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<br />Merit Appeals Board July 18, 2025 <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />MR. THOMAS: Nice to have you all here and appreciate you taking time out of the day. Like <br />Brother Gilbert here, I was an appointee of the Kim Administration in the Board of Appeals and <br />was there serving out somebody’s term. And ever since then, waiting for this opportunity to <br />come up—and I’m looking forward to seeing you all of you here. <br /> <br />My ancient history dating more than 10 years ago when I moved here—in Alaska, I had served <br />two terms in the Hammond Administration in Alaska, running the State Human Rights <br />Commission—so that was my personnel experience and a lot of that was public employee types <br />of issues and complaints that we had. <br /> <br />CHR. CABANAS: Thank you, Niel. And to my immediate right is our attorney from the Office <br />of the Corporation Counsel, Ms. Keyra Wong. So, she is our attorney for our regular meetings. <br />When we have appeal hearings then our attorneys are from the Attorney General’s Office on <br />O ʿ ahu, and they appear via Zoom. They used to come prior to COVID in-person, and the staff <br />could meet the attorneys then, but since COVID they just appear via Zoom. And then, they <br />provide the Board with legal counsel when we have the appeal hearing. <br /> <br />So, anyway, so that’s us. So, okay, Sommer, I’ll turn it over to you. <br /> <br />MS. TOKIHIRO: Okay. So, we’re going to start this morning with our Labor Relations <br />Division. <br /> <br />(At this time, Ms. Lee Botelho, Human Resources Manager II, and Ms. Karla Stevens, <br />Human Resources Specialist I, with the Labor Relations Division, Department of Human <br />Resources, came forward.) <br /> <br />MS. BOTELHO: So, do I press the green? <br /> <br />CHR. CABANAS: It’s on already, although hers is not. Just press the “right” button. Yeah, <br />there you go—and then, just speak into the mic. Yeah. <br /> <br />MS. BOTELHO: Okay. Good morning. <br /> <br />CHR. CABANAS: Good morning. <br /> <br />MS. BOTELHO: I’m Lee Botelho, I’m the Human Resources Manager for the Labor Relations <br />Division. I’ve been with the County—well, with the Department of Human Resources—this <br />round, for approximately 12 years—that was a trick question for me, ‘cause I don’t pay attention <br />to the dates. I do have 35 years with the County coming up in August. And we are a division of <br />two—with myself and Karla Stevens. You can introduce yourself. <br /> <br />MS. STEVENS: Hi, I’m Karla Stevens, I’ve been working with the Department of Human <br />Resources for about three years now. I would say maybe about two years in the HR Labor <br />Relations section. <br /> <br />Page 27 <br /> <br /> <br />