Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout2024-12-16 Merit Appeals Board MinutesREGULAR SESSION Merit Appeals Board Hilo Council Chambers Hawaii County Building 25 Aupuni Street, First Floor, Room 1401 Hilo, Hawaii December 16, 2024 (Monday) Call to Order (Item 1) The regular meeting of the Merit Appeals Board, County of Hawaii, was called to order at 9:00 a.m. by Chair Gabriella M. Cabanas, at the Hilo Council Chambers, Hawaii County Building, 25 Aupuni Street, First Floor, Room 1401, Hilo, Hawaii, on Monday, December 16, 2024. Roll Call — Present Ms. Gabriella M. Cabanas, Chair Ms. Gay Mathews, Vice -Chair Ms. Suzi Bond, Member Mr. David A. Wiseman, Member Also Present Mr. J Yoshimoto, Assistant Corporation Counsel, Office of the Corporation Counsel Mr. James E. Halvorson, Deputy Attorney General, Department of the Attorney General (via Zoom) Mr. Justin C. Lee, Deputy Corporation Counsel, Office of the Corporation Counsel Mr. Ted. H. S. Hong, Esquire, Attorney at Law Ms. Glynis Yamada, Secretary -Reporter, Human Resources Department Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 Call to Order (Item 1) CHR. CABANAS: Good morning, everyone. The Merit Appeals Board regular meeting is called to order at 9 a.m. on this day, December 16, 2024. We have quorum with four Board members present in the Hilo Council Chambers of the Hawaii County Building, at 25 Aupuni Street, First Floor, Room 1401, in Hilo, Hawaii. I'm Gabriella Cabanas, Chair of the Merit Appeals Board. With me are my fellow Board membersVice-Chair, Ms. Gay Mathews. MS. MATHEWS: Good morning. CHR. CABANAS: Good morning. Mr. David Wiseman. MR. WISEMAN: Good morning. CHR. CABANAS: Good morning. Ms. Suzi Bond. MS. BOND: Good morning. CHR. CABANAS: Good morning. Also, our Assistant Corporation Counsel, Mr. J. Yoshimoto. MR. YOSHIMOTO: Good morning, everyone. CHR. CABANAS: And our Secretary -Reporter, Glynis Yamada. MS. YAMADA: Good morning. CHR. CABANAS: Also, we have our two attorneys present —from the Office of the Corporation Counsel, Mr. Justin Lee. MR. LEE: Good morning. CHR. CABANAS: Good morning. And Mr. Ted Hong, Esquire. Good morning, everyone. Addendum to Agenda (Item 2) CHR. CABANAS: There is no addendum to the agenda. Statements from the Public (Item 3) CHR. CABANAS: No "Statements from the Public." Page 2 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 Approval of Minutes (Item 4) September 19 And October 4, 2024 (Regular Sessions); September 19 And October 4, 2024 (Closed Sessions) September 19 And October 4, 2024 (Regular Sessions) CHR. CABANAS: We are now on the approval of our meeting minutes. The regular session for September 19'', 2024; and October 4, 2024. Have you had the opportunity, Board members, to review these meeting minutes? MR. WISEMAN: I make a motion to approve the minutes. CHR. CABANAS: Is there a second? MS. MATHEWS: I second. CHR. CABANAS: Thank you. Any discussion? If not, I'll start a rollcall vote to approve these two meeting minutes. Starting with Ms. Mathews. MS. MATHEWS: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Mr. Wiseman. MR. WISEMAN: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Bond. MS. BOND: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Cabanas —aye. Four ayes. Motion carried to accept the meeting minutes of September 19'', 2024, and October 4, 2024. These are the two regular session meetings. September 19 And October 4, 2024 (Closed Sessions) CHR. CABANAS: Next on the agenda are the meeting minutes for the closed sessions of September 19, 2024, and October 4, 2024. Board members, have you had the opportunity to review the meeting minutes? MR. WISEMAN: Move to approve the minutes. CHR. CABANAS: Is there a second? Page 3 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 MS. BOND: Second. CHR. CABANAS: Thank you. Any discussion? If not, I'll start a rollcall vote with Ms. Mathews. MS. MATHEWS: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Mr. Wiseman. MR. WISEMAN: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Bond. MS. BOND: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Cabanas —aye. Four ayes. Motion carried. Review of Executive Session Minutes October 4, 2024 (Executive Session: The Merit Appeals Board Anticipates Convening One Or More Executive Meetings Regarding The Above Matters, Pursuant To HRS Sections 92-4 And 92-5(a)(4), For The Purpose Of Consulting With The Board's Attorney On Questions And Issues Pertaining To The Board's Powers, Duties, Privileges, Immunities, And Liabilities. A 2/3 Vote Pursuant To HRS Section 92-4 Is Necessary To Hold An Executive Meeting) CHR. CABANAS: