HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-08-21 Merit Appeals Board Minutes MERIT BOARD OF APPEALS
Department of Human Resources
101 Pauahi Street, Suite 102
Hilo, Hawai`i
August 21, 2013
CALL TO ORDER The regular meeting of the Merit Appeals Board, County of Hawaii, was called
(Item 1): to order at 11:09 a.m. by Chairperson Kenneth M. Rowe, at the Department of
Human Resources Conference Room, 101 Pauahi Street, Suite 2, Hilo, Hawai`i,
on Wednesday, August 21, 2013.
ROLL CALL
Present: Mr. Kenneth M. Rowe, Chair
Mr. Jubilee N. Kuewa, Vice-Chair
Mr. Brian De Lima, Member
Ms. June R. Rabago, Member
Also Present: Mr. Ronald K. Takahashi, Director, HR Department
Ms. Sharon Toriano, Deputy Director, HR Department
Mr. Lincoln Ashida, Corporation Counsel, Ofc. of the Corp. Counsel
Mr.Nicholas Hermes, HR Manager III
Ms. Jamie Martines, HR Assistant, HR Department
Ms. Glynis Yamada, Secretary-Reporter, HR Department
Members of the Public Present:
Mr. Maile Etherton, Union Agent, HI Government Employee Association
Ms. Lorena Kauhi, Union Agent, HI Government Employee Association
Ms. Nancy Cook-Lauer, Reporter, West Hawaii Today
Ms. Aileen Hermes
ADDENDUM TO The Chair directed the Board to the next order of business, Addendum to
AGENDA Agenda.
(Item 2):
(There was none.)
STATEMENTS The Chair directed the Board to proceed to the next order of business,
FROM THE Statements from the Public.
PUBLIC
(Item 3): (There were none.)
APPROVAL OF The Chair directed the Board to proceed to the next order of business,
MINUTES Approval of Minutes of July 17, 2013
(Item 4):
Motion to Approve: Mr. De Lima moved that the minutes of July 17, 2013 be approved. The
motion was seconded by Ms. Rabago.
Merit Board of Appeals August 21, 2013
The voice vote to approve the Minutes of July 17, 2013, was as
follows:
AYES: Board Members De Lima, Kuewa, Rabago,
and Chair Rowe—4.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
EXCUSED: None.
COMMUNI- The Chair directed the Board to proceed to the next order of business,
CATIONS Communications.
(Item 5):
COMMUNICATION NO. 13-02, RECEIVED ON AUGUST 1, 2013, FROM
JAY ISHIBASHI, HGEA MCEC AGENT, ON BEHALF OF
STANLEY NAKASONE, APPEALING HIS INVOLUNATARY TRANSFER
TO ANOTHER POSITION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC
WORKS
Mr. Takahashi informed the Board that he was at court this morning on another
matter with Mr.Nakasone and his attorney. He was advised then, that
Mr. Ted Hong will be representing Mr.Nakasone and will not be represented by
Mr. Jay Ishibashi. Mr. Hong asked him to let the Board know that he is attending
a court session with Mr. Nakasone and apologizes for his absence, and he would
try to attend this meeting as soon as possible.
Motion to Defer: Mr. De Lima moved to defer Communication No. 13-02 to the next meeting.
The motion was seconded by Ms. Rabago.
The voice vote, was as follows:
AYES: Board Members De Lima, Kuewa, Rabago,
and Chair Rowe—4.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
EXCUSED: None.
Chair Rowe clarified that they are deferring this matter and will not be scheduling
any hearing at this time.
NEW BUSINESS The Chair directed the Board to proceed to the next order of business,New
(Item 6): Business.
(There was none.)
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Merit Board of Appeals August 21, 2013
CHANGE ORDER By general consent,the following item was taken out of order, as requested by
OF BUSINESS: Chair Rowe and with no objections from the Board Members.
DIRECTOR'S The Chair directed the Board to proceed to the next order of business, Director's
REPORT Report.
