HomeMy WebLinkAboutComm No 0043.17 - Testimony - CA-26 - Qualifications for the Director DPWTELEPHONE: FACSIMILE:
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INABA ENGINEERING, INC.
CIVIL ENGINEERING • LAND SURVEYING
273 WAIANUENUE AVENUE
HILO, HAWAII 96720
April 24, 2019
Mr. Douglass Shipman Adams, Chairperson
Hawaii County Charter Commission
County of Hawaii
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
via email: charter.commission@hawaiicounty.gov
Subject: Comm. No 43.1: Transmitting CA -26, Draft 2 for First Reading; Proposal to amend Section
6-2.2, relating to Qualifications for the Director of the Department of Public Works, to remove
the requirement that the Director be a registered professional engineer and add that the
required amount of years of administrative experience to be eligible for appointment as
Director be related to the powers, duties and functions of the Department of Public Works;
as submitted by commissioner Adams
Honorable Members of the Hawaii County Charter Commission,
am submitting written testimony against CA -26, Draft 2, for the subject proposal to remove the
requirement that the Director of Public Works be a registered (Licensed) professional engineer.
The Director oversees the Department of Public Works which is staffed with many professional
engineers who are responsible for oversight, planning, design, construction and maintenance of
infrastructure projects such as subdivisions, roadways, bridges, drainage works, traffic safety,
and other public facilities.
A licensed professional engineer is ethically obligated to protect the health, safety, and welfare
of the public, putting public interest before personal, company, organizational, and political
interests. This is how a public works director should evaluate critical issues that affect our
community well-being.
Licensure assures a level of educational qualifications and competency based on breadth of
sound technical engineering knowledge and experience necessary to fulfill the requirements of
being a Director of the Department Public Works.
The requirement for professional engineering licensure should not be removed.
Thank you for the opportunity to provide written testimony on this item.
Very truly yours,
INABA ENGINEERING, INC.
K. Inaba, P.E.
President
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Comm. No. 43.17