Next on the agenda is the review of the executive session meeting minutes of October 4, 2024. Have you all had the chance to review these this meeting minutes? Okay. Is there a motion to accept? MS. BOND: So moved. CHR. CABANAS: Thank you. A second? MS. MATHEWS: Second. CHR. CABANAS: Thank you. Any discussion? If not, I'll start a rollcall vote with Ms. Mathews. MS. MATHEWS: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Mr. Wiseman. Page 4 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 MR. WISEMAN: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Bond. MS. BOND: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Cabanas —aye. Four ayes. Motion carried to accept the executive session meeting minutes for October 4, 2024. Director's Report (litem 5) MAB Monthly Divisional Activity Report: December 2024 CHR. CABANAS: We are now on the "Director's Report""MAB Monthly Divisional Activity Report" for the month of December, 2024. We have a letter from the Director of Human Resources, Sommer Tokihiro, that she is off -island with her Deputy attending negotiations (SEE ATT. A). So, she's not present today to address any questions we may have. However, we may look at it and we'll go from there. Board members, what are —what's your preference? Did you want to accept and file the "Director's Report" or put it on hold for the next meeting and ask the Director any questions that you may have? SPEAKER: (Inaudible.) CHR. CABANAS: Okay, any second to file the report? MR. WISEMAN: Yes, I move to file the report. CHR. CABANAS: Okay. A second? MS. MATHEWS: Second. CHR. CABANAS: Thank you. Any discussion? No? If not, okay, I'll start a rollcall vote with Ms. Mathews. MS. MATHEWS: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Mr. Wiseman. MR. WISEMAN: Aye. Page 5 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Bond. MS. BOND: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Cabanas —aye. Four ayes. Motion carried to accept and file the "Director's Report." Communications (Item 6) CHR. CABANAS: There are no "Communications." New Business (Item 7) CHR. CABANAS: No "New Business." Unfinished Business (Item 8) Communication No. 24-03.22, From The Merit Appeals Board, Dated December 3, 2024, To Ted Hong, Esquire, Requesting He Provide Any Compensation Wages As It Relates To Mr. Lyndon P. K. Turner's Appeal Hearing CHR. CABANAS: We are now on "Unfinished Business" —Communication number 24- 03.22—and, Ted, you may approach the dais. (At this time, Mr. Ted H. S. Hong, Legal Counsel for Mr. Lyndon P. K. Turner, came forward.) CHR. CABANAS: Also, we have appearing via Zoom, Mr. Jim Halvorson, from the Office of the Attorney General. Good morning, Jim. MR. HALVORSON: Yeah, good morning. CHR. CABANAS: Good morning. Good morning, Mr. Hong. Mr. Lee, do you want to approach the dais as well, in case you have any comments? (At this time, Mr. Justin C. Lee, Deputy Corporation Counsel, Office of the Corporation Counsel, came forward.) MR. HONG: Good morning, Madam Chair, members of the Commission. I had the opportunity to speak with Mr. Lee, and I communicated with Mr. Lee that the department has informed my client that they would make up for any lost wages once he is established in the permanent position. Page 6 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 My suggestion is, perhaps, if we could continue this to the next meeting the request for compensation —so by that time, hopefully, the department will have made my client whole with respect to compensation and then we can take this matter off the agenda or off your plate. MR. WISEMAN: Madam Chair, I have a question. CHR. CABANAS: Please proceed, Mr. Wiseman. MR. WISEMAN: Yeah. Mr. Hong, is your client back to work in the position that —he is? MR. HONG: Yes, sir, that's my understanding. CHR. CABANAS: Right, because the Board's decision was that he would be reinstated effective December 1, 2024. So, when they reinstated himI have one question, just to complete this whole issue, are they —when they reinstated him, are they —did they place him back on new probation for the remainder of the time, crediting the time that he served not counting the TA time but crediting him the time that he served in the position that he went on TA, which is not going to be included in a new probation. So, he's serving the remainder, right a new probation? What are they doing? MR. HONG: I apologize, I certainly don't want, especially this close to Christmas —upset the Board members, but my understanding is that the department is waiting for the written order before they reinstate him. CHR. CABANAS: Before they reinstate