Merit Appeals Board Fact Sheet (April 2026)

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April 2026 MERIT APPEALS BOARD Purpose: To hear and decide appeals relating to the following: Recruitment and examination; Classification and reclassification of a particular position; Initial pricing of classes; and Other employment actions, including disciplinary actions for failure of the employees to meet performance requirement. (Note: Employees, as the term is used here, refers to those employees who are not covered by a collective bargaining agreement.) Shall appoint and may at pleasure remove the Director of Human Resources. Authority: Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes, Sections 76-14, 76-47, 76-51, 76-71, 76-75 Hawaiʻi County Charter, Section 7-1.2 Appointment: Mayor with Council approval. Normal five-year staggered terms. Full Membership: Five members. Specific Representation: None required. Requirements: May not be in an elective or appointive position in state or county government. May not, while on the Board, serve as an officer or committee member of any political party organization, including a precinct organization, or present oneself as a candidate or be a candidate for nomination or election to any public office at any election. Meetings: One regular meeting a month on such day, time, and place as specified by the Board. Financial Disclosure: Members must file Financial Disclosure within 20 working days of taking the oath of office. Thereafter, annual disclosures must be filed on or before January 31. The disclosures are confidential and will be kept on file by the Board of Ethics. County Code, Chapter 2, Section 2-91.1. Reappointment: No member shall be appointed for a second term for at least two years following the expiration of the term unless the appointment was for two years or less. Qualities: Members shall be persons that can objectively apply the merit principle to public employment. Current Members: Gabriella M. Cabanas, Chair, Term Expires 12/31/26 Suzi Bond, Vice-Chair, Term Expires 12/31/28 Gilbert J. Aguinaldo, Member, Term Expires 12/31/27 Daniel “Niel” Thomas, Member, Term Expires 12/31/30 VACANT, Term Expires 12/31/29 Secretary/Contact: Glynis Yamada 961-8361 Attorney Assigned: J Yoshimoto, Assistant Corporation Counsel *The information on this sheet is condensed. For full information see appropriate Sections of the County Charter, County Code, and/or Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes.