2026-04-23 Merit Appeals Board Minutes

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Merit Appeals Board April 23, 2026 MS. TOKIHIRO: So, I can point out that our Classification and Pay Division have an additional position in Classification and Pay now, which has been really helpful in terms of keeping up with the workload. So, in the quarterly report they noted that during this quarter, they have completed 126 re-description review requests. Re-description reviews are reviews and re-descriptions of Position Descriptions. So, that’s one component of what Classification and Pay does, but they also develop new classes of work, they assist departments with re-allocation of positions, and then assist with re-allocation of positions for recruitment purposes. So, I think we’ve talked about in the past where due to challenges with the current tight labor market, we recruit for positions at multiple levels so that we can—we can’t find an individual that has the experience required at the permanent class of work—we are able to re-allocate down for recruitment purposes, and the department may be able to identify a candidate that has experience that can be built upon through additional training and experience to get back to the permanent class. So, as we address recruitment challenges, Classification and Pay works closely with them. And so, just one component of that. And so, part of that is those class spec. amendments that we’ve been talking about, and then one of my MAB goals is compilation of that database that tracks all of our class specs., and the last time they were amended or reviewed, and position re-descriptions are part of that as well. MR. THOMAS: So, this is re-description or revision of individual positions? MS. TOKIHIRO: Correct. MR. THOMAS: And what is the rule about when positions get reviewed? MS. TOKIHIRO: So, the County doesn’t have a rule. I believe there should be a rule for that. And so—but we have to work to develop a process for that because creation and maintenance of Position Descriptions is delegated to departments, but HR has a key role in overseeing that— and so, we need to make sure that a system is developed for that. So, last year, I believe in January of 2025 was when I sent out the memo to departments saying that if your position hasn’t—if you’re coming in for recruitment—because it is a box on the RTF form that acknowledges that a class spec. has been reviewed and the Position Description has been reviewed and is up-to-date. It’s just a checkbox. And so, that needs to be taken a step further, right—and that’s where we’re—we—the current years—one of the MAB goals is to have that database so we’re tracking when the class specs. were last amended. So, we’re not just counting on a checkbox where someone can just check the box and it’s done. We need a verification of that, right. And so, I wanted to develop that for class specs. ‘cause those are in immediate control of HR— and I think the next layer of that is for Position Descriptions. Page 12