him? MR. HONG: That's correct. MR. WISEMAN: Madam Chair, I think we need to ask our Counsel —Jim? The written that short written order that we agreed on at the last meeting? MR. HALVORSON: Yes, I'mso I didn't get to it last week, but I will have it done by this week. CHR. CABANAS: So, I have another question for Mr. Hong. So, at —so you said he was reinstated but he's not reinstated —on paper he's not? MR. HONG: He's not reinstated on paper. Correct. CHR. CABANAS: And in reality, what's the status? Is he on TA or MR. HONG: He's on TA. CHR. CABANAS: He's on TA? Page 7 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 MR. HONG: Yes. MR. WISEMAN: Yeah, they need the written order, right? MR. HONG: That's what they're telling him. MR. WISEMAN: Yeah, of course. MR. LEE: I might be able to provide some clarification. CHR. CABANAS: Okay. MR. LEE: I wasn't 100% looped in but it was mentioned to me with my conversation with director. I think the department is —was unclear as to what to do with the intervening time between Marchand December I" if it was to appear that Mr. Turner was at the CERSII position as if the TA'ing and this appeal had never happened. Or whether to pick up, in effect, where he left off, as the Chair meant, as far as (inaudible) or not. And I think the director wanted the written order because it would provide some clarity as far as how to treat Mr. Turner —in effect, I guess, (inaudible) to pretend as if this —nothing happened and he would —always had the CERSII position, or if he had to finish off the remainder of his probation or not. So, I think the department wasn't clear as far as how to treat that. CHR. CABANAS: Okay. `Cause normally TA time is not included in a new probationary period. It's the status is different. And to do so, wouldI believe set a precedence. We did not address that in our decision, as a Board, when we met last month that's a question —Ms. Mathews is asking, can we correct that now. So, that's a question for Mr. Halvorson. How would we deal with that, if we should at all? SPEAKER: And "TA" means what? CHR. CABANAS: "Temporary Assignment" —see, a temporary assignment —one does not have to meet the minimum qualifications. The person, the employee, would need to be able to do the significant part of the job duties. Okay. And, in this case, Mr. Turner met the requirements but because of the complaint that was filed, the department put him on TA. MS. MATHEWS: How does that affect his pay, seniority, and all of those pieces? CHR. CABANAS: Well, at the top of my head Page 8 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 MR. HALVORSON: If I may, maybe you should take up Mr. Hong's suggestion and bring in somebody from —once I get the Order out, hopefully, this week —bring in somebody from Human Resources to say how they're going to handle this, and then you can decide. MR. HONG: And I would just note— CHR. CABANAS: Okay. Shouldn't it be from HR and Public Works? MR. HONG: That would be nice, but I would note that even if you wanted to try to amend it, it wasn't agendized. So that might be an issue later on. CHR. CABANAS: That's true —good point. MR. WISEMAN: Yeah. Madam Chair, I suggest we proceed with all due speed with the Order that we agreed on last hearing when we made the decision that Order —in that, once that's out, then Mr. Hong can ask to modify it or whatever —but that's important. `Cause right now the department that Mr. Turner's working in, it's hearsay —or he says happened, or what he is saying happened. So, we need that written order. CHR. CABANAS: Mm-hmm. Okay. So, is that your motion, Mr. Wiseman? MR. WISEMAN: Yes, that's my motion to have the Order out this week and let Mr. Hong, if he needs to modify it, to fit these other issues, he can do so. CHR. CABANAS: Okay. Our Secretary has informed us that —Jim, do you need her transcription before you do the Decision and Order today's transcription? MR. HALVORSON: No, I don't need today's transcription, but if I could have last month's transcription where the Board made the motion so I can use that as the basis of the Order. MR. WISEMAN: Madam Chair, I have a question for Jim CHR. CABANAS: Okay. MR. WISEMAN: Is there any problem —I know in court as counsel, where sometimes the judge will say, "Can you prepare the order" —do you have a problem with that, Jim? MR. HALVORSON: No, but I don't want to put this on Ted. MR. HONG: Thank you. I appreciate that. MR. HALVORSON: I mean, it's my responsibility to get the Order out. MR. WISEMAN: Well, it'd be a short Order, subject to following up with a more detailed decision. Yeah. Page 9 