2022-03-10 Merit Appeals Board Minutes

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Merit Appeals Board March 10, 2022 MR. KUNZ: Okay. And then, I guess, the other question I had wasI guess you can answer or not answer it I guess but are there—do you know of any or have you had any discussions with the mayor in terms of the impact of salaries and where these funds come from, should they affect the entire County. MR. LEOPOLDINO: I've been in discussions with council members, our finance director—and I—yes, I have mentioned that to the Administration. And so, right now, because this has just come out and we just started having discussions, I don't have anything substantial to provide. But, as discussions do go on, the Administration will definitely be a part of that because our finance director will have to—should we make that decision—we will have to find the funds. MR. KUNZ: So, there's awareness, obviously. MR. LEOPOLDINO: Yes, absolutely. I think Senate Bill 2018 is, kind of, at the top of everybody's minds, just because we're a small community and it kind of affects everybody. So, it was interesting that I did read the testimonies that were provided and it's very divided. The small business—because we're just coming out of COVID, they're worried about having to close down to meet the minimum qualificaI mean, the minimum wage requirements. But then, there's also another group that feels to earn a living wage in Hawaii that's required. MR. KUNZ: Okay. Thank you. I guess, obviously, the timing of it when it was on the books coming out and afterI mean, and it still being an issue post-COVID—just the timing of it has, I think, impacted more businesses and communities than it was if it came out— MR. ut MR. LEOPOLDINO: Right. MR. KUNZ: was adhered to if COVID didn't exist. MR. LEOPOLDINO: Right. MR. KUNZ: —would be very difficult. Okay. Thank you. MS. MATHEWS: I'd like to echo, again, what Gabe was saying. I happen to be a big fairness person and I watch all these various recruiting things that are going outside of the County and listen to employees. And there's there needs to be, sort of, an equitable distribution amongst everybody. And, of course, I also get the flipside of this because I don't know if you've tried to run the numbers yet as to what this would have—what kind of an impact this is going to have on the County because we're talking about big bucks by the time they get—if they were to follow my thinking in terms of what equitable should be. You don't have a number at all about what that might look like, do you? Okay. So, it's too early? Okay. But, again, I agree, that it shouldn't just be about raising the there's a—like care homes are doing these recruitment for—or hospitals—are doing recruitments for, like, nurses, Page 17