HomeMy WebLinkAbout110310_SALARY_REGULAR_MINUTESCOUNTY OF KAUAI
Minutes of Meeting
OPEN SESSION
Board/Committee:
I SALARY COMMISSION
Meeting Date:
I November 3, 2010
Location
Mo'ikeha Building — Meeting Room 2 A &B
Start of Session: 8:09 a.m.
I End of Session:8:29 a.m.
Present
Acting Chair Charles King, 2" d Vice -Chair Trinette Kaui (arrived at 8:12 a.m.) Robert Crowell, William Dahle, Sheri Kunioka -Volz
and Michael Machado.
Also First County Attorney Amy Esaki; Boards and Commissions Staff. Administrator John Isobe; Administrative Aide Cyndi
Ayonon; and Support Clerk Mercedes Youn.
Excused
Absent
SUBJECT
DISCUSSION
ACTION
Call To
Acting Chair Charles
Order
King called the meeting to
order at 8:09 a.m.
Approval
Acting Chair King called for the motion to approve the agenda.
Commissioner Machado
of Agenda
moved to approve the
agenda; seconded by
Commissioner Crowell.
Motion carried 5:0.
Approval
Open Session Meeting Minutes of October 21, 2010.
Commissioner Dahle
of minutes
moved to approve the
Referring to page (4) of the minutes, Commissioner Dahle requested that the minutes be amended to
minutes of the October 21,
reflect that it was based on the Commissions discussion rather than decision that the effective dates of
2010 as amended;
the proposed Administrative pay increase change from December 01, 2010 to July 01, 2011.
seconded by
Commissioner Kunioka-
Volz. Motion. Motion
carried 6:0.
Executive Session minutes for October 21, 2010.
Commissioner Dahle
moved to approve the
Salary Commission
Open Session
November 3, 2010
Page 2
SUBJECT
DISCUSSION
ACTION
Executive Session
minutes of October 21,
2010 as circulated;
seconded by
Commissioner Kaui.
Motion carried 6:0.
Business
SC 2010 -8 Deliberation and decision making wn a proposed Resolution 2010 -1 relating to the Salaries
of Certain Officers and Employees of the County of Kaua'i.
Discussion
Acting Chair King stated that the proposed Resolution 2010 -1 provides for implementation of the
Administrative salary increases on July 01, 2011 this provision was inserted that allows the Mayor, with
the approval of the County Council to supersede the proposed raises by limiting the funding via the
County's annual operating budget.
Commissioner Dahle noted that the date of adoption in proposed Resolution 2010 -1 is incorrect; it
should reflect today's date which is November 3, 2010, and not November 4, 2010.
Commissioner Machado had some concerns on the language in the Resolution that would allow the
Administration to go below the wages listed in the Resolution; he questioned whether placing a cap or a
fixed amount would be necessary or whether the Commission is allowing blanket ability that would
give the Administration the authority to lower the salaries.
First County Deputy Attorney Amy Esaki referred to Article 3 (d) of the Resolution where it states that
the salaries of the Council Chair, Councilmembers, and employees shall not exceed the maximum salary
provided for in this Article at the time of employment. However, the respective appointing authority
may set the salary of any new or existing non - elected appointee at a figure lower than the figure
established for that position.
Acting Chair King stated that he feels that the Salary Commission is the authority to set the maximum
salary rather than the Administration. Commissioner Dahle agreed and commented that it also has been
his understanding that it is the responsibility of the Salary Commission to set the maximum salary.
Salary Commission
Open Session
November 3, 2010
Page 3
SUBJECT
DISCUSSION
ACTION
Commissioner Machado agreed with the proposed language; however, his concerns lie with the Council
that they may not agree with the language, which may cause for further discussions.
Referring to Section (2) of the proposed Resolution, Commissioner Kaui posed her question to Mr.
Isobe on whether the Mayor would need the approval of the Council to reduce the salaries of a non-
elected officials or employees to an amount lower than the figures established in the proposed
Resolution.
Executive Assistant John Isobe said yes and he explained that the process for this Resolution is similar
to the County's process relating to the furloughs. Unfortunately, the findings indicated that after the
Salary Commission approved the salaries that are currently in place the Administration as well as the
County Council felt that there were insufficient funds, and as a result, the County Employees were
placed on furloughs.
Mr. Isobe went further and explained how the Administration reviewed each individual account line by
line thus resulting in the reduction of salaries for all departments by 9.23 %. It was at that time the
Administration determined that the appointing authority of each perspective department head would
follow in the process. In the meantime plans were being implemented to start the furloughs as well as
having the cabinet members take a salary reduction.
Mr. Isobe gave his reasons on why he included the following language in the proposed Resolution
2010 -1: 1) the County is not out of the woods yet; 2) should the Salary Commission decide to move
forward with a proposed salary increase, the thought was to at least give the County some kind of
flexibility; 3) the County does not know whether or not the State Legislature would be funding the
TAT to the level the County is anticipating; 4) the County does not know how the real property tax
revenue collections would affect the County; and 5) the County is entering into collective bargaining
negotiations with the unions (outcome unknown).
For these reasons Mr. Isobe felt that the salaries should not be locked in, and although he understands
that the raises have been deferred for a long period of time, it is important that the county has the
Salary Commission
Open Session
November 3, 2010
Page 4
SUBJECT
DISCUSSION
ACTION
flexibility to adjust the salaries should the need arise. That is why Section (2) was included in Proposed
Resolution 2010 -1.
With no further business to discuss, Acting Chair King called for the motion to approve the proposed
Resolution 2010 -1.
Commissioner Dahle
made a motion to approve
the proposed Resolution
2010 -01 as circulated;
seconded by
Commissioner Crowell.
Motion carried 6:0.
Staff will transmit
Resolution 2010 -1 to the
*A copy of Resolution 2010 -1 is on file at the Office of Boards and Commissions.
Honorable Chair Ka
no i o
p
Ho Hon and Members the
County Council for
consideration.
Adjournm
With no further business, Chair King called for the motion to adjourn.
Commissioner Kunioka-
ent
Volz moved to adjourn the
meeting at 8:29 a.m.;
seconded by Commissioner
Crowell. Motion carried
6:0.
Salary Commission
Open Session
November 3, 2010
Submitted by:
Mercedes Youn, Support Clerk
(X) Approved as is. (Approved on 07/26/11
( ) Approved with amendments. See minutes of
Page 5
Reviewed and Approved by:
meeting.
Charles King, Chair