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 CHR. CABANAS: Well, let me interject. Our Secretary has informed us or me —has informed me that the transcription won't be ready this week of last month's meeting minutes. It will be done —approximately when? The first week of January. MR. WISEMAN: Madam Chair? CHR. CABANAS: Yes. MR. WISEMAN: When we're talking about the transcription, that was the motivation behind my motion to make it a very short one they could issue right away, with the rest of everything else necessary for a detailed decision to come later, knowing the transcriptions take a (inaudible) time. So, what we're talking about is maybe a two or three paragraphs of that motion and if Glynis can just locate that— CHR. CABANAS: Can you do that, Glynis? MS. YAMADA: (Inaudible.) CHR. CABANAS: Oh, okay. MR. WISEMAN: Yeah, that's all we would need CHR. CABANAS: Okay. MR. WISEMAN: to get this on the move. CHR. CABANAS: Right. She said it's done that part is done. So, can you send that to Mr. Halvorson so he can work on the Decision and Order this week? Today is Mondayso, Jim, you can have it done by Friday? MR. HALVORSON: Oh, yes. CHR. CABANAS: Or even sooner? MR. HALVORSON: Yes, I'll do —Number one priority. CHR. CABANAS: Thank you. MR. WISEMAN: Very well. CHR. CABANAS: And the only reason is because Mr. Turner has been waiting a good part of the year and I would like to see the department, once they get the Decision and Order, to make Page 10 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 this a priority and do the necessary transaction work to put him officially in the position December 1st and to not keep him on TA. MR. LEE: If I could ask for clarification. So, it's my understanding is the Board's intent is that Mr. Turner was to be returned on December 1st, but he has still yet to serve out the remainder of his probation time on the CERSII position? CHR. CABANAS: Correct. MR. LEE: Okay. Thank you. CHR. CABANAS: Mm-hmm. How many months are we talking about —two months for him to complete his new probationary period? MR. LEE: I don't know that off the top of my head. I'm sorry, Madam Chair. CHR. CABANAS: Yeah no, it's okay. MR. LEE: Yeah. CHR. CABANAS: But whatever it is, that's important because once he completes his new probationary period, he has civil service status in that position. Right now, he doesn't have civil service status as the Supervisor II. MS. MATHEWS: Madam Chair, I have a question. Is there a way that, basically, he's getting time served because he was in —working in that position, which, how does that differ in terms of behavior from him being on probation? You can —you're looking for ways he doesn't qualify or he doesn't fit —wouldn't that also have been visible during the time that he is in TA and it can be waived? Because there's nothing else we can do to help make him whole, other than they find a way to waive that and we just get this done and closed. CHR. CABANAS: Yeah. That's really an HR Department question and I don't know if Mr. Halvorson would be able to comment on that. That's why the Decision and Order is really important because that's the legal authority for the department to move. And once they get that, it's to me, it's the Board's expectation that they move right away on it. MR. HALVORSON: Well, I agree. I don't think that the Board should be dealing with waivers at this point. I think that should —it's an HR issue, let them sort this out, and then if there's still remaining issues, then it can be brought to this Board. CHR. CABANAS: Okay. So, we had a motion MS. MATHEWS: Second. CHR. CABANAS: Any discussion? No? I'll start a rollcall vote with Ms. Mathews. Page 11 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 MS. MATHEWS: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Mr. Wiseman. MR. WISEMAN: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Bond. MS. BOND: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Cabanas —aye. Motion carried. CHR. CABANAS: Okay. I also need a motion to continue Communication number 24-03.22 to the next meeting, which is January 16'. MR. WISEMAN: Yeah, so moved. CHR. CABANAS: A second? MS. BOND: Second. CHR. CABANAS: Any discussion? If not, I'll start a rollcall vote with Ms. Mathews. MS. MATHEWS: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Mr. Wiseman. MR. WISEMAN: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Bond. MS. BOND: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Cabanas —aye. Four ayes. Motion carried. MR. HONG: The expectation is that in January 16'', there will be a representative from the Department of Human Services (sic.) and