Letters for Saturday, July 3, 2010

• 7 reasons county-manager proposal shouldn’t fly • ‘Slim’ Fujikawa is a friend • Speaking up for the dogs

7 reasons county-manager proposal shouldn’t fly

To members of the Charter Review Commission:

Here are my reasons why the proposed county-manager system does not meet the requirements of your “necessary” and “desirable” standards for submission to the electorate for its and your consideration:

l. Because there has been no showing or identification of any deficiency in the structure of the Kaua‘i County Charter; and

2. Because there has been no showing or evidence identifying specific instances of failure or neglect by past or present mayors in the performance of their responsibilities and duties; and

3. Because the identified problems and concerns fall into the category of disagreements and disappointments with the actions or inactions of elected or appointed officials on policy or political matters; and

4. Because the county-manager system is not without problems of its own; and

5. Because the manager, by virtue of his qualifications, is presumed to be better able to perform the exact, same, identical duties of the mayor when, in fact, he will be equally dependent and reliant, as is the mayor, upon a team of qualified and experienced people assembled to conduct the operation of the government including the expenditure of funds in the county budget within the parameters established by the budget; and

6. Because the manager is appointed, possibly by at least a mere majority of four members of an elected seven-member council as contrasted to a mayor who is elected by a majority of the 30,000 or more voters who had the opportunity to evaluate his or her education, experience, background and character; and

7. Because “the core concept of the system is to assign the responsibility for performing the administrative duties of the government to the manager” infers, without saying, that there is dis-satisfaction with the performance of that duty, and again, without specifics shown; and

Now, therefore, because the Charter Review Commission is instructed by Section 24.03 of the Kaua‘i County Charter that “in the event the commission deems changes are necessary or desirable…may propose changes to the existing charter or draft a new charter;”

It is my humble opinion that, for the reasons cited, the proposed change to our existing charter does not meet either standard of necessity or desirability.

Despite my occasional disagreements with our government, I believe that overall it has satisfactorily met the wants and needs of our county efficiently, effectively, and our mayors and council remain accountable. Those who disagree have an opportunity to change matters at the next election.

Because of item 7 above, alleging failure or neglect in administrative performance, I support the CRC’s intention to submit its proposal to create a managing director’s position in the mayor’s office to implement, among others, the duty imposed upon the mayor by Section 7.05A of the charter. This proposal meets your “necessary” and “desirable” standards and no one will deny that it adds to strengthening the mayor’s duty of administration.

Alfred Laureta, Puhi

‘Slim’ Fujikawa is a friend

I usually enjoy reading the history column in the Friday paper. Yesterday I was at first fascinated by the history of Waimea school and finally delighted to find Shigeru Fujikawa’s name as secretary of the first class (Island History, June 11). Please know that Shigeru, sometimes called “Slim,” is alive and well and — still a secretary. He was one of the first people my husband and I met when we moved to Kaua‘i eight months ago. He is a delightful man with a subtle, wry sense of humor and a twinkle in his eye who plays golf several times a week. He volunteers regularly at Hanapepe United Church of Christ, sings in the choir with a voice still accurate and strong and, yes, is the church secretary. It pleases me no end to have him as our friend.

Ann Bjork, Kalaheo

Speaking up for the dogs

I would like to be a voice in defense of barking dogs since they can’t write letters in defense of themselves. I remember living in Po‘ipu a while back and just about every house on Weliweli track had at least one dog and for any number of reasons one would start barking and it would continue like dominos down the street. Sometimes it sounded like they were singing, other times just a lone bark. But it was most definitely a legit form of communication. I once rented a house where the landlord raised goats and one evening I was hanging laundry on a line next to their field and the bull, a massive goat named Sambo, was standing on a rock and all the other goats were gathered around in a near perfect semicircle as Sambo said something in goat. If I hadn’t seen it with my own eyes I wouldn’t believe me either. I really enjoy listening to animals communicate and I’m tired of listening to people complain about it. We interfere with whales and dolphins communicating underwater with sonar, we cut the vocal cords on dogs and we displace countless birds and other animals by bulldozing habitat in favor of endless development. So I’m against limiting the freedom of speech of my canine friends and neighbors and all for baking pies for those complaining. As long as they have pie in their mouth I don’t have to hear them griping.

Jason S. Nichols, Koloa