Commission removes unclear sentence from staff compensation policy 6.2(b)

Reiko, the commission's executive director, told members the rules committee reviewed a staff proposal to amend internal policy 6.2(b), which concerns staff compensation. She said the final sentence of 6.2(b) appears extraneous and lacks legislative history; the sentence as written suggested cost-of-living adjustments could be determined by the executive committee based on a performance appraisal.

"A COLA is just a COLA. It's not more it's not, merit based," Reiko said, and the rules committee recommended removing the sentence to avoid treating a legislative cost-of-living increase as a merit-based adjustment for the executive director alone. The amendment was circulated in member materials with more than the 30-day notice required by the commission's internal rules.

Commissioner Renee moved to approve striking the final sentence from policy 6.2(b); Commissioner Muhammad Ali seconded. The commission approved the amendment by voice vote.

Reiko said staff and the rules committee brought the change because they could not find legislative history supporting the sentence and saw no reason to differentiate the executive director from other staff for a legislatively established COLA. The commission noted the amendment will be placed in the commission's policies and take effect as an internal rules change.