The Maui County Council's Policy Committee today recommended the hiring of former state attorney general Marjorie Bronster to deal with matters relating to the threat of terminated water and wastewater services on Moloka'i, and possible legal claims arising from the situation.

The committee, chaired by Moloka'i council member Danny Mateo, voted unanimously to recommend the hiring to full council for action.

At a hearing today in Honolulu, Maui County Deputy Corporation Counsel Jane E. Lovell told state Health Department officials orders requiring the county to assess and prepare to take over the water and wastewater systems privately owned and operated by Molokai Ranch are flawed and that the state has no legal authority to require the county to bail out a private utility company, particularly one whose parent company seeks to retain all of its assets while passing on its liabilities onto county taxpayers.

The county is seeking to have the orders rescinded, and DOH's case against the county dismissed.

The hearings were continued to July 30.