Posted on: Thursday, July 11, 2002

Kaua'i considers changes to charter

By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau

LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Mayor Maryanne Kusaka has proposed an amendment to the County Charter that would allow an architect to serve as head of the Department of Public Works.

The manager of that department is now required to be an engineer and holds the title of county engineer.

"A licensed architect is a registered professional specifically educated and trained to design and administer construction projects (and) is qualified to ... (manage) the Department of Public Works," Kusaka said.

While any charter change would take place after Kusaka leaves office, if it were in place now, the proposal would resolve an issue in her own administration.

Kusaka's former county engineer, Cesar Portugal, resigned to take a higher-paying civil service position within the Department of Public Works.

His deputy, Ian Costa, is an architect and not an engineer. Costa thus is not able to serve as acting county engineer, even though he functions as head of the department.

Kusaka has said she does not plan to appoint an engineer to head the department for the last six months of her term.

The County Council must decide whether to put the issue on the November ballot.

As proposed by Kusaka, it would require the architect have five years training, at least three of which must have been in an administrative capacity. The name of the position would be changed to Director of Public Works.

The council is also considering two other charter amendments proposed by Councilman Gary Hooser.

One would reduce the number of signatures required to launch an initiative or referendum action from 20 percent to 15 percent of eligible voters.

The other would create a special county fund, the Public Access, Open Space, Natural Resources Preservation Fund. It would require that each year, 0.5 percent of real property tax collections be placed in the fund, for the purchase of land for preservation, access and conservation.