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all of the items or some of the items or none of the items is something they <br />can consider at the next meeting. However, if they want it implemented as <br />part of the budget, then they need to take action sooner rather than later. If <br />they take action later, then its impact can only be adjusted if there's a budget <br />to do so. <br />Mr. De Lima further noted that their decisions are final, and being <br />final, they have a responsibility to communicate that to the Council to make <br />whatever necessary adjustments. To be fair to the Mayor, who's ultimately <br />responsible, the sooner they make the decisions, the sooner they can make <br />those adjustments. <br />MOTION: Mr. De Lima moved that this matter be deferred to the <br />Commission's next meeting pending the report from the <br />subcommittee. The motion was seconded by Vice Chair <br />Lassiter and carried unanimously. <br />Chair Lundkvist gave Prosecuting Attorney Mitch Roth the floor. <br />Mr. Roth noted a concern, not only for the deputies in his office, <br />because they're pegged to his salary, but also for Deputy Corporation <br />Counsels, whose salaries are also pegged to his. He felt it very important <br />that the salaries of these hardworking people not be reduced. With the <br />unfortunate murder -type cases that have happened since December 16, he <br />and his deputies have been spending an inordinate amount of time on these <br />big cases, working on Saturdays and Sundays, often till 8 -9 -10:00 in the <br />evening. <br />Mr. Takahashi confirmed that by County Code, deputy attorneys' <br />salaries in both the Prosecutor's office and Corporation Counsel's office, are <br />pegged to no more than 90% of whichever salary is higher, the Prosecutor's <br />or the Corporation Counsel's. In this case, the Prosecutor's salary is higher. <br />Mr. De Lima inquired into whether there are Deputy Corporation <br />Counsels making more than the Corporation Counsel, to which Mr. Takahashi <br />answered in the affirmative. Mr. De Lima noted that that has to be adjusted <br />as well. <br />Mr. Roth stated that he believes the Corporation Counsel's salary is too <br />low, and the Commission should really look into raising that salary to what <br />other Corporation Counsels or attorneys leading a similarly sized law firm <br />are making. <br />In addition, Mr. Roth's first deputy, Dale Ross, had to take a reduction <br />in pay to accept the position of first deputy. Ms. Ross has about 28 years of <br />experience. She has been commuting back forth between Kona and Hilo, <br />pretty much on her own time, but they're actually trying to keep her more on <br />the Kona side, as they need to have good people there. He thinks it's unfair <br />and a shame that she had to take a cut in pay, and her pay should be <br />increased. Mr. Roth added that he's not asking for himself, but he is asking <br />I <br />