2025-08-26 Merit Appeal Board Minutes

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Merit Appeals Board August 26, 2025 departments. We were talking about having Highways come out and bring out some of the big equipment—‘cause a lot of events we include Police and Fire, and fire trucks, and helicopters are awesome. But we want to get the word out about all the other services that the County provides as well. So, definitely, something that we are working on and trying to coordinate. MR. AGUINALDO: I think that would be 100% the best way to outreach for the community, where each department, where the need of employees—or just in general—they can come in, they can ask questions. If was easy, they probably would apply right there. So, I was involved with, more like for seniors—like high school kids. We had it on the Civic— was more like construction before—and mean turn out. Like, in the university right now, at the college—I was awarded the Alumni Award for just good act of good service. And I asked all the different trades—and, right now, they’re so full that the kids just got to take their electives—no more room. And I think, even like for that, for example, if you guys are even providing like this tuition—if they’re 18 and eligible and work under a supervisor—it’s almost like one apprentice. I think that would be something over and beyond that this County hasn’t even entertained because just hearing what you guys offer—even make me want to be one County employee—and I own two companies. So— MS. SAKAMOTO: Why don’t you apply? (Inaudible) some of your friends to apply. MR. AGUINALDO: No—you know, so, I did share with some friends, but with them, they’re— like I said—they have their day job. It’s not where they want to be. But by the time they want to apply or it’s late at night—that’s why giving—I would say, if Mayor Alameda would even allow you guys—if you guys don’t want—maybe once a month or once every other month—I can assure you guys, you guys would fill all those vacancies. Because it’s just people schedule—we all busy. In life we all busy. We forget. And I think creating the opportunity—and, Sommer, you don’t have to even bring heavy equipment—going get people going like have—they like change. They like have one career change, but just what you guys are offering—different departments, like, okay—you can apply here—like, “Oh, my gosh, I never know had all this”—it’s just a County career day. And I think if you guys do that—ho—it would be life-changing. If they’re eligible for coming or work—I know there’s threshold, you got to have maybe certain degrees or qualifications is—if they really interested and you guys help them, guide them along the way, that they got to meet this criteria—you can come work for us, but you got to take this classes or whatever in order to exceed—I think that would be good, yeah. MS. TOKIHIRO: So, we are working with Hawaiʻi Community College— MR. AGUINALDO: Mm-hmm. Page 15