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Managing director nominee Mike Formby reported out for adoption; administration to track federal funds and add budget contingency
Summary
The committee reported out the nomination of Mike Formby as managing director after Formby described plans to inventory federal funding across departments and include a contingency in the mayor’s budget to prepare for possible federal cuts. He also outlined a timetable for proposed hazard-pay settlements to come before council.
The Honolulu City Council Committee on International and Legal Affairs reported out for adoption the nomination of Mike Formby as managing director after a remote confirmation hearing in which Formby described how the administration will track federal funding and add a contingency to the mayor’s budget to prepare for possible federal funding losses.
Formby told committee members that his office has directed departments to itemize all federal funds so the city can assess exposure and prioritize local matches if needed. “They've already been told to start itemizing federal funds and we're gonna be collecting in a uniform manner from every department and office,” Formby said. He said the mayor and managing office are also proposing a contingency fund in the upcoming budget “for loss of federal funds because I think we have to be prepared.”
The issue drew questions from council members about how the city will monitor grants and what residents should expect if federal funding is reduced. Councilmember Cordero said she and other members wanted to see the administration working “in lockstep” with council so districts know about projects in advance. Formby replied that departments should be contacted directly first and that councilmembers should bring stalled cross-department issues to him so his office can coordinate: “My preference is that when you know you have a question or a concern for a specific department, you go to the director. But if you don't get a response from the director, then you come to me.”
Formby also told the committee the administration intends to bring a hazard-pay proposal to council on Feb. 26. He said the administration is working toward settlement agreements with multiple unions and that the appropriation previously approved by council for hazard pay is $115,000,000. “We have negotiated what we hope are settlement agreements that will be ratified at some point before the 26th for both SCOPE and HGEA,” he said, adding that the city has a proposed payment plan for UPW tied to an arbitration decision and that unresolved ratifications could mean partial payments until settlements are complete.
The committee chair recommended that the resolution confirming Formby be reported out for adoption; the chair later recessed and called for a revote to use the correct language before reporting it out.
The meeting also included routine procedures for remote testimony and a roll-call requirement under HRS for remote meetings.
Votes at a glance: resolution 25-5 (confirmation of Mike Formby as managing director) — reported out for adoption (chair recommendation; revote to correct language noted).
