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} <br /> 4 <br /> i <br /> i <br /> Hawaii County Council-25 November 3,2015 <br /> IVIS. WILLS: Okay,let me just say off the top of my head, I don't like this idea. <br /> If it was just temporary, I wouldn't have so much of a problem, but I don't like <br /> the idea of where we're basically handing this out for private attorney's to do. I <br /> don't consider workers' comp that difficult. I think it's perhaps, one of the— <br /> anyway I won't go into that, but I don't see this as a complex area of law that <br /> somehow is more difficult than the other areas that you all are handling. And I <br /> think that we have vacancies in your department. Why aren't we filling those? <br /> And I do want to refer to—there was testimony maybe a month or two ago, <br /> someone came here, and I don't recall what it had to do with, I think it was <br /> somebody who's in Council Member Chung's—and talking about his,he talked <br /> about his experience, and working with that contract attorney, and it was with the <br /> police force. It was a case, and just how difficult it was, and the contract attorney <br /> said, "Well I can't authorize an extension, here I'd have to get back to the police <br /> department, and Mayor Kenai . . . ." and on and on. <br /> And it was like just a total—I don't feel the workers' comp is where people are <br /> people,us, are heard and need help. And you know,we're farming it out. So, I <br /> understand that this person has died, and if somehow you needed to hire <br /> somebody quickly to fill in, I think you said there's 79 cases. But, I don't like the <br /> idea of where were are, instead of our department, that it's a farmed out. And I in <br /> particular don't like it,where it's employees who are hurt, that are the ones on the <br /> outside. So, Pil yield. Those are—if you want to respond. Anyway,you <br /> understand my concerns, and I see this as one option, but I don't like this option. <br /> CHR. KANLTHA: Thank you, Ms. Wille. Mr. Paleka. <br /> MR. PALEKA: Hi Molly,how are you? <br /> MS. STEBBINS: Good. <br /> MR. PALEKA: I just had one question in regards the amount we're looking at for <br /> workman's comp attorneys. <br /> MS. STEBBINS: The total amount of the contract we're asking for is $300,000. <br /> MR. PALEKA: How many employees could that garner if we hired them under <br /> the County? If we pay an attorney like say, $50,000 a year,we get two attorneys? <br /> MS. STEBBINS: No, that's not—well the $300,000 probably would, maybe <br /> Charmaine wants to come up here so she can speak historically. But maybe that <br /> would cover about two years. <br /> MR. PALEKA: Two years, so $150,000? <br /> Page 69 <br />