Two council members are looking to fine-tune the structure of administrative offices to better respond to constituent concerns.
Hilo Councilman Aaron Chung is introducing a measure requiring midterm County Council reconfirmation of county department heads who are appointed by the mayor.
Chung said Friday he believes the additional confirmation two years after the first is desirable because the mayor — and thus the department directors — serves a four-year term while council members serve two-year terms. That means council members coming in midway through a mayor’s term have no input on administrators carrying out policies set by the council.
Under the county charter, the County Council sets policies and the administration implements them.
“Some council members will have no say in the department heads that will be carrying out county policies,” Chung said.
This isn’t the first time Chung has introduced a bill to get the issue on the charter. An attempt in 2016 didn’t make it to the ballot after it was voted down by the council at the time.
Chung, who is term-limited this year, said this second effort dispels any notion that the bill is targeting any specific mayor or administration.
“Every employee in county civil service have to go through a probationary period (but) department heads have no probationary period,” Chung said. “This makes the department head more responsive. It encourages continual improvement for the county.”
Puna Councilwoman Ashley Kierkiewicz has also introduced a bill to create a charter amendment. Hers would create a new county department, a Building Department. Currently the county Building Division is a division under the Department of Public Works, overseen by the appointed Public Works director and managed by a building chief, a civil service administrator.
The Department of Public Works, and the Building Division, have been under increased scrutiny after early hiccups in the implementation of a new computerized building permit system created a backlog and long waits for permits.
“The department of building shall manage public building construction and inspection; plans, specifications and applications for private building and construction; plumbing, electrical and building permits; the enforcement of all county ordinances related to building, construction, and inspection; process sign applications and variances; and exercise other functions as prescribed by the mayor or prescribed by ordinance,” the bill states.
“Years ago, the Department of Public Works also included solid waste and wastewater divisions. A charter amendment moved these functions into the Department of Environmental Management,” Kierkiewicz said. “Even with that, DPW still has tremendous responsibility, from taking care of our County assets including vehicles, facilities, roads, bridges, traffic signs, signals, and street lights, to permitting and inspections. The weight of DPW’s charge is significant.”
“The purpose of this proposed charter amendment is to move Building Division functions into its own department so there is explicit focus and leadership on these important responsibilities,” she added.
The charter amendments are likely to come before a council committee the first week of June.
Under the county charter, the measures face three separate readings at the council level, where at least six affirmative votes are required to pass.
Email Nancy Cook Lauer at ncook-lauer@westhawaiitoday.com.
