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Please back amendment

On Tuesday at 10 a.m., the Maui County Council, meeting as the Policy, Economic Development and Agricultural Committee, will study three proposed charter amendments that could find their way on the ballot this November.

Of particular importance is a proposed amendment on County Governance (PEA-10 (2)) that would establish an Office of the Managing Director to function as the chief operating officer for Maui County.

The mayor would remain as chief executive officer, supervising the managing director’s work, with the ability to approve or veto bills. The mayor also would have an enumerated list of other duties.

The recruitment of a professional managing director would be conducted by the mayor, council chair and a three-member citizen group.

Once hired, the managing director would be responsible for daily operations of the county as well as the appointment of most department heads. It is hoped that this method would result in professionals, not political appointees, overseeing county departments.

We would ask all interested citizens to give testimony in support of this amendment, asking that it be put on the ballot to let the people decide. If you are unable to testify in person, you may submit written testimony by sending an email to: pea.committee@mauicounty.us.

As we wrote in this space on May 16:

“As Maui County continues its rapid growth, it is more important than ever that professionals be hired, and retained, to run county departments. We will soon have billion-dollar a year county budgets, and the demands of a population approaching 200,000 are much different today than when the charter was adopted 50 years ago.

“It is important to remember that the political skills required to be elected mayor probably do not translate into the skills needed to administer billion-dollar budgets.

“And our county departments need the continuity and expertise that professionals can bring to them.

“We urge the Policy, Economic Development and Agriculture Committee and the council as a whole to study and then move the proposal forward — and then get it on the ballot as a charter amendment.”

* Editorials reflect the opinion of the publisher.

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