2026-04-23 Merit Appeals Board Minutes

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Merit Appeals Board April 23, 2026 CHR. CABANAS: Okay. So we will move on to our 9:00 scheduled hearing regarding Communication number 25-09. And, Mr. Ravey, your appeal form indicates you want a closed hearing, is that correct? (At this time, Mr. Joshua-Joel Ravey, Appellant (Pipefitter, Department of Water Supply); and Mr. Ryan Thomas, Appellee (Deputy Corporation Counsel, Office of the Corporation Counsel), came forward.) MR. RAVEY: Yes, Ma’am. CHR. CABANAS: Okay. Thank you. For the record, Mr. Ravey wants a closed hearing. Okay, so I’m going to read the communications received concerning this hearing. (At this time. Chair Cabanas proceeded to read into the record, Communication numbers 25-09 through 25-09.02 listed above.) CHR. CABANAS: And the newest communication that we just approved adding to the agenda is Communication number 25-09.03, from Mr. Ryan K. Thomas, Deputy Corporation Counsel, regarding the matter filed by Joshua-Joel Ravey versus the Department of Water Supply. Okay, and this contains a Supplemental Exhibit “N” and a memo—InterOffice Memo concerning “Changes to Completing Position Descriptions” from the Department of Human Resources. I’m going to read verbiage regarding an executive session in the event the Board needs to enter into an executive session. So, the Merit Appeals Board anticipates convening one or more executive meetings regarding the matter listed below, pursuant to HRS Sections 92-4, 92- 5(a)(2), and 92-5(a)(4) for the purpose of evaluating an officer or employee of the County of Hawaiʻi where the consideration of matters affecting privacy will be involved and consulting with the Board’s attorney on questions and issues pertaining to the Board’s powers, duties, privileges, immunities, and liabilities. A 2/3 vote of the members present pursuant to HRS Section 92-4 is necessary to hold an executive meeting. Before I go any further, and just for the record to explain to everyone, when we have a regular meeting, our Legal Counsel is Mr. J Yoshimoto from the Office of the Corporation Counsel. When we have a hearing, our Legal Counsel comes from the Office of the Attorney General. So, appearing via Zoom is going to be our attorney for the hearing and his name is Elbridge “EZ” Smith. Good morning, Mr. Smith, can you hear me? (At this time, Mr. Elbridge “EZ” Smith, Deputy Attorney General, Department of the Attorney General, appeared via Zoom.) MR. SMITH: Good morning. Yes, I can. CHR. CABANAS: Okay, thank you for joining us this morning. We have other matters listed on the agenda, but we are going to go straight into the hearing. So, I’m going to ask that all parties—if you’re a witness to the hearing, if you could step outside and wait outside of the Council Chambers. Page 4