Aloha,

I’m utterly disgusted that the council will be doing a do over of the June 16, 2009 committee reorganization. The public testimony was 100% against the council taking this action at that time. However the council ignored the wishes of the public and went ahead with it.

The latter has created a firestorm of angry residents island wide who are disgusted with the council’s recent actions. It has also raised from the dead calls to split Hawaii County into two counties. This is absolutely bad news for the future of this island

The Big Island is smack dab in the middle of the Pacific thousands of miles from the mainland. Thus we need to work together instead of working against each other. If this reorganization goes forward it will take this island one step closer to splitting apart.

Aaron Stene
Kailua-Kona

P.S- It is my understanding the Hawaii County Council Rules section 15.6 prevents council members from reintroducing any similar failed resolutions or legislation until the next legislative term. I believe Resolution 218-09 steps on this slippery slope.

Margaret Wille brings up a excellent point here regarding the fact that council members can’t reintroduce any similar failed resolutions or legislation until the next legislative term (Hawaii County Council Rule 15.6). In my layman’s opinion, there can’t be a do-over of the June 16 council reorganization because the council will be voiding this action on August 4th.I’d like to hear any any comments about this possible legal snag to the council’s latest political maneuvering.

Margaret Wille alerted me today that the Hawaii County Council is going to try to restore the June 16 council chair changes (that were allegedly tainted by a Sunshine law violation) at their August 5th county council hearing in Hilo. (Resolution 218-09)

It appears this is political maneuvering is perfectly legal. The TRO granted by Judge Ibarra allows the council to reorganize but blocks any further legislative action between August 5-15,2009.However I hope the council rejects this do over. The public testimony was largely against the council reorganizing during the first go around. I would bet that hasn’t changed one bit since June 16.

Update: I received this e-mail from Chuck Flaherty regarding this upcoming council action :

“On Aug. 4th in a Special Council meeting at 8AM, there will be a vote to reverse the council reorganization that occurred on June 16th.

Then, in the regular council meeting on Aug. 5, Enriques has introduced Resolution 218-09 which proposes to reinstate the same change that occurred on June 16th. “