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LIHUE >> The Kauai County Council has decided to spend up to $15,000 in taxpayer money on special counsel to represent the police commission should a legal battle against the mayor go to the Hawaii Supreme Court.
The Council’s vote Wednesday comes after an appeals court determined in June that Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr. didn’t have the authority to discipline Police Chief Darryl Perry in 2012. The court ruled that the power lies with the police commission, The Garden Island reported Thursday.
Carvalho had suspended Perry for seven days based on an investigation into a personnel dispute, said County Attorney Mauna Kea Trask.
“Does the mayor have the power to take action involving a personnel dispute administratively within the department where it looks like under the Charter the commission can’t act?” Trask asked.
Carvalho can still appeal to the state high court.
Over zealous mayor who likes to toot his whistle a lot. Seems he has an ego problem?
I agree! Kinda control freak!
$15K cheap! Riki May Amano at $200K is expensive.
Since the Mayor and council determine who serves on the police commission there should be no problem. The commission should be able to act for any or no reason if need be.