Council Powers & Functions: Back to Basics

[oink]

Isn't much of the dissatisfaction with the current holder of the seat that she wasted too much effort on resolutions and didn't exert enough effort on solving issues that were actually within her power to affect. I don't know the details but that's my recollection.

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[james weatherford]

Yes, Oink, your recollection is reasonably accurate.
Irongstone: I'm not sure it would be "the right thing to do." It wouldn't change anything, except allowing other problems to get worse; and that is not a good example for anyone to follow.

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Irongstone]

Are you saying it wouldn't be the right thing to do even if there were no other items on the agenda?

And, let me ask again, but more specifically, how much of time would such a resolution take away from the other items on the agenda?

[james weatherford]

There are so many unresolved issues so that something is always on the Council Agenda. Nothing on the agenda does not happen.

How much time?
Not only time away from the agenda during committee meeting and during Council meetings, but also the cost of staff time in preparation before the meetings and follow-up afterward.
There are many issues for which the Council has sole responsibility and on which only the Council can act. Any other items take time, money, and concentration away from those core issues.
So, maybe just this one ineffective resolution? Or, since one is done, then surely there is time for another, and another, and another...

Moreover, there is no evidence that County Council resolutions have any impact on policy at the national level.



James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[csgray]

The current council would be perfectly capable of arguing about this resolution for months while nothing else gets done. The problem with "feel good" resolutions, concerning matters the council can only voice opinions on, is they become distractions from addressing the problems they could actually do something about. I would prefer our council focus first on all the problems we have that actually do fall within their arena, once they fix those problems then by all means start introducing resolutions on wider matters.

Carol

[james weatherford]

Thanks, Carol.
You make my point well.
Indeed, I hear this sentiment widely expressed.

James Weatherford, Ph.D.
15-1888 Hialoa
Hawaiian Paradise Park

[Irongstone]

Are you saying that the resolutions against forced vaccination and against 'monsanto laws' were a waste of time? The county's position on these issues matters whether or not it changes any state laws. A stand against tyranny is encouraging to many (thanks to the internet since mainstream news buries such stories). In other US states, the sheriff is the supreme authority within his or her county. If we had a county sheriff and elected someone with courage, he or she could prevent feds from violating our rights and freedoms.

[oink]

WTF?

Pua`a
S. FL
Big Islander to be.

[Irongstone]

To be clear, the "elected someone with courage" was referring to the election of a county sheriff. Of course, we'll also need council members with courage as well as honesty.

[Bob Orts]

A Sheriff is nothing special or unique under the law.

Sheriffs traditionally have been elected by the citizens, but that is not an absolute right of a Sheriff, it is just the way it is done based on current laws in some areas. There are County Sheriffs who are not elected but appointed. There are Police Chiefs who are not appointed but elected.

The only powers an elected or appointed head of a law enforcement agency has, is the powers granted to them under state and county laws. The distinct advantage to an elected officials is that the usual method of terminating that person's position is through impeachment or a recall election. But there are still states where a duly elected official can be terminated without impeachment or recall.

An elected or appointed law enforcement official is still bound by the state constitution and the laws of the state and county they represent. Further, in some cases, elected law enforcement officials have less power because their state has a profession certification for law enforcement that even a person elected must obtain to use their peace/police officer powers. Otherwise they are relegated to an administrative oversight role.

A Sheriff, elected or appointed has no authority over federal laws. Federal law id federal law. State law if State law. County law is county law. I don't no where the notion that some elected sheriff is anointed some super powers above any other appointed head of a law enforcement agency. The only thing an elected law enforcement head has is the power of not being fired without a lengthy and public process.

As an FYI, the Hawaii County Police Chief is endowed under State and County law with certain powers that can not be over-ridden but the County Council. There are aspects of the job, supervision, priorities, and assignments that are not controllable by the elected political arm of the county. The police department can be called the Hawaii County Sheriff Department and nothing will change as to the operations of the agency. You can even make the position an elected political position and under State and County law, the elected head would still be bound by those laws.