(BIVN) – The volunteer action committee implementing the North Kohala Community Development Plan may have been unable to accomplish much at their Monday meeting due to a lack of quorum, however committee chair John Winter has reason to believe the future looks bright for CDP’s in general.

Winter said he is excited to be working with Mayor Harry Kim, who began his new term in December. Kim maintains a favorable disposition on the CDP concept.

Winter is also encouraged by a recent Intermediate Court of Appeals ruling that upheld a 2013 decision by 3rd Circuit Judge Ronald Ibarra that treated Community Development Plans as law (in that case, it was the Kona CDP).

However, “I’m still waiting to see the rubber meet the road,” Winter said.

“We’re still five people short for this committee and I’d like to get some nominees through the pipeline,” Winter added.

Winter also wants to go back to holding action committee meetings once per month instead of once every two months. The committee is also considering its options in terms of reconfiguring CDP subcommittees into citizen groups to make the bureaucracy easier to manage.

The next day, the County of Hawaii issued this media release seeking applicants for Boards and Commissions:

The County of Hawai’i is seeking applicants to fill vacancies in various Boards and Commissions, notably the Salary Commission, Arborist Commission, the Board of Appeals (Planning), Committee on People With Disabilities, Kailua Village Design Commission (Planning), Kona Community Development Plan Action Committee, No. Kohala Community Development Plan Action Committee, Fire Board of Appeals, and Veterans Advisory Committee.

Members of Boards and Commissions serve for staggered terms ranging from four to five years, on a voluntary basis. Travel expenses to and from meetings are reimbursed.

Applicants must be U.S. citizens, residents of the State of Hawai’i, and may not hold any other public office.

The Mayor’s Office will fill the vacancies on Boards and Commissions from a list of applicants. The complete list of Boards & Commissions and Application forms are available online at hawaiicounty.gov.