Public Works to answer those nitty-gritty questions about where he goes and what his status is, correct? `Cause I don't —again, I don't want this extended. Page 12 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 CHR. CABANAS: Yes. MR. HONG: All right. Thank you. And on behalf of myself and my client, we wish everybody a Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays. Judge Wiseman, thank you for your service to the County. MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Mr. Hong. MR. HONG: And to opposing Counsel, and Mr. Halvorson —Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. MS. MATHEWS: Same to you, sir. MR. HALVORSON: Thank you, Ted. CHR. CABANAS: Thank you, Ted, and Mr. Lee. MR. LEE: Thank you. CHR. CABANAS: Have a Merry Christmas as well to you and your families. Thank you. Okay, you have any questions for Mr. Halvorson? If not, Jim, thank you very much for working on the Decision and Order this week. MR. HALVORSON: I'll get it out as soon as I can. CHR. CABANAS: Thank you. MR. WISEMAN: Thank you, Jim. CHR. CABANAS: And have a Merry Christmas to you and your family. MR. HALVORSON: Thank you. MS. MATHEWS: Merry Christmas. Announcements (Item 9) CHR. CABANAS: Okay, any "Announcements," Board members? I'd just like to thank Mr. Wiseman for his service, as a member of the Merit Appeals Board. We have a letter for you, David, signed by all Board members, so Glynis will be issuing it to you. But, basically, it says: "Dear David, We are very grateful for you service as a member of the Merit Appeals Board. It has been a great pleasure to have worked with you on the Board. Your commitment to uphold the merit system while being fair in the meetings and appeal hearings are greatly valued. We wish you good health, much happiness, and success in your future Page 13 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 endeavors. With sincerest gratitude, Gay Mathews/Vice-Chair, Suzi Bond/Member, and Gabriella M. Cabanas/Chair"—and we are really going to miss you. MR. WISEMAN: Thank you. And for those kind words and I'd like to say this —take this opportunity to say goodbye to all of you. Although, I'm going to be in touch with J, I think, (inaudible) ask him legal stuff. And it's my opinion is the Merit Appeals Board —it's a great consequence to the County employees. It allows them recourse, in most cases, righting the wrongs and so on. So, I wish you all the best in your challenging endeavors ahead, including those 30-page stories by appellants you really have to limit that. And, in closing, I'd be remiss if I didn't mention our exceptional staff, Glynis —and all of (inaudible) Jin particular Glynis, who makes great chocolate cake. CHR. CABANAS: And coffee. MR. WISEMAN: Thank you. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Mathews? MS. MATHEWS: So, I want to thank you for actually agreeing to me badgering you into staying on, because we would have lost you and lost a whole lot by you not being here, had you not stayed. So, thank you. MR. WISEMAN: One thing in parting as I was discussing with Gabriella and Glynis before the rest of you came in was there was no need for this delay. In other words, if you recall when Jim said at the end of decision, the last hearing —if you recall, he said he was going to do Findings of Fact and Conclusions of Law. This requires a whole transcript and takes months. And, as I told you, I think, in court I would always inform the attorneys ahead of the trial, at scheduling conference"Okay, the trials coming up, the hearings coming up. I want both of you to know I'm going to require Findings of Fact, Conclusions of Law" that way they bring in staff to take notes or they have some other process (inaudible). It's a laborious, very timely thing. So, that's why I came out with that short Order, which was —would be about two or three paragraphs, I think. And that could have been issuedI mean, I could have wrote it right here. And that's another option. He has no problem with it. In court, sometime on short Orders like that, you can ask that —"Counsel, can you prepare the order" they're more than happy to. They prepare it, they submit it —if it's not good, we send it back, but in those cases (inaudible). If you come prepared and you want to pass it to the other —your opponent —and then, submit it. That's how it goes. Page 14 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 `Cause, I'll tell you, I mean, I know he probably has his hands full, but we're talking about a month. In the meantime, like, he confirmed —he confirmed what I thought that this employee has no right to what we decided. It's