2011-12-19 Salary Commission Minutes

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MOTION: Mr. De Lima nominated Ms. Stroh as Secretary. The motion was seconded by Mr. Handgis and unanimously carried. Mr. Handgis was elected to serve as Chair, with Ms. Lundkvist as Vice Chair and Ms. Stroh as Secretary for calendar year 2012. B) Communication No. 11-01, dated January 18, 2011, from Jay T. Kimura, Prosecuting Attorney, requesting that First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Charlene Y. Iboshi retain her salary at A-19, step D, when she assumes the position of Prosecuting Attorney on April 1, 2011. C) Communication No. 11-02, dated March 7, 2011, from Ronald T. Takahashi, Director of Human Resources, to Gerald Perkins, Chair, Salary Commission, taking interim action on Ms. Charlene Iboshi’s compensation adjustment based on his interpretation of existing authorities, subject to ratification and/or amendment by the Salary Commission when new members are appointed. The two items were discussed simultaneously as they pertained to the same matter. Ms. Lugo noted that the communications are for the Commission’s discussion and any appropriate action that needs to be taken. Item C calls for the Commission to either ratify the decision that Mr. Takahashi made or propose some other course of action. Mr. Takahashi provided insight into the matter and explained that Mr. Kimura had announced his retirement before April 1, 2011. Prior to doing so, he submitted this letter requesting that Ms. Iboshi’s salary be at A- 19, step D, as he didn’t feel it appropriate that Ms. Iboshi return to the A step. The Charter calls for his First Deputy, Ms. Iboshi, to take over as the Prosecuting Attorney, as a matter of law. When Mr. Kimura’s letter was submitted, there were just two members on the Salary Commission, and a quorum was highly unlikely, so Mr. Takahashi decided to take interim action based on a review of the Salary Commission’s pay plan where it says a new appointment or re-elected official would start at the A step. Mr. Takahashi didn’t think that any of those provisions applied in this case because Ms. Iboshi wasn’t re-elected or newly appointed. It was really just a matter of assuming the position as part of the Charter provisions. Therefore, Mr. Takahashi concluded that the Salary Commission’s pay plan which governed the pay for the directors didn’t really apply. As the Director of Human Resources, he is authorized to provide compensation adjustments in situations where there are no clear-cut rules or guidelines that apply, as long as it doesn’t take away from the general intent of any provisions that would be applicable. 2