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HomeMy WebLinkAbout588 - MINUTES - City Commission MINUTES DANIA BEACH CITY COMMISSION WORKSHOP MEETING MARCH 18, 2004 4:00 PM 1. Call to order Mayor Mc Elyea called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m. 2. Roll Call: Present: Mayor: C.K. McElyea Vice-Mayor: Bob Mikes Commissioners: Bob Anton Robert Chunn Pat Flury City Attorney: Tom Ansbro City Manager: Ivan Pato Acting City Clerk: Miriam Nasser 3. Discussion of Proposed Civil Service Rules changes. (Mary McDonald, ® Human Resources and Risk Management Director) City Manager Pato commended the members of the Civil Service Board for the efforts put into amending the Civil Services Rules. City Manager Pato explained that a survey was conducted of 19 cities regarding the role of their Civil Service Boards and 15 cities responded. Of the 15 cities that responded, eight (8), including Broward County, have eliminated civil service altogether, and six (6) cities operate with a Civil Service Board which serves solely as an appellate board. Only one other city in Broward County, Hallandale Beach, has a system in place similar to Dania Beach where the Civil Service Board serves as both an appellate board and advisory board. City Manager Pato advised that in 1988, the Civil Service rules gave the Board both appellate and advisory authority over the City's Human Resource system. He felt that the present system of having the Board develop policy and approve changes before the Human Resource Director and the City Manager can address the Commission, is both counterproductive and not in the best interest of progress. It was his opinion, that under the present system, many of the decisions made by the Board could be construed as politically motivated, self- serving and at times, not in the best interest of the employee affected. It was his recommendation that the role of the Civil Service Board be limited to providing the City employees with a forum for grievances or unfair disciplinary actions. City Manager Pato also recommended that the composition of the Civil Service Board be changed. He explained that presently the Commission appoints two MINUTES 1 MARCH 18, 2004 WORKSHOP MEETING members to the Board, the employees elect two employees and the fifth member • is elected by the employees from a list recommended by the City Commission. He recommended that the City Manager be allowed to appoint the fifth member to the Board in order to provide proper representation. City Manager Pato explained that if an employee is not eligible to be protected under the union collective bargaining agreements, civil service would protect their rights to grievances and any employee related issues. He asked for the Commission's support in changing the mission of the Civil Service Board to that of an appellate, grievance, hearing mechanism. Commissioner Anton advised that any changes taking place involving civil service would not preclude an employee from having a choice whether to utilize the union or civil service in order to appeal any type of disciplinary action or resolving any type of grievance. He advised that Civil Service would cover all employees whether union eligible or not. He supported the recommendation to change the role of the Civil Service Board to an appellate board only. Commissioner Flury felt that cities that have moved away from strict civil service doctrine have done so because the wage and labor laws conflict with some of the issues in the Civil Service Rules. She felt that Human Resources and employee compensation, such as Pay for Performance, has become a sophisticated issue and felt that civil service was a thing of the past, but agreed that employees must have a grievance process in place. She supported changing the role of the Civil ® Service Board to a grievance board only. Mayor McElyea also supported changing the role of the Civil Service Board to an appellate board only. Commissioner Mikes agreed with changing the role of the Civil Service Board to a grievance board. He suggested that the appointment by the City Manager should be someone with certain, minimum qualifications. He also suggested that the position of Chairperson be required to rotate. City Manager Pato advised that he spoke with several City Managers who suggested that the City Manager's appointment should be someone from the outside with human resource and/or labor experience. It was the general consensus of the City Commission that the City Manager be given the authority to appoint one member to the Civil Service Board. In response to Commissioner Chunn, City Manager Pato advised that an employee who reports directly to the City Manager or the City Commission is not protected by civil service. Also in response to Commissioner Chunn, City Manager Pato advised that a new document would be prepared clarifying exactly how the grievance process would work and then two public hearings would be held on the proposed ordinance • amending the Civil Service Rules prior to final adoption. MINUTES 2 MARCH 18, 2004 WORKSHOP MEETING • It was the general consensus of the City Commission that those employees who report directly to the City Manager or the City Commission should not be covered by civil service. 6. Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 4:35 p.m. C.K. MCELY MAYOR-COMMISSIONER ATTEST: j auv, itch LOUISE STILSON CITY CLERK Respectfully submitted by Nanci Denny APPROVED: April 13, 2004 • • MINUTES 3 MARCH 18, 2004 WORKSHOP MEETING