HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM. 085 Beeman, A
ALOHA COMMISSION CHAIRMAN Edmund Haitsuka and COMMISSION MEMBERS David Fuertes, Daphne
Honma, Casey Jarman, Guy Kaulukukui, Jamae Kawauchi, Joseph Kealoha, Alapaki Nahale-A, Susie Osborne, Todd
Shumway and Scott Unger
Thank you for serving on this very important commission to update our Hawaii County Charter. Please consider the following
amendments when making your decisions on how to update our county charter:
I have CHECKED the following AMENDMENTS TO show my SUPPORT:
_X_4-YEAR COUNCIL TERMS: I do NOT support
__ 4-Year COUNCIL TERMS- I DO support
_X_____I SUPPORT RECALL - we need to provide more accountability for our elected officials by making the recall procedure
easy to understand by citizens. It provides for the petitions, the amount of signatures and signature verification.
_X_ I SUPPORT 2% FOR THE LAND FUND- other counties have this funding set aside as part of their charter so
citizens can count on funds being available to acquire access to beaches and mountains, preserve culturally important
land areas and sites, beaches, coastal area, agricultural lands, protect natural resources, significant habitat or eco-
systems, water quality and water systems, including buffer zones. This would remove this funding from yearly budget
wrangling and have the funds available to attract matching funds.
_X_I SUPPORT VACANCIES- I support this amendment, because voters should have some say in this process. if an elected
official dies, resigns, is recalled or impeached, the 2nd highest vote getter in the last election could serve OR the public should be
able to have a "say " who shall serve for the rest of the term by a special election by mail.
_X_I SUPPORT APPOINTMENTS TO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS- I support this amendment because it gives the
council members the right to nominate people for boards and commissions, the Mayor can give comments and the public has a
time to weigh in. Council members know who is qualified and involved in their districts better than the Mayor.
_X_I SUPPORT AMENDING THE CHARTER- I support using the same process and procedure as Initiative and Referendum to
amend the charter as was written by the League of Women Voters and approved by voters in 2008.
_X_I SUPPORT FUNDING FOR THE LEGISLATIVE AUDITOR'S OFFICE- I support providing the legislative auditor's office
with funding that is independent of the budget process, so they are not beholden to the council and they can do their work
independently.
_X_ I SUPPORT COUNCIL COMMITTEES- I support having set standing committees for the County council. I support that
notices should be sent 6 calendar days before committee and council meetings and that council matters can only be delayed by one
meeting and that each council member shall have one vote on each committee.
_X_I SUPPORT REDISTRICTING- it is important to have each council district to have approximately the same amount of
people and the island to be divided into 9 equal districts. Federal guidelines should be followed, the process clearly defined and a
report made to the people in an open and transparent manner.
OUR CHARTER IS THE HIGHEST LAW OF HAWAII COUNTY.
I support open and transparent government.
Mahalo!
Albert E Beeman
908 Kumukoa St, Hilo, HI 96720
808-934-0144 COMM. 85