2014-12-04 Cost of Government Commission Minutes

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H. Explore the implementation of employee punch clocks. Ms. Kierkiewicz stated they talked a little about flex schedule and asked Mr. Matsuda if it was talked about at the last Commission. Mr. Matsuda stated not at length, but feels it’s not a good recommendation. He also stated it’s a good concept, but would be complicated to have it implemented and have someone make sure it’s being done. Ms. Kierkiewicz stated that when she wrote this, it wasn’t coming from a place of wanting to keep people accountable, but rather making it easier for people that do the weekly time service reports, like accounting. Ms. Maddox stated it might eliminate paper work, but then it would require someone to collect the cards and calculate the hours; rules and regulations would have to be put in place to implement this. Ms. Kierkiewicz suggested the recommendation be withdrawn. Mr. Mitchell stated their interview with Don Jacobs said that e-time cards are being looked at and it is feasible. He’s not sure about a time clock, but e-time cards are looked at. Ms. Maddox stated that an e-time sheet is significantly different than a time clock and asked if it would have to come back on as a potential new recommendation in next week’s meeting. Ms. Garson said it depends on what Mr. Jacobs meant. It could go as an example under your overly burdensome forms. Ms. Maddox asked if it could be an example under item B, modifying overly burdensome forms such as manual timesheets. Ms. Maddox said this will be an example under item B and item H will be withdrawn. I. Explore the implementation of a County of Hawai‘i information hotline. Ms. Kierkiewicz stated this recommendation is basically getting a 411 number for the County where the public can call and be routed to the appropriate department. She noted it was discussed at previous meetings and feels everyone is against it. Ms. Maddox replied they are not against it, just trying to figure it out. Ms. Kelly talked about the Police Department having an information line which is a non-emergency inquiry line but they have difficulty staffing it. Mr. Espejo asked if the County information is in the phone book. Mr. Matsuda asked if the volunteers could do this. Ms. Garson thinks the volunteers are for walk-ins at the County building and not sure if they answer phones. She thinks certain departments have information lines and asked if this idea was to have one number that can give all the information with a live person answering versus an automated system. Ms. Kierkiewicz relied yes, one general County operator line. Ms. Garson said as far as she knows that doesn’t exit; the Mayor’s Office used to have a number for Information and Complaints. Ms. Maddox recommended to make an inquiry if an information line exists before putting this into a recommendation and will carry this forward to next week. 19