2025-01-16 Merit Appeals Board Minutes

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Merit Appeals Board January 16, 2025 MS. BOND: Yeah. Sorry —second. CHR. CABANAS: Okay. Any discussion? MS. BOND: Is it just me or isin the middle of this, something about Lyndon's case? CHR. CABANAS: No. MS. BOND: This "Exhibit 37 (At this time, Ms. Yamada assisted Ms. Bond with her documents.) MS. HALVORSON: I can't hear you. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Bond is trying to find her appropriate page in her binder, but while she's doing that —first of all, before the hearing starts, I need to make a full disclosure. I've worked as —I've worked for the Department of Human Resources for over 30 years. And I've conducted training for all County employees, including employees from the Hawaii Fire Department, the Fire Chief Kazuo Todd and Assistant Fire Chief Darwin Okinaka—have attended my training while I was working. I'm six years retired now. So, I wanted to disclose that. I am blood -related to Assistant Fire Chief Darwin Okinaka. I think I'm, like, his second cousin —first removed. And, also, my son is employed by the Hawaii Fire Department, but he's a Fire Equipment Operator the fire operations side. So, I wanted to make that full disclosure. I've also worked with Mr. Hong when he was our Assistant Corporation Counsel. I think it was in the 1990's, when you first started, Mr. Hong —and we worked on appeals together. I oriented him about the Recruitment and Examination function. And so, I wanted to also disclose that before we even start today's hearing. If there's any objections or concerns, please kindly state that now. I believe I can be and will be objective to both parties to Mr. Kaye and to the County of Hawaii because in my job, when I worked, I kept all other factors aside and I focused on the facts when advising individuals or departments that, et cetera. And I take my job here very seriously as the Chair of the Merit Appeals Board. MR. HONG: So, if we have to put anything on the record, I have no objections to you continuing to serve. CHR. CABANAS: Oh, thank you, Mr. Hong. MS. TAVARES: Likewise, the County has no objections (inaudible). Page 23