2026-05-12 Merit Appeals Board Minutes

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Merit Appeals Board May 12, 2026 So, it’s really important that we work closely with the departments and really engage with them and provide those explanations and opportunities for education and training. MR. THOMAS: This is all helpful. Thank you. Another topic that creeps into all of this is what you might call (inaudible). How do you—is there a way to identify that this is not enhancing the role or the work of the agency that’s requesting a position or a group of positions—but it’s really, kind of, expanding the work of a agency without legislative approval or— MS. TOKIHIRO: Yes. So, that becomes a slightly tougher question, right. I mean, we can only take the information regarding what the department is saying—is there operational need and then looking at the job duties that they’re proposing for whatever position—whether it’s a reallocation or an initial position allocation or a new class of work—and then, provide feedback based on our research. So, in some cases, we may identify through research that such a thing is happening that maybe there’s a statutory or regulatory requirement that would seem to be being missed by just creating a position. But we really do rely on our department heads as subject matter experts as far as clarification of roles of an agency or department that may be expanding beyond something that would be required to be addressed through legislation. MR. THOMAS: So, I see your job is really a challenge because you have to know the substance of everything that every agency does. So, let me ask this and I’ll turn it back to you in a moment, thank you. Is there a private line to you where people can provide input to you without fear—like, somebody says, “Oh, they’re trying to create a position and is really questionable need for this”—or they’re designing it in a certain way and do you really know and are you taking this into account—and how do people get to you to be sure that you’re analyzing the request in a way that’s consistent with what people, who work these jobs, are used to doing? MS. TOKIHIRO: So, that’s a good question. Departments—certainly, directors, deputy directors—they’ll reach out and talk to me directly. There may be people from other departments that would reach out—and the process of allocating a position, reallocating a position, establishing a position—it all involves also approval and work with the Mayor, the Managing Director, and our Department of Finance. And so, it’s—there are multiple opportunities for review and collaboration and discussion, but if people have concerns, they generally will reach out. And if it’s not to myself directly, it could be to a member of the Classification and Pay staff, but we still— we always do our due diligence, do our research, and then do our assessment, and come up with a result. Page 7