HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019_0325_CRC OP Approved
COUNTY OF KAUAI
Minutes of Meeting
OPEN SESSION
Approved as amended 4/22/19
Board/Commission: CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION Meeting Date March 25, 2019
Location Mo‘ikeha Building, Meeting Room 2 A/B Start of Meeting: 3:00 p.m. End of Meeting: 3:44 p.m.
Present Chair Ricky Watanabe. Vice Chair Jan TenBruggencate. Members: Carol Suzawa, Virginia Kapali, Patrick Stack
Also: Deputy County Attorney Peter Morimoto. Boards & Commissions Office Staff: Administrator Ellen Ching, Administrative
Specialist Anela Segreti
Excused Member Marissa Sandblom.
Absent
SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION
Call To Order Chair Watanabe called the
meeting to order at 3:00
p.m. with five members
present which constituted a
quorum.
Communications None Chair Watanabe called a
recess at 3:05pm to get new
recorder. Called back to
session at 3:08pm.
Approval of
Minutes
Open Session Minutes of February 25, 2019 Vice Chair TenBruggencate
moved to approve the Open
Session Minutes of February
25, 2019 as submitted. Ms.
Suzawa seconded the
motion. Motion carried 5:0.
Business CRC 2019-02 General Discussion on Charter Initiatives of Interest
Discussion of Salary Commission with Ms. Ching. Ms. Ching discussed the Salary Resolution
being presented to the Council. Clarified that resolution sets the maximum salary.
Charter Review Commission
Open Session
March 25, 2019 Page 2
SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION
Ms. Ching stated that the County Engineers position has been hard to fill, given salary and
qualifications. Salary Commission has been discussing this in regards to salary and
qualifications.
Chair Watanabe stated that it was discussed before previous election and Commission turned it
down, but now it continues to be a hard position to fill.
Vice Chair TenBruggencate asked if the Administration will be bringing a proposal. Ms. Ching
replied that she believes they will, but don’t know what proposals at this time.
Discussion regarding a change in Charter or policy change for the County Engineer position.
Ms. Ching stated that other counties are having the same issues in filling Engineer positions and
are looking at more flexible approaches. One approach is rather than mandating an engineer
license for the County Engineer position if there are other positions with the Engineer license
they have more flexibility in recruiting for those positions. Salaries being proposed in the
resolution will still be under what other Counties in the state are offering.
Vice Chair TenBurggencte asked if anyone looked at a different structural change. A system
with an Engineer and Manager that jointly run. Someone to do technical side and someone to
do Administrative side. Ms. Ching stated that she knows that it has been done in Department of
Transportation. Discussion continued on possible solutions.
Ms. Ching stated that HR is looking at a process for chronically vacant positions.
Ms. Kapali suggested that perhaps the County Public Works set up may have positions of a
Manager and County Engineer. Have County Engineer and Deputy, in some instances the
Deputy can serve as a managing administrator and leave County Engineer as chartered. If
Administration is willing to look at a possible re-description to meet those conditions may have
the framework.
Vice Chair TenBruggencate
moved to ask staff to invite
the Deputy of Public Works
and whoever he requires as
staff to come and discuss
organizational chart for that
department and make
suggestions to change. Ms.
Suzawa seconded. Motion
carried 5:0.
Charter Review Commission
Open Session
March 25, 2019 Page 3
SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION
Ms. Ching stated that all options are on the table to fill the position.
Discussion continued on possible options to fill County Engineer position.
Mr. Stack suggested getting a head hunter. Ms. Kapali suggested that may be something for
HR. Ms. Ching shared that experience that they previously had has not been good.
Ms. Ching stated that benefits vs wages still comes down to people having enough to pay bills.
Mr. Patrick stated that he believes that there are a lot of retired Engineers that may want to take
on the job pro bono.
CRC 2019-03 Discussion on County Auditor Position
Discussion on removing County Auditor Positions from Charter with Ms. Ching.
Chair Watanabe stated that they would like to invite Council Chair to next Charter meeting and
entertained a motion.
Vice Chair TenBruggencate
moved to ask staff to also
invite Human Resources to
come and talk about
recruiting and whether there
are any amendments that the
Commission can
recommend that can ease
the process. Ms. Suzawa
seconded. Motion carried
5:0.
Vice Chair TenBruggencate
moved to ask staff to
contact the Council Office
and invite the Council Chair
or his designee to come and
tell them what they think.
Ms. Kapali seconded.
Motion carried 5:0.
Announcements Next Meeting: Monday, April 22, 2019, 3:00 p.m., in the Mo‘ikeha Building, Meeting Room
2A/2B
Charter Review Commission
Open Session
March 25, 2019 Page 4
SUBJECT DISCUSSION ACTION
Adjournment Vice Chair TanBruggencate
moved to adjourn the
meeting. Seconded by Ms.
Kapali.
Motion carried 5:0
Chair Watanabe adjourned
the meeting at 3:44 p.m.
Submitted by: __________________________________ Reviewed and Approved by: _________________________________________
Anela Segreti, Administrative Specialist Ricky Watanabe, Chair
( ) Approved as circulated.
( X ) Approved with amendments. See minutes of 4/22/19 meeting.