NAWILIWILI — At the first meeting of 2011, the County Council approved a measure that could potentially lead to hiring another staff member at council services. The council Committee of the Whole on Wednesday approved a resolution establishing a Human
NAWILIWILI — At the first meeting of 2011, the County Council approved a measure that could potentially lead to hiring another staff member at council services.
The council Committee of the Whole on Wednesday approved a resolution establishing a Human Resources sub-committee.
“As we go forward and we develop policies, practices in following federal employment laws … things are constantly changing, and therefore should be reviewed,” said Chair Jay Furfaro, noting that the sub-committee will have time to review the most current practices.
The sub-committee, comprised of three council members, will have 60 days to review HR practices and personnel positions, by job description, of the council services, and determine if the staff has necessary HR resource practices and personnel for the transaction of business.
“It’s a review to check ourselves, and I think it’s part of our responsibility,” Councilwoman JoAnn Yukimura said.
The sub-committee will also be able to propose revisions, if necessary, to HR practices and personnel positions of the council services.
Councilman Tim Bynum took the chair position, and council members Mel Rapozo and Dickie Chang filled the other sub-committee positions.
The committee unanimously approved the resolution, despite an amendment that drew some criticism from a few council members.
The amendment, introduced by Yukimura at Furfaro’s request, added the HR practices to the body of the resolution.
Councilman Derek Kawakami commended Furfaro for opening up the issue to other council members. But Kawakami said “this is really a function that should be reserved to the council chair and the county clerk.”
Among all council members, Furfaro has the most experience in HR resources, because of his background in the hospitality industry, according to Kawakami.
“Is it going to be as efficient as you just sitting down with the clerk and the deputy clerk? I don’t think so,” Kawakami said.
Rapozo also had some reservations on the amendment.
“We are basically telling council services how to do their job,” he said. “We are a legislative body.”
Rapozo said he has confidence that the staff does a good job, and if there are any personnel concerns, those concerns should be brought up to the chair during executive session.
Furfaro said personnel performances will always be handled in executive sessions.
The resolution, he said, does not refer to performance, and rather to practices.
Bynum said there’s no hidden agenda in the resolution. “There’s no intention to do an investigation.”
Yukimura said the resolution is not putting into question the competence of the staff, “it’s just doing a due diligence of reviewing where were are.”
In case there’s a need for another staff position, the council has funds already approved for it. Those funds are tied to an approved dollar-funded position.
But Furfaro denied the resolution’s goal is to hire another position.
