2024-05-23 Fire Commission Minutes

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Hawaii Fire Commission Regular Session Minutes May 23, 2024 Page 7 Commissioner Cushnie then asked about pilot wages and retention strategies. Chief Todd explained that while pilots are currently under contract without retirement benefits, they are considering the advantages of the civil service system, which offers retirement benefits even though the salary might be lower. Chief Todd also referred to a previous issue involving the privatization of a job at the Kona dump, which led to a lawsuit filed by a union leader. The court ruled in favor of the union, establishing that the work should remain civil service (known as the Konno case). This ruling changed the policy statewide, making it clear that once a job is classified as civil service, it cannot be privatized again. Chief Todd explained that this policy also applies to their pilots; if Hawaii County transitions to civil service for pilots, it would be a permanent change, committing the county to manage these services internally indefinitely. UNFINISHED BUSINESS Discussion regarding the Annual Fire Commission Reports. The commission reviewed and discussed the annual reports for 2021-2023. Chair Kosaki pointed out a discrepancy in the 2021 report, indicating that his name needs to be added to it. Chair Kosaki asked Commissioner Luke if an annual evaluation for Chief Todd was completed in 2021, covering April to December. Commissioner Luke explained that while Chief Todd was initially selected in March, his official start date was April 14t" due to some issues that needed addressing. Chair Kosaki mentioned that he joined the commission in May after Chief Todd had already been selected. Commissioner Luke recalled conducting a scoring exercise but noted that all copies were turned in to the previous commission secretary, and none were kept by him. He added that there was a period when the commission did not have a permanent secretary until Ms. Correa started. Chair Kosaki stated that the first evaluation the commission completed during his tenure as chair covered July 2021 to June 2022, as Chief Todd began in April 2021. He is not aware of any other evaluation conducted from April to December. He inquired with Ms. Correa if there was an evaluation on file from 2021, and she confirmed there was not. Commissioner Luke will make the necessary revisions to remove that entry after a final review. Chair Kosaki confirmed that everyone had the opportunity to review the 2022 and 2023 Annual Reports. This matter will be continued at the next meeting. DCC Salas-Ferguson asked if the commission completes the annual reports on a fiscal or calendar year basis, as there are two different reports. Chair Kosaki clarified that both reports were done on a calendar year basis. He feels it's appropriate to keep the annual reports on a calendar year. However, regarding the evaluation of the chief, who started in April, they felt it wouldn't be fair to evaluate him on just the few months he was there, so the commission agreed to evaluate him from June to July, to ensure a more comprehensive assessment, as per the commission rules requiring an annual evaluation.