HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0091.009 2016-2018 Harry Kim -�-
�s;►gF"�w;,. Joseph K.Kamelamela
Mayor .r • Corporation Counsel
•
• - - °= • Renee N. C. Schoen
Assistant Corporation Counsel
COUNTY OF HAWAII •
OFFICE OF THE CORPORATION COUNSEL
101 Aupuni Street,Suite 325 • Hilo,Hawaii 96720 • (808)961-8251 • Fax(808)961-8622
April 12, 2017
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Council Member Aaron S. Y. Chung - r
Hawaii County Council
25 Aupuni Street
Hilo, Hawaii 96720
Dear Mr. Chung:
RE: Special Counsel—Robert Katz, Esq., for Hawaii Fire Fighters Association
(HFFA) Interest Arbitration
On January 25, 2017, the Hawaii County Council authorized, via Resolution
No. 50-17, the hiring of Robert Katz, Esq. as part of an intergovernmental agreement
with the State of Hawaii, the City and County of Honolulu, and the Counties of Kauai,
Maui, and Hawaii (the "public employer group"), to represent the public employer group
in collective bargaining matters related to the Hawaii Fire Fighters Association ("HFFA")
interest arbitration. You have asked this office to articulate the benefit the County
received for the appropriation of monies for the retention of Mr. Katz.
First, the public employer group believed it important to be. represented as a
unified body at the first of several collective bargaining and interest arbitration hearings.
The joint agreement between the employer group allowed it to achieve a cost effective
way to hire quality legal services to represent the entire group and to be represented as
a unified body.
Second, Mr. Katz and the firm of Torkildson, Katz, Moore, Hetherington & Harris
are well respected in the legal community and have the requisite experience and
qualifications. Mr. Katz's experience include collective bargaining negotiations and
labor law, and specifically public employee negotiations and interest arbitrations from
1983 to present within the State of Hawaii.
Third, the $50,000 appropriated for Mr. Katz represented our County's 1/5th
share of the total $250,000 contract for Mr. Katz' representation. While our County's
appropriation is capped at $50,000, the other counties and the State have each
Hawaii County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider NO. _. --•
,
R1
Ref. Date .. _. .v
Council Member Aaron S. Y. Chung
April 12, 2017
Page2of2
appropriated $25,000 more toward Mr. Katz' representation, or $75,000 each, for a total
of$350,000. Mr. Katz has been responsive, timely and available in proactive
representation of our County and the public employer. His recommendations, oral
advocacy and thoughtfully written arbitration brief has more than adequately articulated
this County's position at interest arbitration.
Should you have any further questions or concerns, please contact me.
Yours truly,
Joseph . Kamelamela
Corporation Counsel.
JKK:clf
c: Council Chairwoman Valerie Poindexter and Council Members