Maui voters could face
opposing water proposals

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Associated Press

WAILUKU >> Maui voters may be faced with conflicting County Charter water amendments in the November election.

The Maui County Charter Commission has proposed an amendment to give greater independence to the semiautonomous Department of Water Supply.

The commission wants to have "less politicization" and a "more businesslike" water department, said University of Hawaii law professor Jon Van Dyke, who advised the panel.

But the County Council's Committee of the Whole has its own proposed amendment, which would bring the agency back under control of the mayor as a regular county department.

The committee voted unanimously this past week to ask the commission to replace its proposal with the council's.

Councilwoman Charmaine Tavares, who offered the substitute proposal, said the commission probably will not change its stand.

That could mean both proposals may end up on the ballot.

The Department of Water Supply became semiautonomous in 1989.