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<br />Joseph K. Kamelamela <br />Harry Kim <br />Corporation Counsel <br />Mayor <br />Renee N. C. Schoen <br />Assistant Corporation Counsel <br />OFFICE OF THE CORPORATION COUNSEL <br />101 Aupuni Street, Suite 325 Hilo, Hawai‘i96720 (808) 961-8251 Fax (808) 961-8622 <br />October 26,2018 <br />Honorable Douglass Shipman Adams Chairman <br />and Members of the Hawai’i County Charter Commission <br />County of Hawai’i <br />25 Aupuni Street <br />Hilo, HI 96720 <br />RE:Proposed Amendment to Chapter 5, Corporation Counsel <br />Section 6-5.2. Appointment and Removal Regarding Minimum <br />Qualifications for theCorporation Counsel <br />Dear ChairmanAdams and Commission Members: <br />This follows our correspondence to the Charter Commission dated August 9, <br />2018, see attachmentand will serve as a request that the Charter Commission consider <br />amending Section 6-5.2, Hawai’iCounty Charter (“Charter”), to require minimum years <br />of experience in the practice of law and in administrative experience relating to the <br />managementand supervisionof a legal department. The proposed language is <br />underlined as follows: <br />The corporation counsel shall be appointed by the mayor, confirmed by the <br />council and may be removed by the mayor with the approval of the council.The <br />corporation counsel shall be an attorney licensed to practiceand in good <br />standing before the Supreme Court of the State of Hawai’i.The corporation <br />counsel shall have been licensed to practice law for a period of not less <br />than five years preceding appointment,and have at least three years of <br />experience in a responsible administrative capacity. <br />Reason for the Proposal <br />As the chief legal advisor and representative of the County, this office serves as <br />the law firm for our County, providing legal representation and support for 20 <br />departments, 2500+ officers and employees and 37+ boards and commissions.The <br />Charter does not currently provide sufficientassurance that the appointed Corporation <br />Counsel will effectively and efficiently renderprompt and appropriate legal service to the <br />Countyand its employees and officials.Neither doesit establish any guidance in the <br />appointment ofa Corporation Counsel who will administer the office to use its resources <br />Comm.No.1.9 <br /> <br />