2014-11-21 Police Commission Regular Minutes

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Hawaii Police Commission Regular Session Minutes November 21, 2014 Page 3 across someone with marijuana plants, they can call NED at any time to see if the person has a legitimate card. The Dept. Health does not have enough personnel and they will have problems getting information. If they have dispensaries, individual growers of medical marijuana will be illegal. Growers want to continue to grow, but the Legislature will not allow it. His argument to the Task Force is that if this is medicine, you cannot have dispensaries and back yard growing. Last week he was told the permit number is now over 14,000, with the Big Island leading the numbers. Chief Kubojiri informed the commission that he plans to retire soon. He is concerned about the salary of the Chief and Deputy Chief. Last year the Salary Commission gave them a raise to address the inversion issue. Two months later, personnel were given a raise, and their salary was again lower than their subordinates. This will be a concern when selecting the next Police Chief. Come January, the Assistant Chiefs and others will get another raise. Under the new contract, personnel will get a raise every 6 months. Come July, the Majors will be making more than them. When people start getting up there, they are concerned about their salary and how it affects their retirement which is based on their highest three years. It will be a challenge during the next Chief selection process. The longest he will stay is to the end of the Mayor's term. Chair Bertsch stated that the salary of the Chief and Deputy is set by the Salary Commission. The Police Commission is responsible for the Police Chief. The commission has to hire, but any of his senior rank would have to take a pay cut if they elect to become the Chief. They need to present this to the Salary Commission. Consequences are that they would be attracting people of lower rank without the knowledge or experience. Commissioner Lundkvist said she was on the Salary Commission when they tried to rectify this problem, but it lasted only two month until subordinates were given a raise. When she first got on the Salary Commission, they didn't meet for a year because they couldn't get a quorum. Commissioner Hendricks suggested agendizing this matter for further discussion at a future meeting. Commissioner Morioka stated that this issue is similar to every State and County administrator. They need to be cognizant of the pay raises that the union will be asking for their members. The Salary Commission should be thinking forward about union raises. In schools, when they go before the Salary Commission, they go as a body in support of having the pay raises for the people they are looking at. Deputy Corporation Kathy Garson introduced Deputy Corporation Counsel Belinda Castillo Hall who will be the Police Commission's new attorney. Recess was called at 11:11 a. m. The meeting reconvened at 11:28 a. m.