Approved Minutes — original pdf

Approved Minutes

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MONDAY MAY 5, 2025 MINUTES FOR THE CITY OF AUSTIN FIREFIGHTERS’, POLICE OFFICERS’ AND EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL’S CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, MAY 5, 2025 The Firefighters’, Police Officers’, and Emergency Medical Services Personnel’s Civil Service Commission convened in a Regular Meeting on Monday, May 5, 2025, at 5202 East Ben White Boulevard, Building 500, Austin TX 78741. Commissioners in Attendance: Commission Chair Jolsna Thomas Commission Vice Chair Farah Ahmed Commissioner Mitchell Kreindler Staff in Attendance: Jaclyn Gerban, Assistant City Attorney Nathan Brown, Assistant Director Matthew Chustz, M&CS Manager Cyndi Gordon, Civil Service Coordinator Rogue Huitron, Civil Service Coordinator Meca Thompson, Civil Service Coordinator Abby Varela, MCS Coordinator Sylvester Martin, MCS Coordinator CALL TO ORDER Chair Thomas called the meeting to order at 11:00 a.m. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL None APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes of the Firefighters’, Police Officers’, and Emergency Medical Services Personnel’s Civil Service Commission Meeting of February 3, 2025. The minutes from the meeting of February 3, 2025, were approved on Vice Chair Ahmed’s motion, Commissioner Kreindler’s second on a 3-0 vote. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MONDAY MAY 5, 2025 DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 2. Hear and rule on appeal(s) from the Austin Police Department’s Corporal Detective written promotional examination administered on April 14, 2025, pursuant to the Texas Local Government Code, Section 143.034, and the City of Austin Fire Fighters’, Police Officers’ and Emergency Medical Services Personnel’s Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations, Rule 7. The motion to approve the appeal of exam question 49 and to accept answers A & D as correct, was approved on Commissioners Kreindler’s motion, Vice Chair Ahmed’s second on a 3-0 vote. 3. Hear and rule on appeal(s) from the Emergency Medical Services Clinical Specialist – Field written promotional examination administered on March 28, 2025, pursuant to the Texas Local Government Code, Section 143.034, and the City of Austin Fire Fighters’, Police Officers’ and Emergency Medical Services Personnel’s Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations, Rule 7. The motion to approve the appeal of exam questions 40 and 54 and mark all responses as correct, was approved on Chair Thomas motion, Vice Chair Ahmed’s second on a 3-0 vote. 4. Discussion and action regarding the request of one or more Austin Police Department candidates, to the Commission to appoint a three-member board per Texas Local Government Code section 143.022(C) for another mental or physical examination, as applicable. The motion to approve the appointment of a three-member board was approved on Commissioner Kreindler’s motion, Vice Chair Ahmed’s second on a 3-0 vote. 7. Discussion regarding whether the Commission questions the fitness for duty determination made of a City of Austin Emergency Medical Services Captain-Communications, Jaelithe Barr, by the Captain’s personal physical under the Texas Local Government Code, Section 143.081 and Rule 15.04 of the City of Austin Fire Fighter’s, Police Officers’, and Emergency Medical Personnel Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations. Discussion was held regarding the report from Captain Barr’s personal physician. The Commission did not question the report. 8. Discussion and possible action to appoint a physician to examine a City of Austin Emergency Medical Services Captain, Jaelithe Barr, and to submit a report to the Commission, the Emergency Medical Services Chief, and the medic pursuant to Texas Local Government Code Section 143.081 and Rule 15.04 of the City of Austin Fire Fighters’, Police Officers’, and Emergency Medical Personnel Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations. Discussion was held. No action was taken. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES MONDAY MAY 5, 2025 EXECUTIVE SESSION 9. Discussion and deliberation regarding whether there is reason to question the fitness for duty determination made of a City of Austin Emergency Medical Service’s medic, Jaelithe Barr, by the Captain’s personal physician pursuant to the Texas Local Government Code, Section 143.081 and Rule 15.04 of the City of Austin Fire Fighters’, Police Officers’, and Emergency Medical Personnel Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations. (Personnel Matters under Texas Government Code, Section 551.074) The Commission did not go into executive session regarding this item. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 5. Discussion and action to approve future meeting dates and times. Discussion was held regarding future meeting dates and times. STAFF BRIEFINGS 6. Report from the Civil Service Office regarding promotional exam processes, disciplinary hearings, and fitness-for-duty actions. Cyndi Gordon, Civil Service Coordinator, delivered the briefing to the Commission with Municipal and Civil Service Manager Matthew Chustz, and Civil Service Coordinators Rogue Huitron and Meca Thompson. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS Chair Thomas and Vice Chair Ahmed’s requested an item on the next agenda for discussion and action to approve future meeting dates and times. ADJOURNMENT Chair Thomas adjourned the meeting at 11:34 AM without objection. The minutes were approved at the June 9, 2025, special called meeting on Commissioner Kreindler’s motion, Chair Thomas’ second on a 2-0 vote with Vice Chair Ahmed off the dais.