2025-09-26 Merit Appeal Board Minutes

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Merit Appeals Board September 26, 2025 I’ve done it myself, so I know. You can’t tell me it’s going to take one-year. It doesn’t take six months. And the department should be the one who’s initiating it. It’s within your purview to get it done and fill the vacancies for the various departments. When you’re not visible out there in the community, it’s like—people will pay attention to the Maui advertisements. They’ll pay attention to the Kauaʻi advertisements. Any opportunity, as Mr. Aguinaldo mentioned prior to our meeting, when you have the Manoa volleyball team coming down to Hilo to play—that’s a good opportunity to get some free advertisements going with the very small interview—whether it’s from the mayor or whoever is involved. So, that’s th coming down in October—October 4, yeah—so that’s, like, next week already. Yeah. So, that’s what I’m saying, look for those opportunities that might be non-costly and try to move it forward. I know the budget is for advertisements—it’s not that big—but there are ways to get something out there, even if it’s for a short period of time. Anyway, that was my point. And if you could bring some sort of closure in the report about that campaign, whether it’s going forward or not—then bring it to closure in the report. If it’s still open, then what’s happening? By just saying, “Looking into it. Looking into it”—how often are you “Looking into it?” We kind of, want the action already out there. Actions speaks, to me, volumes. Yeah. MR. AGUINALDO: Sommer, I have one—there’s—thank, Gabriella—there’s, like, I always volunteer help, yearly—is at Paʻani Ranch. So, it’s a community event. They call it “Fall Fest”—and it’s, like, during the day and at night. Like you said, it’s cost-effective—maybe you guys don’t have to tap into your budget. Maybe just show up, then you can reach the demographic of people. Sometimes they bring their kids to an event, like, “Oh, I never know had this opportunity”—so, what I’ll do is, if that’s within County standard that you guys can— I’ll give you those dates. I’ll make sure you guys get one spot, like, even one pop-up tent. I’ll make sure you guys get one spot, then you guys can go from there. MS. BOND: Yeah, the upcoming Ren Faire in Honokaa. MR. AGUINALDO: Yeah. MS. BOND: It’s huge. MR. AGUINALDO: Yeah. MS. BOND: To be—we were actually were just talking about yesterday at the Disaster Preparedness—the thing there, too. So, maybe the County, altogether, should put together something where we all go and represent the County and the various different things— MR. AGUINALDO: Yeah. Page 9