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Hawaii Fire Commission <br />Regular Session Minutes <br />June 22, 2023 <br />Page 6 <br />didn't count. The requirements of the job just state you need your paramedic <br />certification. <br />Chair Kosaki brought up a grievance that was filed a while back, where there was an <br />FEO exam, there was an assessment, and a deadline for a response if you were <br />interested in participating in the assessment. Someone missed the deadline, but he was <br />going to be allowed to participate and another firefighter on the list who complied and <br />met the deadline filed a grievance which went to step two and HR overturned that. Chair <br />Kosaki further stated that he was told that if a deadline is approaching the deputy has <br />been calling people reminding them to submit their paperwork and/or interest in <br />participating. He asked if this was correct or a rumor. <br />Deputy Chief Moller explained that their HR section gives them five days (not working <br />days). If people are getting off shift, they may not check their emails for four or five days <br />if they aren't in. If they don't check their emails they won't know a response is needed <br />by a certain date. To make sure that it's fair across the board, they've been calling <br />everyone on the list advising them to check their email because a requirement is <br />needed within the next five days. After this round, they want to negotiate with the union <br />on having different verbiage within the process that allows more than just five days. <br />They want to make sure everyone can come to work, see their emails, and <br />appropriately respond. Another thing that has been changed which has never been <br />negotiated is that is used to come directly from the department's HR to personnel in an <br />email. Right now, it goes through a government site that basically coordinates that <br />whole thing. They're going to clean the language up to ensure there's no ambiguity later <br />regarding how that process goes. <br />Chair Kosaki stated the union tries not to get involved with the promotional process in <br />general. The only reason he asked that is because it's a burden on the deputy. In the <br />past, they used to hold the captains accountable. If someone is on vacation or if <br />someone is on leave, the captains had to contact and notify them. Chief Todd explained <br />the problem is with the new internet system currently used, it only emails the candidate <br />directly. <br />Deputy Chief Moller further explained qualifications, the EMR certificate, the paramedic <br />license, and the issue/error that led to the grievance. It was a failure on the <br />department's part and they made the corrections. <br />Chair Kosaki thanked them for the explanation, he now understands what transpired <br />and has a better understanding. He further stated there are many rumors out there. <br />Currently, there are rumors that a certain individual blatantly claims to have Fire 1 and <br />Fire 2 "in his pocket." He knows it's probably a rumor, but wanted them to be aware of <br />this. When things don't look good, especially during the promotional process, people <br />assume things and this person is not ashamed to take credit for things even if he had no <br />part of it. <br />