From the Maui News: Wailuku Charter Commission members killed a proposal that would give the mayor powers to hire and fire the fire chief, but they supported a plan to move county ocean safety officers under the authority of the Maui Fire Department.

Mayor Alan Arakawa urged the commission to change the current hiring system. With both the fire and police chiefs currently hired and fired by the commissions overseeing their departments, the mayor has virtually no authority over public safety issues. He noted that if a chief chose to, he could simply ignore the mayor and operate with near complete independence.

Fire Chief Jeff Murray opposed a change, noting the current system was established to prevent decisions that affect public safety from becoming politicized.

In other issues affecting the fire department, the commission voted in favor of moving forward a proposal to change the official name of the Department of Fire and Public Safety to the Maui County Fire Department. Proponents said the new name would be simpler and more accurately describe the department's role.