NAWILIWILI — The Charter Review Commission is considering placing several questions — ranging from official titles to council term limits — on the ballot in the general election this fall. The “administrative assistant” position, currently held by Gary Heu, may
NAWILIWILI — The Charter Review Commission is considering placing several questions — ranging from official titles to council term limits — on the ballot in the general election this fall.
The “administrative assistant” position, currently held by Gary Heu, may be switched to “managing director” if the commission approves the proposed amendment and voters pass it in November.
The impetus for the title change is so the position is comparable and consistent with other counties in the state.
The administrative assistant is currently appointed or removed by the mayor. The qualifications for the position are the same as for mayor (30 years old and a resident elector of the county for at least three years).
Under the new amendment those qualifications would still stand, but the managing director would also have to have a minimum of five years of administrative experience. The amendment, which is not yet completed, may include other requirements.
As it stands, the ballot question reads: “Shall the title of Administrative Assistant be revised to Managing Director and should minimum job qualifications be established for the Managing Director?”
The commissioners grappled with the two-part nature of the question, eventually opting to defer any action until next meeting.
Heu serves as Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr.’s principal administrative aide. If the mayor is temporarily absent, or out due to disability, the administrative assistant acts as the mayor. If there’s a vacancy in the office, the administrative assistant would fill the mayor’s position until a new one is appointed or elected.
If both officials are absent or disabled, the finance director — a position currently held by Wally Rezentes Jr. — steps up as mayor.
Planning director
The Charter Review Commission has also proposed an amendment to change the way in which the planning director is hired and fired, a power currently held by the Planning Commission.
Under the proposed amendment, the Planning Commission would give the mayor a list of three to five applicants from which to chose. The mayor’s appointment would then have to be confirmed by the County Council.
The idea behind this amendment is to make the mayor more accountable for the planning director’s decisions, according to Charter Review commissioners.
The amendment is still in the making, but is expected to be on the Charter Review Commission’s next meeting’s agenda.
The Charter Review Commission on Monday approved placing two questions on the Nov. 2 ballot.
Assuming the measures are finalized by election officials, voters will be asked if they agree in extending the time in which firms represented by former county employees can enter into a contract with the county, after such employee’s separation from the county’s payroll. Currently it is six months, but it could be extended to one year.
The other proposed amendment the commission approved relates to financial procedures. Voters can expect to see this question on the ballot: “Shall the charter provisions relating to centralized purchasing and disposition of surplus property be changed to conform with the State law and the Hawai‘i Administrative Rules?”
The commission is considering putting several other questions before voters this fall, including one related to council term limits.
Kaua‘i County Council members currently serve two-year terms. If the commission approves a proposed amendment, voters will be asked if they think council members should serve four-year terms, with a limit of two consecutive terms. The commission deferred action on this item until next meeting.
Other questions related to the county Code of Ethics.
The commission’s deadline to submit all Charter amendment ballot questions to the county clerk is Aug. 6, according to a draft timeline.
The commission’s next regular monthly meeting is June 28 at the Liquor Commission room in the Mo‘ikeha Building.
Visit www.kauai.gov for more information.
• Léo Azambuja, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or lazambuja@kauaipubco.com.