a month. So, and then, while we're on the subject —what about that decision we made back in April? What was the name of that case? CHR. CABANAS: Dean Fukuchi. MR. WISEMAN: Fukuchi. I mean, it's probably buried on someone's desk and that's why it takes —if you pester them those attorneys usually have more of a load than is necessary. CHR. CABANAS: I've contacted the Supervising Attorney General but I think you're right, we need to send a letter to Amanda. MR. WISEMAN: Yeah, a letter would go. CHR. CABANAS: Yeah. MR. WISEMAN: Yeah. CHR. CABANAS: Just a short letter. MR. WISEMAN: Yeah. CHR. CABANAS: But I have a message into her, again, yeah, about it. But I think it's a different attorney. It's not Mr. Halvorson. It's Mr. Thomason. MR. WISEMAN: Yeah, it's not. It's not him. CHR. CABANAS: Yeah. Is that the only one? I can't — MR. WISEMAN: I think so, yeah. CHR. CABANAS: remember. That's the only one that's outstanding, right? If you can check because then we can list it in the letter to her. MR. WISEMAN: To my knowledge, it's the only one. CHR. CABANAS: Yeah, we will do that. Anything for you, Suzi? MS. BOND: It's been a pleasure to meet you and know you for this very short amount of time, but your wisdom is way above (inaudible), so it's nice to have your opinions in there, so that I can learn some more and more about what we're doing. Thank you very much. Page 15 Merit Appeals Board December 16, 2024 MR. WISEMAN: Thank you for that. CHR. CABANAS: Yes, I think your experience in the judicial system has helped us tremendously the questions you've asked and it's really put a lot of value to our discussions. MR. WISEMAN: Thank you. CHR. CABANAS: So, thank you very much. MR. WISEMAN: Yeah, just to, FYII just came back from Saipan, in Micronesia, in the last a few days ago. I was called out to mediate major, major case. And while I was there, they asked me if I could sit in the court, for (inaudible) court. And I also had a status conference in this old running, eight year -old probate case. So, yeah, it was interesting. Thank you for your kind words. CHR. CABANAS: Thank you very much, Mr. Wiseman. Okay, so any other announcements? Schedule Next Meeting Date (Item 10) The Merit Appeals Board Will Convene Its Next Meeting On Thursday, January 16, 2025, At 8:30 A.M., At The Hilo Council Chambers, Hawaii County Building, 25 Aupuni Street, First Floor, Room 1401, Hilo, HI 96720 CHR. CABANAS: If not, we will go to scheduling the next meeting date, which will be on Thursday, January 16, 2025, and it's at 8:30. MS. BOND: I have a Citizen Corp. meeting at noon. CHR. CABANAS: Right. MS. BOND: So CHR. CABANAS: So, 8:30 at the Hilo Council Chambers of the Hawaii County Building, at 25 Aupuni Street, First Floor, Room 1401, in Hilo, Hawaii. Adiournment (Item 11) CHR. CABANAS: And, at this time, may I have a motion to adjourn today's meeting? MS. MATHEWS: So moved. CHR. CABANAS: A second? Page 16 Merit Appeals Board December 16,2024 MS. BOND: I'll second that. CHR. CABANAS: Any discussion? If not, I'll start a rollcall vote to adjourn. Ms. Mathews? MS. MATHEWS: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Mr. Wiseman. MR. WISEMAN: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Bond. MS. BOND: Aye. CHR. CABANAS: Ms. Cabanas—aye. Four ayes. Meeting is adjourned at 9:30 a.m. Respectfully submitted, Glynis amad , Secretary-Reporter APPROVED: /&G-INA.t. (a)Al • euhak:a Gabriella M. Cabanas, Chair Merit Appeals Board Page 17 C. Kirno Alameda, Ph.D. Sommer J. Tokihiro Mayor •s Director of Human Resources aJud• Danny B. Pate( '; r= is Deputy Director of7iumanResources RC VD HUMAN % S U RCES County of Hawaii 2024 DEC I 1 HM:5e Department of Human Resources Aupuni Center« WI Pauahi Street,Suite 2 «Hilo,Hawaii 96720 « (808) 961-8361 « Fax(808)961-8617 website: http://hawaiicounty.grn/human-resources e-mai[:jobs@ hawaiicounty.yov December 11, 2024 To: Gabriella M. Cabanas, Chair, and Members of the Merit Appeals Board From: Sommer J. Tokihiro, Director Department of Human Resources Subject: Unavailable to Attend the Merit Appeals Board Meeting Scheduled for December 16, Due to My Participation in UPW Negotiations It is with regret that I will be unable to attend the Merit Appeals Board meeting scheduled for Monday, December 16, 2024. My participation is required at negotiations. Deputy Director Danny Patel will also be participating in the negotiations. I appreciate your understanding, and I look forward to joining you at the Merit Appeals Board meeting scheduled for January 16, 2025. SJT/gy ATT A Hawai'i County is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.