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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2017_1212_CSC_Minutes_Open_Approved COUNTY OF KAUAI Minutes of Meeting OPEN SESSION Board/Commission: CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Meeting Date: December 12, 2017 Location Mo’ikeha Building, Liquor Control Commission, Meeting Room 3 Start of Meeting: 3:01 p.m. End of Meeting: 4:02 p.m. Present Chair Richard Jose; Vice Chair Jeffrey Iida. Members: Fely Faulkner; Elizabeth Hahn (entered at 3:03 p.m.); Karen Matsumoto; and Vonnell Ramos Also: Deputy Attorney Teresa Tumbaga; Boards and Commissions Administrator Paula M. Morikami, Administrative Specialist Lani Agoot; and Director of Human Resources Janine Rapozo Excused Absent SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Call To Order/Roll Call Chair Jose called the meeting to order at 3:01 p.m. with 5 members present. Approval of Minutes Open Session Minutes of November 28, 2017 Mr. Iida moved to approve the minutes as circulated. Mr. Ramos seconded the motion. Motion carried 5:0. Director’s Reports CSC 2017-15 2017 December Human Resources (HR) Director Janine Rapozo reviewed her report with the Commission (on file). She said it appeared that the State of Hawai‘i Organization of Police Officers (SHOPO) award was going to pass based on the Council's response to the bill's first reading on December 6, 2017. She said mediation for the Hawai‘i Government Employees Association (HGEA) Unit 14 will begin on Monday, December 18th. Russell Higa, a neutral arbitrator, was optimistic that mediation could resolve some of the non-cost issues, and they could work on presenting the cost issues: salaries and differentials. If unsuccessful, contract arbitration would begin in January. She said she will travel to Oahu tomorrow to start working on the Firefighters Unit 11 contract for the next cycle. Ms. Rapozo shared that she hopes to have the Assistant Central Payrol l Accountant position filled in January, and announced that Joyce Schuierer will retire at the end of December with over twenty-six (26) Civil Service Commission Open Session December 12, 2017 Page 2 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION years of service. Ms. Matsumoto said that the State was trying to have their own sheriffs under the Department of Transportation (DOT) and asked if they would be under HGEA or SHOPO. Ms. Rapozo explained that sheriffs were with the Water Safety Officers' Unit 14, and would remain there if they move to DOT. Ms. Matsumoto asked why the Honolulu City and County Police Officers got the same wages as the County's Police Officers because their job descriptions were so different, and whether that had ever been discussed. Ms. Rapozo said what was discussed was whether or not to go Home Rule as far as negotiating contracts separately by jurisdiction. She said the feeling was that there was strength in negotiating together, and agreed that job descriptions in metropolitan areas were very different from rural areas. The other problem with negotiating together was the financial impact of the costs. She said a key example was when Hurricane Iniki hit Kaua‘i and the County was in the middle of negotiations. Although real property taxes were going down as a result, it didn't matter because the award was based on all four (4) jurisdictions and the County had to figure out how to cover the costs. Ms. Matsumoto added that it made her nervous that the State was trying to expand into protective services and the potential cost impact. Ms. Rapozo agreed that was a concern and should be monitored. She said there have been various things at the legislature as far as negotiations and whether or not the State should have votes when they don't have members in that unit. For example, when SHOPO goes to the negotiating table, the State has no members for Police but they still have four (4) votes. She said it was something that was brought up at the last legislative session but didn't pass because the Governor would have no power or leverage with SHOPO if he didn't have votes. Ms. Rapozo stated that the State Department of Human Services was considering going to Home Rule; however, that could cause people to move from one jurisdiction to the next because of the pay. Ms. Matsumoto said she thought the State was already doing that with engineers to which Mr. Rapozo clarified that the State hires at a pay range. She said the County competes in hiring Police Officers with the rest of the nation, and it was difficult with the County's tax base, finances, and housing to compete. Ms. Matsumoto asked how far ahead does HR start recruiting for vacancies to which Ms. Rapozo explained that HR recruited monthly for Civil Service Commission Open Session December 12, 2017 Page 3 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Police, and hired anyone who was qualified and could make it through the rigorous process; however, the numbers were low. She said the vacancies in the Fire Department were anticipated and testing was held early; it wasn't as difficult to fill vacancies in the Fire Department as it was in the Police Department. Mr. Ramos asked what was being done to attract the millennials to the County workforce to which Ms. Rapozo said HR was trying to figure out the best way to let people know about vacancies, and why the County would be a good place to work. She said the County was rich in benefits; however, millennials looked at the pay level. Ms. Rapozo added that HR was looking at ways to attract and educate people about the importance of benefits, but noted that it was hard to attract people even for the entry-level positions because of the low pay. She said during the last round of negotiations, they were able to compress the salary scale of Unit 3, the white collar clerical/secretary positions, a little bit but wanted to compress it even more to bring the top and bottom of the salary scale closer together. Ms. Matsumoto asked if any of the jurisdictions had moved toward having generic classes to which Ms. Rapozo said the Department of Water in Honolulu had looked at that with United Public Workers (UPW). Ms. Matsumoto said the Federal government was moving that way, and having fewer classes would help with the pay scale. With no further discussion, the Commission went into Executive Session. Executive Session Deputy County Attorney Teresa Tumbaga read Hawai‘i Revised Statutes provision as detailed on the agenda to take the Commission into Executive Session for ES-013, ES-011, and ES-015. Mr. Iida moved to go into Civil Service Commission Open Session December 12, 2017 Page 4 SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION Executive Session at 3:22 p.m. Ms. Hahn Seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. Return to Open Session Ratify Commission actions taken in Executive Session for items ES-013, ES-011, and ES-015 The meeting resumed in Open Session at 4:01 p.m. Mr. Iida moved to ratify Commission actions taken in Executive Session. Ms. Faulkner seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. Announcements Next Meeting: Tuesday, January 23, 2018 – 3:00 p.m., Mo'ikeha Building, Liquor Conference Room 3 Adjournment Ms. Faulkner moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:02 p.m. Mr. Iida seconded the motion. Motion carried 6:0. Submitted by: __________________________________ Reviewed and Approved by: _________________________________________ Lani Agoot, Administrative Specialist Richard Jose, Chair ( X ) Approved as circulated. 01/23/18 ( ) Approved with amendments. See minutes of ___________ meeting.