LIHU‘E — Today, the county’s Charter Review Commission will decide which of seven proposed charter amendments will be added to November’s ballot.
At last Wednesday’s Kaua‘i County Council meeting, members were briefed on all the proposals, including one that would introduce council districting as proposed by members of the public.
Residents Johnathan Jay and Donovan Cabebe, a council candidate, both offered positive testimony on the districting proposal last Wednesday to councilmembers.
The proposal suggests splitting Kaua‘i into three districts corresponding with state House boundaries, with three members each, for a total of a nine-seat council. It suggests a two-year residency within a district before candidates would be eligible for candidacy to represent that district.
This is the only proposal that is not in final review with the county attorney. The discussion today will determine how the commission will move forward.
The commission will also review broadening the scope of who will need to disclose conflicts of interest.
Currently, the charter only requires elected officials, department heads and deputies, the purchasing administrator and members of boards and commissions, to disclose business and local real estate holdings. This question up for consideration would specifically add the managing director and employees in line with permit and liquor inspections.
The county charter outlines that the Kaua‘i Police Department Chief must have at least five years of training and experience in law enforcement, and at least three of those be in an administrative role.
The proposal would require at least the chief to have at least 10 years in an appropriate field, plus education requirements. While hiring current KPD Chief Todd Raybuck, the Kaua‘i Police Commission recommended adding more requirements for future chief candidates.
The commission will also consider eliminating a registered-engineer qualification for the county engineer. This position oversees the Department of Public Works, the largest department in the county, and has become more in line with a supervisory, management role. Previous engineer tasks are now completed by engineers in the department.
“Mayors for many years have had difficulty filling the position with registered engineers,” the proposal said. “This amendment recognizes the changing function of the position, and it would expand the pool of qualified applicants.”
The county has had similar trouble hiring a Department of Water manager, and is considering the proposal to broaden the candidate pool where a qualified manager with engineering experience could meet the requirements of the position as well as would a Hawai‘i-registered engineer.
The commission will also consider adding housekeeping amendments, like one that stipulates how to fill positions in the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney that are vacant upward of a year, and keeping negligence complaints in line with the state’s charter by establishing a time limit for claims.
The Charter Review Commission meets remotely today at 3 p.m. Those wishing to participate in the meeting should use the following information: Microsoft Teams Audio, call 1-469-848-0234, Conference ID: 687 886 093#. Testimony may also be sent to asegret@kauai.gov, or offered by calling 241-4917.
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Sabrina Bodon, public safety and government reporter, can be reached at 245-0441 or sbodon@thegardenisland.com.
