2024-02-23 Merit Appeals Board Minutes

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Merit Appeals Board February 23, 2024 So, I hope you reapply after two years, `cause you're truly an asset, and thank you so much. MR. KUNZ: What a pitch. CHR. CABANAS: Yes, and two years go by really quickly. Okay, so it's my turn. I really say, Kate, I really enjoyed having you on the Board because you your approach was a humanistic approach not to say that we're not humanistic. But with your background you ask thought-provoking questions in a very compassionate way. And I thought that was really a special touch for the Board because, like, Charlie and Gay mentioned—we all have different backgrounds, different personalities. So, you really added that special touch to the Board. So, yes, apply so you can come back. `Cause I'll still be here—God willing—I'll still be here. And then, you're more experienced now with the Board, you've learned about the County, and how things work. So, yes, apply again. So, thank you so much. We love you. Thank you. MS. DE SOTO: Thank you, all. This is not the experience I thought it was going to be—in a good way. I think you all know I approach community service as—with good intentions. I do see the value in it and I love it. But I'm a busy working mom—it was like, "Hoo, how am I going to fit this in?" But I really appreciated the time. It has helped me grow—not just, I think, individually in terms of understanding more about this community and the functioning of the County—and, oh, my gosh, my value of the County has gone through the roof since being on this Board. `Cause I have never worked for the County, right. So, I really didn't know all of the pieces and see all of the work, right—and that is amazing. So, I really appreciate having the opportunity to see that, to witness it, to learn it, and to feel like I'm contributing in a way, right. And I think it's also helped me grow professionally because sitting in this type of role, going through these types of processes there's no way for it not to benefit, right—it really helped me, kind of, hone in on moments of like policy, moments of Roberts Rules because that is very relevant in my job. It actually really—we use it a lot at the University and I was not well -versed in it until I came here and got training from J. So, yeah this has been a great experience. I am, definitely, looking at other opportunities to continue to contribute. We'll see what that looks like. And I will keep that to your timeline and mine. CHR. CABANAS: Great! Thank you so much! MS. DE SOTO: Thank you. Page 29