2013-08-28 Minutes Salary Commission

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HUMAN RESOURCES Philip Millett 1608 Kilikina Street 2013 10. 30 All 9: 21 Hilo, HI 96720 July 29, 2013 Chairperson Karolyn P. Lundkvist and Members Salary Commission, Hawaii County Aupuni Center 101 Pauahi, Suite 2 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Dear Chairperson Lundkvist and Members: RE: Executive Salary for Corporation Counsel and Assistant Corporation Counsel--Recommendation to Increase Salary to have parity with other Counties and at the same levels as the Prosecuting Attorney and the First Deputy Prosecuting Attorney I appreciate the work of this Salary Commission("Commission") in its initial recommended salaries for County of Hawai`i ("County") Executives and Elected Officials, including increases to the Corporation Counsel and Assistant Corporation Counsel, dated March 27, 2013. I support, however, salary increases for the Corporation Counsel to at least$114,848, and the Assistant Corporation Counsel to at least$105,660 based on the comparable salaries from the other counties, and the great responsibility of the top civil attorney of this County in protecting the interests of the County, as a whole, and all of its officials and employees.1 Pursuant to Section 6-5.3, Hawai`i County Charter(2010) ("Charter"), the duties and responsibilities of the Corporation Counsel are as follows: The corporation counsel shall be the chief legal advisor and legal representative of all County agencies, the council and all officers and employees in matters related to their official powers and duties. The corporation counsel shall represent the county in all civil legal proceedings and shall perform all other services incident to the office as may be required by law. The Corporation Counsel represents the Mayor, Council, 21 departments and agencies, 41 boards, commissions and committees, and over 2,000 employees "in matters related to their official powers and duties." 'At the March 5,2012 Commission meeting,Member Brian De Lima made a motion to increase the Corporation Counsel's salary to$113,580,which would be at the same level as the Prosecuting Attorney. See March 5,2012 Minutes of the Commission Meeting,at page 2. His reason for increasing the Corporation Counsel's was that the Corporation Counsel is the top civil lawyer in the County,and the Prosecutor is the top prosecutor in the County. Id.,at page 3. The motion died for a lack of second. Id.,at page 5. ATT. A