2024-04-30 Fire Commission Minutes

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Hawai'i Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes April 30, 2024 Page 8 emphasized the need for a chief officer who needed to be excluded managerial, with supervisory capabilities. Approval was obtained for the appointment of four captains and a battalion chief to oversee dispatch operations. This aim is to have 24-hour, uniformed, badged personnel managing the dispatch center, with the hopes that this will address issues related to retention and workplace culture. Recess was called at 11:41 a.m., the meeting reconvened at 11:54 a.m. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Discussion and finalize the Annual Fire Commission Reports. Chair Kosaki informed the commission that the reports for 2022 and 2023 were emailed and hard copies provided. However, there was no report completed for 2021, and Commissioner Luke is currently working on it. Vice Chair Wolf inquired about the procedure for handling this situation, to which DCC Wong advised they could defer it to the next meeting. Chair Kosaki then decided to defer the matter to the next meeting, adding it to the next agenda. NEW BUSINESS Review and discuss Correspondence No. 23-03: Letter from the Department of Human Resources regarding the review of the commission's secretary position. The commission reviewed the correspondence, discussing the role of the Fire Commission Secretary. It was suggested that the secretary should only be assigned to the Police Commission, and the Fire Department should explore the possibility of providing administrative and clerical support for the Fire Commission. Alternatively, if this is not feasible, consideration could be given to increasing or reallocating the secretary's pay to a higher SR rating and having a backup position in case of unavailability. The question arose whether the Fire Commission needs to request the Fire Department provide a position or funding for someone to assume this responsibility, or if the commission can recommend keeping the current secretary and increasing or reallocating her pay. DCC Wong advised that either approach is acceptable. Commissioner Mattos proposed a pay increase, while Chair Kosaki sought input from Ms. Correa. Ms. Correa noted that in 2019, HR denied a pay increase, citing that the position is not classified as "secretary to boards/commissions" because the Fire and Police Commissions are not deemed quasi-judicial commissions. Ms. Correa explained that she currently serves as the sole employee for both commissions, without backup support. Initially, the former secretary she replaced was