2021-11-19 Merit Appeals Board Minutes

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Merit Appeals Board CHR. CABANAS: Okay. MR. VENTURA: No questions. Thank you. CHR. CABANAS: Thank you, Mel. Ms. Mathews, any questions? MS. MATHEWS: Not at this time. Thank you. CHR. CABANAS: Mr. Kunz. MR. KUNZ: No questions. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. De Soto. MS. DE SOTO: No questions. November 19, 2021 Communication No. 21-05, From Human Resources Acting Director Waylen L. K. Leopoldino, Dated October 20, 2021, Responding To The Merit Appeals Board Request For Information Concerning The "County Of Hawai`i's Department Of Human Resources Hiring Practices, Report No. 2017-03, September 7, 2017" (Postponed. October 29, 2021. There Is A Pending Motion By Board Member Kunz And Seconded By Board Member Mathews, To Receive And File Communication No. 21-05) CHR. CABANAS: Okay. I'm the last to address it. I do have a few questions, Acting Director. So, if you can come up to the dais over here. (At this time, Mr. Waylen Leopoldino, Acting Director, Department of Human Resources; and Mr. Tyler Benner, County Auditor, Office of the County Auditor, came forward.) I looked through the report and on page 2 of Number 8 -page 2 of Number 8. It says, "DHR recommends administration and oversight of the program be assigned to an agency that does not fall under the purview of the mayor." So, that's why it went back to the County Auditor? MR. LEOPOLDINO: I'm sorry, where are you at? CHR. CABANAS: Number 2 on page 2. It says, "After discussions with various resources as well as with the Office of Management, to maintain an independent whistleblower program and to decrease the potential for political influence or interference in response to complaints, DHR recommends administration and oversight of the program be assigned to an agency that does not fall under the purview of the Mayor." MR. LEOPOLDINO: Yes. And that was decided with comments made by the previous HR director as well. Page 11