LIHU‘E — County officials recently announced a two-day per month furlough plan that will be effective July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011. Most county employees who are members of the Hawai‘i Government Employees Association and United Public Workers
LIHU‘E — County officials recently announced a two-day per month furlough plan that will be effective July 1, 2010 to June 30, 2011.
Most county employees who are members of the Hawai‘i Government Employees Association and United Public Workers unions, along with contract employees and those appointed by Mayor Bernard Carvalho Jr., are included in the furlough plan, a county news release states.
Members of the State of Hawai‘i Organization of Police Officers and the Hawai‘i Fire Fighters Association will not be subject to the furloughs due to previously negotiated collective bargaining agreements. Additionally, Kaua‘i Fire Chief Robert Westerman and Kaua‘i Police Chief Darryl Perry will not be subject to the furloughs, the release states.
In developing its furlough plan, the county took into consideration furlough days for state administrative offices and scheduled only one furlough day per pay period whenever possible.
“This has not been an easy decision, however, in order to weather the financial hardships before us, it is a necessary measure for us to take,” said the mayor.
During the scheduled furloughs (calendar available at www.kauai.gov), the following departments, divisions and agencies will be closed: Agency on Elderly Affairs; Civil Defense Agency; Department of Finance (all divisions including driver’s license, motor vehicle and real property); Department of Liquor Control (administrative office); Department of Parks and Recreation (administrative offices); Department of Personnel Services; and the Department of Public Works (all divisions, administrative offices only).
Other county offices that will close on furlough days include: Housing Agency; Kaua‘i Fire Department (administrative offices); Kaua‘i Police Department (HGEA office staff only); Office of the County Attorney; Office of Economic Development; Office of the Mayor; Planning Department; and the Transportation Agency (administrative offices).
To minimize the disruption of services, the following offices will utilize staggered furlough schedules or some other means to maintain their present level of services: Department of Liquor Control (investigators); Department of Parks and Recreation (Wailua Golf Course and beach park maintenance crews); Department of Public Works (Building Division inspection staff); Kekaha Landfill; residential refuse pickup, transfer stations, waste water treatment facilities; Kaua‘i Fire Department (fire stations and lifeguard towers); Kaua‘i Police Department (911 Dispatch, cell block, Investigative Services Bureau, and Patrol Services Bureau); and the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney.
In addition, The Kaua‘i Bus will run on its normal schedule, the release states.
