Big Island, small world.
The same names keep recirculating on county boards and commissions, due in part to a shortage of volunteers willing to step up. And even after drawing upon all the familiar faces, Mayor Billy Kenoi still has 25 to 30 openings to fill.
Various County Council committees will consider confirmation of some of those appointees today. Committees meet in council chambers in Hilo beginning at 9 a.m.
Kenoi said he’s placed more than 200 appointees on the county’s 37 boards and commissions over his six years in office. He said half of his most recent 12 appointees have previously served, but he’s also tapping six new faces to some boards.
“A lot of people are committed community members,” Kenoi said Monday. “We try to find quality members for each commission, and we try to involve as many people as we can.”
The voluntary, unpaid positions can take a lot of time. The county reimburses for travel and usually provides lunch for board members.
Some boards have struggled because of the shortage of members. The Cost of Government Commission, a board that convenes only every four years, had to cancel numerous meetings over the course of its work because it couldn’t get a quorum. Two council districts — Puna’s District 4 and South Kona/Ka‘u District 6 — were not represented because no volunteers stepped up.
Some seats on some boards and commissions have to be filled by people in specific districts or in specific occupations or with certain party affiliations. The charter allows people to serve on only one county board at a time.
Hilo attorney Brian De Lima is one example of a frequent member. De Lima, currently on the Salary Commission, previously served on the Board of Appeals. He’s also a member of the state Board of Education, which he says reduces his billable hours as an attorney by 40 to 60 hours a month.
Another Salary Commission member, Pudding Lassiter, formerly chaired the Police Commission.
De Lima said people have busy lives, but those lives are enriched by serving the community. Some people, he said, volunteer their time coaching youth sports or working for their churches; others apply themselves to helping govern.
“Government only works when people are involved,” De Lima said. “Democracy requires people to take an interest in the government.”
Appointees to be considered today are:
• Scott Church, former chairman of the Tax Board of Review, to the Leeward Planning Commission.
• Unsuccessful County Council candidate Oliver “Sonny” Shimaoka, to the Leeward Planning Commission.
• Donn Dela Cruz, business representative at International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 1186, to the Windward Planning Commission.
• Bryant Balog, department manager with Edwin DeLuz Trucking and Gravel LLC, to the Water Board.
The above nominations to be considered by the council Planning Committee beginning at 9 a.m.
• Former County Clerk Ken Goodenow, treasurer for the Hawaii County Democratic Party, to the Board of Ethics. Finance committee, 9:45 a.m.
• Naniloa Pogline, a self-employed ceramic tile designer, to the Game Management Advisory Commission. Committee on Agriculture, Water and Energy Sustainability, 10:30 a.m.
Residents interested in serving can find more information at hawaiicounty.gov/boards-and-commissions-vacancy or by calling 961-8223. They also can pick up an application at the Mayor’s Office in Hilo or Kona.
The county is looking for people who are active in and respected by the community, community-minded and -oriented, knowledgeable about and able to represent the entire community’s interests and concerns and able to focus on Hawaii County as a whole without undue influence by special or self-interests, according to the website.