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,„IWY gig PLANNING DEPARTMENT 25 AUPUNI STREET • HILO. HAWAII 96720 HERBERT T.MATAYOSHI Mayor , COUNTY CJ SIDNEY M.FUKE HAWAII • Director DUANE KANUHA . Deputy Director March 6 , 1979 Mr. Kimiaki Sakata, Chairman Charter Review Commission County of Hawaii Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Mr. Sakata: Thank you for giving me this opportunity to provide you with my thoughts on the County Charter. . Before proceeding, I would like to emphasize that my comments are not based upon personalities--past or present; rather, they reflect my objective assessment of the basic structure of government. • The Planning Director, like any other cabinet officer, provides technical and professional advices and implements policies.. As such, it generally should not matter whether the position is subject to Council confirmation. Part of the practical difficulty, however, comes in articulating a position--such as to the State Legislature--which does . not have a consensus between the Mayor and Council. Who does the Plan- ning Director -represent? Additionally, the executive branch under the present Charter is largely responsible for implementing policies. To achieve maximum efficiency and effectiveness in policy implementation, coordination of all departments and implementation direction must be set by only one branch--the executive. Conceptually, Council confirmation of various cabinet officers suggests a marriage of public policy-making with implementing functions. Such a blend may dilute the effectiveness of policy implementation. As such, for administrative purposes as well as to assure an en- vironment for implementing policies efficiently, I would respectfully submit that the Council confirmation requirement be deleted. This position is predicated upon the present Charter' s basic thrust of sepa- ration of powers. Where there is an integration of the two branches-- COMM. NO..---3 ...:::::::..�.