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Hawaii County Council-25 November 3, 2015
<br /> finally,the person feels, I don't have any choice, I have to settle for something
<br /> that seems very unfair.
<br /> I don't—I appreciate what Council Member Paleka was saying, sort of, what is
<br /> the long term view? But I feel like we really are—we got two paths and once we
<br /> go down this one, these are the people that are going to get the education, and be
<br /> working on it, and have those cases. It's not going to be that easy, to go and hire
<br /> somebody else. You know, I don't—I'm not going to support this. I'm just really
<br /> feel strongly it's a disservice, and I feel that we just have to make more of an
<br /> effort to find somebody that can do these cases. We have vacancies, and
<br /> somehow fill it. At the same time,if it was—we want somebody who is a
<br /> specialist to help a staff temporarily, because someone's died and we got to bridge
<br /> it, I don't have any problem. But, I don't see this as a bridge issue, I see this as a
<br /> long term direction and path. So, that's why.
<br /> CHR. KANUHA: Thank you,Ms. Wille. Mr. Chung,I want to give you the last
<br /> opportunity.
<br /> MR. CHUNG: Thank you. Very briefly, you know, I agree with her,I agree with
<br /> Mr. Paleka, and you know,perhaps Molly, in just as the administrator, you could
<br /> kind of work towards grooming somebody. But that's really up to you, quite
<br /> frankly. But I will mention the reality of the situation. There's a dearth of good
<br /> workers' compensation attorneys in Hilo anyway, and that's why claimants aren't
<br /> able to get representation. So they have to go away because there aren't any
<br /> people here, because its, maybe it's not profitable, I don't know what. And it is
<br /> very specialized, so it's going to be difficult, I think, to get someone. I mean—
<br /> and it was really fortunate that Nora was willing to come on board. So, you
<br /> know, that's just the reality of this situation. So, I know you guys are stuck,but if
<br /> you guys can kind of just possibly,maybe,have one of your deputies go sit in at
<br /> an Appeals Board hearing with these guys.
<br /> MS. STEBBINS: We have one of our deputies who was assigned as Nora's back-
<br /> up, all of the attorneys have back-ups assigned to cover, and he's been handling
<br /> the workers' comp matters this past month or so. Frankly,if we.had the man
<br /> power, I wouldn't be opposed to dedicating a staff person to workers' comp,but
<br /> we have two vacancies we're trying to fill. That's difficult enough as it is, and we
<br /> just don't have the staff right now to dedicate someone to this assignment, which
<br /> is full time.
<br /> MR. CHUNG: Right. And I wasn't suggesting that. I was just saying if you
<br /> guys could kind of, maybe let that person, whoever Nora's back-up was, go
<br /> accompany Leong, Kunihiro, Benton, and Brook at some of those hearings, and
<br /> maybe interface with them, and just learn. And then you guys can start sending
<br /> this person to more training possibly, and if it works out,it works out. If it
<br /> doesn't, it doesn't. But yeah, I'll support this though.
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