Chief Darren Rosario. He asked Mr. Rosario to say a few words. Mr. Rosario stated he’s deeply humbled in the Commission’s selection of being the next Fire Chief of Hawai‘i County. He also thanked his wife and all his peers that came forward and looks forward to the next step in the process. Chairman Taniguchi congratulated Darren Rosario. ADJORNMENT Commissioner Robinson moved to adjourn the meeting. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Moku and carried unanimously by voice vote. Meeting was adjourned at 4:24 p.m. SUBMITTED BY: JENNIFER M. KUALII Secretary 5