2023-11-21 Merit Appeals Board Minutes

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Merit Appeals Board November 21, 2023 the major accomplishment was taking the application process from a paper process to a electronic process, especially since Eden did not incorporate a recruitment function that we needed way back then. So, we did a RFP and we got NeoGov as the vendor, through the RFP—and everything is, like, history now that's what you folks are using. So, that's, kind of, basically, what I've done. I loved my job as some of you well knew and I had a hard time leaving. But it's been five years and I've been very busyI'm the Chair of the Merit Appeals Board, I belong to the Zonta Club of HiloI'm the Second VP. My daughter folks moved backI'm busy with them they were in Maryland. So, I've been really busy with them. And I'm just enjoying my retirement. I do Zumba, I play Mahjong at Kamanaso I do a little bit of things to keep my mind active, keep my body in good shape `cause I turned 70 last week. And so, it's a little bit of everything to just keep myself healthy and strong. And I really always have my heart with you folks because I know what it was like to work for the department. I know what it was like to be an applicant trying for a civil service job for so many years. And so, I'm really happy to see all of you—and that's why we did what we did todayso, you get to know a little bit about the Board. I'm going to yield and turn it over to the Director. Sommer, you have the floorso, we can continue theoh, and before I do I'm sorry. I forgot J thank you for reminding me. So, we have J Yoshimoto, our Assistant Corp. Counsel—before I yield to you, Sommer. Go ahead, J. MR. YOSHIMOTO: Thank you, Madam Chair. I'll be brief. J Yoshimoto, Assistant Corporation Counsel. I've been with the office since 2014—really happy to work for the County. I think the County is the best place to work in all the experiences I've had—great people, great attitudes, great mission. This is a great staff hereHR, I mean, it just speaks volumes. When you work with people, you build the relationshipsI think we all become a better place. And I think this department, this Board, is reflective of that. So, I just wanted to thank everybody for their dedication, their commitment—and, of course, to thank the Board members they're all volunteers serving on this Board. You can get a flavor of their life experiences things that we all bring to the table. And every life has a story. It's amazing when you talk to people, you get to know them—how much richness they bring to every experience. So, yeah thank you, everybody. CHR. CABANAS: Thank you, J. Okay, Sommer you have the floor. (At this time, Ms. Sommer J. Tokihiro, Director, Human Resources Department, came forward.) Page 5