Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 10, Number 11, 1 November 1999 — Commission invites community input on OHAtrustee salaries [ARTICLE]

Commission invites community input on OHAtrustee salaries

By Paula Durbin AFTER STUDYING the salaries currently paid to the trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, the OHA Salary Commission will be seeking input on its draft recommendations at community meetings to be held throughout the state. By law, the governor appoints a eommission to look at trustee compensation every four years. Earlier this year, Native Hawaiian organizations submitted the nominations from whieh seven members were selected to serve on the commission: Gladys A. Brandt, chair; Kamaki Kanahele, vice chair; Clara Kakaha; Joseph Papalimu; Zachary Helm; James Torio and Keolahou Davidson-Coleman. The committee serves without pay, but the members are reimbursed for meeting and travel expenses. Since 1993, OFLA trustees have

received an annual salary of $32,000, except for the chair who receives $37,000. Eaeh also has a protocol allowanee of $7,200 to cover certain expenses incurred in the course of his or her service. The trustees are not eligible for annual or sick leave or paid overtime. While they are covered by state health benefīts and ean participate in the state's deferred compensation and savings bond programs, they are excluded by statute from the state's Employee Retirement System. The OHA Salary Commission must submit its recommendations for any adjustments to trustee salaries before the 40th day of the 2000 legislative session. New salaries become effective as of the date of the recommendations unless the legislature rejects the recommendations in a concurrent resolution before it adjourns. If it passes such a resolution, the current salary levels remain in effect. ■

Salary meetinqs schedule So that OHA beneficiaries and the general public ean comment on salary options and the draft recommendations, the commission has scheduled public meetings from 6 - 8 p.m. as foIlows: Mon, Nov. 8 Moloka'i Mitchell Pau'ole Center Tues., Nov. 16 Kaua'i Veterans Memorial Center Thurs., Nov. 18 Maui Maui Community College Tues., Nov. 30 Lāna'i Lāna'i High/Elem. School Fri., Dec. 3 Hilo UH-Hilo Student Center Sat., Dec. 4 Kona Kealakehe Elem. School Thurs., Dec. 9 0'ahu State Capitol Auditorium