HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOMM. 130 Kurohara, R - Director, R&D on Boards and Commission Web Sites
County of Hawaii
DEPARTMENT OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT 25 Aupuni Street, Room 109 Hilo, Hawaii 96720-4252
(808) 961-8366 Fax (808) 935-1205
E-mail: chresdev@co.hawaii.hi.us
Hawai`i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer
Randall M. Kurohara
Director
William P. Kenoi
Mayor
December 31, 2009
The Honorable Edmund Haitsuka and Members of the
County of Hawai`i Charter Commission
c/o Hawai`i County Council - Clerk
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawai`i 96720
RE: Proposed County of Hawai`i’s Charter Amendments affecting
Boards and Commissions
Dear Chair Haitsuka and Commission Members:
The Department of Research and Development maintains the Mayor’s Energy
Advisory Commission which consists of ten (10) volunteer Commissioners. The level of
expertise among the Commissioners is quite extensive and their knowledge and
information provided are voluminous. Soon, this department will be required to maintain
a second commission relating to agriculture. Both commissions are crucial and much
time and effort are required to support such endeavors.
The Charter amendments that you propose involving the Boards and
Commissions puts a huge financial burden on this department. To be mandated to
create and maintain a website would require this department to contract a professional
service with no funds to do so. The staff within this department does not have the
expertise nor the additional time to take on such a daunting task.
Currently, the Energy Advisory Commission agenda and minutes are posted on
the County of Hawai`i website as required by law. Those interested in attending
meetings or desire to peruse the minutes can easily do so through the County of Hawai`i
website. A separate commission website is unnecessary and a considerable, continual
waste of funds.
Further, due to the current budget restraints, we are no longer able to provide the
Commissioners with a monthly lunch at their meetings, therefore to expend significant
funds to create and maintain a website would be unrealistic and unfair to all involved.
The public already has immediate access to necessary information about the
commissions through the existing County of Hawai`i website.
The Honorable Edmund Haitsuka and Members of the
County of Hawai`i Charter Commission
December 31, 2009
Page 2
Should you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact me
directly.
Very truly yours,
RANDALL KUROHARA
Director