2021-05-26 Merit Appeals Board Minutes

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Merit Appeals Board May 26, 2021 CHR. CABANAS: And in closing, I just want to say that whatever we do—whatever we do trust is so important. And the Department of Human Resources, I would like to think, is still trustworthy with Bill at the helm. I get a little emotional because we've been through a lot as a staff member working with Bill as a manager—we've been through a lot. And so, I really want to thank you so much. MR. BRILHANTE: I think I should be thanking you `cause you made me look good. So, thank you very much. CHR. CABANAS: Okay. So, I just want to, in closing, to say I wish you the best, Bill, and I know you would do really well at your family business and carrying the memory on of your dad, which I know means so much to you. So, we understand. MR. BRILHANTE: Thank you. Thanks. CHR. CABANAS: Going back to the director's report, I just do have one question to ask you. And that is, when I was there working for the department, the Legislative Auditor said they were going to come back to the department to audit the Department of Human Resources in terms of what the department was doing in auditing the departments interview packets, in keeping that trust element that is so vital that the public really needs to know the departments are doing things correctly, accurate, et cetera, in accordance with the Merit System Principle. That's why I asked you to submit a little report to the Board. I thought that was very significant. Now, the former legislative auditor left. She resigned and now there's a new auditor. So, are they—is that auditor coming back now to audit the department? MR. BRILHANTE: Chair, in response to that question. You're absolutely correct in that it was. We don't know what the schedule of the leg. auditor is and will be going forward. But I did have informal discussions with the previous auditor before she left, and she indicated to me that they were going to come back to our office some time during the first half of this year and do a follow-up audit of the hiring practices. Unfortunately, Bonnie left. And in the interim Maxinne Pacheco was appointed to be the temporary leg. auditor. I had follow-up discussions with Maxinne during that period of time. Maxinne reiterated and confirmed that although the process was being pushed back a little, they were planning on coming back and doing a follow-up audit of the hiring practices through our departments as well as Countywide. Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to sit down and have a discussion with the new auditor who was just recently selected by the council. I think he starts at the beginning of July is my understanding. I—don't quote me on that but so the plan was to, kind of, touch base with him when he comes on board, and to just ensure that the audit doesn't fall through the cracks because I think it's very important that we are able to show proof and evidence that we are doing things properly going forward. Page 11