2024-08-27 Salary Commission Minutes

Home

Salary Commission August 27, 2024 MR. RIORDAN: This is Commissioner Riordan. I also looked—after the meeting—looked at what this OSCER department is supposed to be. And, truly, it isn't just a grant writing thing. And if you look at the description that the County Council produced, it's (inaudible), coordinate and provide technical support, collaborate with County departments, provide education, provide policy analysis—it's a lot more than that. And it does require a person to have Native Hawaiian information to deal with our that population. And so, I believe that it should be at the level of the County Auditor that it's to put it at 125 was not the right thing—and that I would propose that that salary be raised up to the level of the County Auditor because it is the same size as that and because it gives an (inaudible) department. And if we choose to bring it in at a lower rate, they will never be equitable with the other department heads that they're trying to say, "You need to do things this way." It's up to the Mayor to make sure the person does their job and then the County Council, once a year, has a report from them, and it's up to them to speak up and say, "Well, no, you're not doing this isn't what the job is. The job is more than writing grants." CHR. PAVAO: Yeah. I mean, I personally, I agree that it's not our role to set salary based on performance that's the hiring authority's role. Our emphasis, even on the earlier raises, while the other positions was always about equity, so I agree—it should be equitable. The pay should be similar, not the same, as a director at a similar size agency or department. Yeah, I agree with that. Any other comment? MS. NAMAHOE: Commissioner Namahoe. So, one of the phrases that you used is that this isI don't know if you said you proposed it—but if you are making a motion, I would like to second it. MR. RIORDAN: Yes, I was making a motion. MS. NAMAHOE: Then—second. MS. FRENZ: This is DCC Cody. Can I get some clarity on exactly what the motion is? MR. RIORDAN: Yes. I'm making a motion that we make the salary for the OSCER Director comparable to the Auditor's present salary—at which I believe is 162,540. MS. FRENZ: So, we already, at our previous hearing this body made a motion, seconded, discussion, and adopted the previous salary. So, that's been that action that's been taken by this Commission already. However, so I think because it was a unanimous vote for everyone present at the last hearing, it would need to be, "Motion to reconsider the previous action taken by this Commission"—such as, are you making a motion, Commissioner Riordan, to reconsider the vote taken at our last hearing to set the salary at I believe it was 125 -based on the new information that you have shared here this morning and that's been provided pursuant to Communications 24-04 andI Page 5