2025-05-23 Merit Appeals Board Minutes

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Merit Appeals Board May 23, 2025 CHR. CABANAS: Okay. And is your Client, Mr. Enriquez, aware that you and I have worked together when you were the Assistant Corporation Counsel? Does he know that? MR. HONG: No, he doesn't know that. So yeah. CHR. CABANAS: Could you please explain that to him? MR. HONG: So, in terms of potential conflict that Ms. Cabanas has disclosed, in the Kaye and Turner case, for example, that she and I have worked together while I was Assistant Corporation CounselJ Yoshimoto's position —and when she was in the Department of Civil Service or is it Human Resources —at some point it changed, but I can't remember (inaudible). CHR. CABANAS: At some point it changed from Department of Civil Service to Department of Human Resources. And, Mr. Enriquez, it's been years since I've seen you. When I read everything that you submitted, as far as for your appeal, your name was familiarit, kind of like, rang a bell, like, "Oh, your name is familiar to me" —'cause it's been over 20 years. But when I read further that you were "job placed" I knew I had job placed you at —back then from to the position of Motor Vehicle Control Inspector I. Now, Mr. Enriquez, I was quite surprised that I have to address it because I want to be fair to you as well as to the County that when I job placed you I was lobbying, actually, for you with the Police Department to get you into another position that was my job, as the Recruitment and Examination Manager. And back then I didn't know if you realized but when I made the referral of you to back to the Police Department a department that you were employed with —sometimes the employee doesn't realize how much I'm being proactive in trying to job place the individual. First of all, determining whether you met the minimum qualification requirements for that position, is it a suitable position for you within your capabilities, and that, "Hey, Police Department, don't forget Mr. Enriquez is still your employee." So, the referral was made in writing to the Police Chief not disclosing what physical ailments or other ailments you had. It's just stating, "You could not return to your job as a police officer. The Motor Vehicle Control Inspector position is the suitable position for your employee. Please consider him for the position" which they did, and then you were hired. Okay. So, I was a little surprised that you wanted me recused from the hearing because I felt that I had helped you and everything was proceeding okay, that you perceived that I gave you mis- information and it's been years. So, I've tried to recall what was said and what was not said, but I'm here to —what I'm trying to say is, Mr. Enriquez, that I'm here to hear all the facts in a non - biased way. Yeah. And that's my position that I'm here to hear your side and I'm here to hear Mr. Disher representing the County side. And so, that's why I did not recuse myself. Okay. Page 28