PO’IPU — Mike McCartney, director of the state human resources development department, pitched civil service reform to a group of legislators gathered here yesterday and today for the Hawai’i State Association 1999 Mid-Year Conference. The system, which was created in
PO’IPU — Mike McCartney, director of the state human resources development
department, pitched civil service reform to a group of legislators gathered
here yesterday and today for the Hawai’i State Association 1999 Mid-Year
Conference.
The system, which was created in 1939 and last reformed in
1955, has to be changed to keep step with major global changes, he
said.
“What company or organization can survive with the same personnel
rules and polices? It can’t happen.”
Kaua’i County is hosting the
conference, which is being held at the Po’ipu Sheraton Hotel.
Speakers and
panelists will discuss the future of Hawaii’s visitor industry, international
business and financing, cruise ship and maritime industries, community
development, high technology, timeshare and government
regulations.
McCartney said Gov. Ben Cayetano has identified key issues
that need to be addressed as part of civil service reform. They include:
* Decentralization of the system. The governor proposes individual counties
have control over employees and negotiate contracts, McCartney said.
Pay based on competency. Pay should be based on an employee’s work ability
rather than solely on the class or position, he said.
* Job performance
standards for employees and division heads.
* Removal of binding
arbitration.
* Elimination of overtime pay that is counted toward
retirement benefits.
Some state airport employees have accumulated a
large amount of overtime, a practice that has to be stopped to make best use of
state funds, McCartney said.
* Streamlining of health fund
benefits.
Currently, people who were hired before 1996 are entitled to 100
percent of the benefits.
Under proposed changes, anyone who begins work on
June 30, 2001 and works 10 to 14 years before retiring would be eligible for 50
percent of the benefits, McCartney said. Those who work 25 years or more would
be entitled to full benefits, he added.
* Drug testing statewide and drug
testing for all new employees.
* Transfer state firefighters to country
fire departments.
McCartney said he plans to continue talks with county
officials to get their input before a final civil service reform package is
sent to the Legislature in early January.
Today’s agenda includes:
* A
panel discussion on the topic of “Trends in the Year 2000” featuring Paul
Brewbaker, an economist with the Bank of Hawaii; Bob Lees of the Pacific Basin
Economic Council; Ray Kamikawa, Director of the state Department of Taxation
and Bob Fishman, Chief Operating Officer for the Hawaii Tourism
Authority.
* A discussion on the future of the cruise ship industry in
Hawai’i with Tom Fujikawa, Administrator of the Harbors Division of the state
Department of Transportation; Bill Anonsen, a vice president with American
Hawaii Cruises; Bill Thayer, President of Waldron Steamship Co. Ltd.; Tony
Vericella, President and Chief Operating Officer of the Hawaii Visitor and
Convention Bureau and Murray Towill, President of the Hawai’i Hotel
Association.
* Growth is the focus of a discussion led by Bill Peay of the
West Kaua’i Community Development Corp; Gary Baldwin, President and Chief
Operating Officer of the Kaua’i Economic Development Board; Capt. Brian Moss,
Commanding Officer of the Pacific Missile Range Facility; Gilbert
Coloma-Agaran, Deputy Director of DCCA, Timeshare Industry and Dr. Pat
Sullivan, President of Oceanit Laboratories. Inc.
* A government forecast
will be led by McCartney and Maurice Rousso, Vice President of EMA Services
Inc.
