A Hawaii County Council committee plans a Sept. 6 confirmation hearing to consider Mayor Mitch Roth’s appointment of Acting Public Works Director Stephen Pause to the permanent position.
Pause, the former deputy director, has been acting director since mid-June, when former DPW Director Ikaika Rodenhurst abruptly resigned from the $132,577 position.
The council has until Oct. 15 to act on the nomination, under the county charter.
Pause isn’t expected to face the level of scrutiny that Rodenhurst did before his slim 5-4 council approval.
But council leaders aren’t taking any chances.
While Roth had requested the confirmation hearing proceed directly to the Sept. 7 council meeting, Hilo Councilwoman Sue Lee Loy, chairwoman of the Committee on Public Works and Mass Transit, declined to waive it.
“We all know DPW has far reaching responsibilities that affects the entire island and in fairness to the public, my colleagues and Mr. Pause the initial hearing should be face to face,” Lee Loy said.
Council Chairwoman Maile David said it’s up to the committee chairmen to make the call.
“I concur with committee chair’s decision not to waive this matter which allows ample time for the public to participate/testify and hear council discussions at committee level,” David said.
Pause holds BS and MS degrees from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and is a licensed professional civil engineer in the state of Hawaii.
His more than 35 years of work experience includes more than 17 years in a senior project management role for BP Oil, including participating in several emergency response events.
Before relocating to the Island, Pause was the director of capital projects for eight years for Cleveland Cliffs, an iron ore mining and steel company.
Pause listed as his highest priority to continue the ongoing effort of the Building Division to improve the permitting process using the EPIC system.
Additionally, he listed attracting and retaining talent into the DPW organization and improving lines of communication with the public and all project stakeholders.
“I am honored to assume the role of Director for DPW,” Pause said in a statement. “I look forward to the opportunity to lead a talented team that is tasked with improving and maintaining County infrastructure and seeing that minimum design and construction requirements are followed to ensure safe and resilient structures.”
Roth has confidence in his appointee.
“Director Pause has proven himself extremely qualified for this position and has shown a keen ability to lead the department during this time of transition,” Roth said in a statement. “Through his mix of professional and life experiences, we believe Steve is best suited to tackle the issues at hand, including improving building permitting, amplifying infrastructure repair and maintenance, and bolstering capitol improvement projects, ensuring that our residents can thrive and succeed for generations to come.”