(Item 8):
Mr. Takahashi informed the Board that he has no significant item to report other
than to, once again, thank the Board for all of their support and guidance provided
to him as Director, and that he appreciated everyone's time and effort. He
extended his mahalo to the Department of Human Resources and assured the
Board that they will continue to provide them with excellent service. This is his
last official Merit Appeals Board meeting and he would like to say, "Aloha."
RETURN TO The Chair directed the Board to return to the regular order of business and take
ORDER OF up Unfinished Business.
BUSINESS:
UNFINISHED The Chair directed the Board to proceed to the next order of business,
BUSINESS (Item 7): Unfinished Business.
SELECTION OF NEW DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES;
ACCEPTANCE OF THE REPORT OF THE PERMITTED INTERACTION
GROUP REGARDING THE SELECTION OF NEW DIRECTOR OF HUMAN
RESOURCES; EXECUTIVE SESSION
Mr. De Lima requested that the Board go into Executive Session to consult with
their attorney regarding the selection of the new Director of Human Resources as
well as personal and personnel matters.
Motion for Executive Mr. De Lima moved to convene an executive session. The motion was seconded
Session: by Ms. Rabago.
Mr. De Lima stated that both Ms. Rabago and Mr. Kuewa reviewed the
applications and will be providing the Board with input. Because this is a
personnel matter, it would be best handled in executive session. The State law
allows this Board to hold an executive session for that specific purpose.
Mr. Ashida informed the Board that it's advisable to go into executive session as
Commissioner De Lima stated with the understanding that some of the information
concerning the findings of the Permitted Interaction Group be made public
following executive session.
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Merit Board of Appeals August 21,2013
The voice vote, was as follows:
AYES: Board Members De Lima, Kuewa, Rabago,
and Chair Rowe—4.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
EXCUSED: None.
RECESS: The Chair called for a recess at 11:15 a.m.
RECONVENE: The meeting reconvened at 11:34 a.m.
Mr. Kuewa, Member, Permitted Interaction Group, reported that he and
Ms. Rabago, also a Member of the Permitted Interaction Group, received two
applications for the Human Resources Director position. The applicants are
Ms. Sharon Toriano and Mr. Nicholas Hermes.
They reviewed the applications and found them both to be highly qualified for the
position and recommends that they make a presentation to the full Merit Appeals
Board.
Ms. Rabago added that their proposal includes holding a Special Meeting of the
Merit Appeals Board to be scheduled on Thursday, August 29th at 11 a.m.
Motion: Ms. Rabago moved that each applicant make a 15-minute presentation before the
full Board, which will be open to the public. Both applicants will be given up to
ten minutes in executive session to present other materials or information, if they
so desire. The content of their presentation is up to the applicants. The motion
was seconded by Mr. Kuewa.
The voice vote, was as follows:
AYES: Board Members De Lima, Kuewa, Rabago,
and Chair Rowe—4.
NOES: None.
ABSENT: None.
EXCUSED: None.
Mr. Ashida confirmed that Section 100-6 of the Rules of the Merit Appeals Board
state that special meetings may be called by the Chairperson pursuant to Hawai`i
County Charter 13-20. For the record, he announced that the Special Meeting of
the Merit Appeals Board will be held on August 29th at 11 a.m., at the Puna
Conference Room located at the Hawai`i County Building.
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Merit Board of Appeals August 21,2013
Mr. De Lima added that the special meeting is being held for the purpose of
selecting the new Director of Human Resources.
SCHEDULE NEXT The Chair directed the Board to proceed to the next order of business, Schedule
MEETING DATE Next Meeting Date.
(Item 9):
A Special Meeting of the Merit Appeals Board will held on Thursday, August 29th,
at 11:00 a.m., at the Puna Conference Room located at the County Building. Also,
the regular meeting of the Merit Appeals Board will be held on September 18th at
11 a.m., at the Department of Human Resources Conference Room.
ADJOURNMENT There being no other business, at 11:47 a.m., Chair Rowe declared the meeting
(Item 10): adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
i14)
Glyni 4 Yam 4 a
Secretary
APPROVED:
enneth M. Rowe
Chair
RKT/gy
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