REGULAR MEETING OF THE MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MONDAY, OCTOBER 28, 2024, AT 9:00 AM HUMAN RESOURCES DEPARTMENT, LEARNING AND RESEARCH CENTER 5202 E. BEN WHITE BLVD., SUITE 500, AUSTIN, TEXAS 78741 Some members of the Municipal Civil Service Commission may be participating by videoconference. EXECUTIVE SESSION (No Public Discussion on These Items) The Commission will announce it will go into closed session pursuant to Chapter 551 of the Texas Government Code, to receive advice from Legal Counsel, or to discuss matters of litigation and personnel matters as specifically listed on this agenda. If necessary, the Commission will go into closed session, as permitted by law, regarding any item on this agenda. Public comment will be allowed in-person or remotely via telephone. Speakers may only register to speak on an item once either in-person or remotely will be allowed up to three minutes to provide their comments. Registration no later than noon the day before the meeting is required for remote participation by telephone. To register to speak remotely, call or email Matthew Chustz, (512)974-2859, Matthew.Chustz@austintexas.gov. Melissa Rogers, Commissioner John Umphress, Commissioner AGENDA CURRENT COMMISSIONERS: Kevin Mullen, Chair Kavita Gupta, Vice Chair VACANT CALL TO ORDER PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL The first ten (10) speakers signed up prior to the meeting being called to order will each be allowed a three-minute allotment to address their concerns regarding items not posted on the agenda. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes from the Municipal Civil Service Commission regular meeting on September 9, 2024. STAFF BRIEFING 2. Briefing from Human Resources Department Staff regarding a proposed pilot program and temporary waiver of the Municipal Civil Service Rules, including Rule 4.03, to exempt specific Positions from Posting or application requirements, while maintaining provisions of the Competitive Process to allow conditional offers based on Merit and Fitness. DISCUSSION AND ACTION ITEMS 3. Discussion and approval of a recommendation to City Council regarding a proposed pilot program and temporary waiver of the Municipal Civil Service Rules, including Rule 4.03, to exempt specific Positions from Posting or application requirements, while maintaining provisions of the Competitive Process to allow conditional offers based on Merit and Fitness. 4. Discussion regarding best practices for representatives presenting evidence during a Municipal Civil Service Commission appeal hearing. 5. Discussion and possible action to combine two disciplinary suspension appeals filed by Fulani Cunningham into one hearing and extend the time limits for presentation …
MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Monday, September 9, 2024 MEETING MINUTES MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MINUTES REGULAR MEETING MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2024 The Municipal Civil Service Commission convened in a regularly scheduled meeting on Monday, September 9, 2024, at the Human Resources Department, Learning & Research Center (LRC) 5202 E. Ben White Blvd., Suite 500, Austin, TX 78741. Commissioners in Attendance: Kevin Mullen, Chair Kavita Gupta, Vice Chair Melissa Rogers John Umphress Commissioners Absent: Vacant Staff in Attendance: Susan Sinz, Municipal Civil Service Director, HRD Nathan Brown, Assistant Director, HRD Matthew Chustz, Municipal & Civil Service Manager, HRD Abby Varela, Municipal Civil Service Coordinator, HRD Sylvester Martin, Jr., Municipal Civil Service Coordinator, HRD Cyndi Gordon, Civil Service Coordinator, HRD Rogue Huitron, Civil Service Coordinator, HRD Meca Thompson, Civil Service Coordinator, HRD Omar Francia, IT Systems Administrator, HRD CALL TO ORDER Chair Kevin Mullen called the Commission meeting to order at 9:11 AM. PUBLIC COMMUNICATION: GENERAL APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Approve the minutes from the Municipal Civil Service Commission regular meeting on August 26, 2024. The minutes from the meeting of August 26, 2024, were approved on Commissioner Umphress’ motion, Commissioner Rogers’ second on a 4-0 vote. 1 MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Monday, September 9, 2024 MEETING MINUTES PUBLIC HEARINGS 2. Conduct a hearing in open session or closed session, pursuant to 551.074 of the Texas Government Code (personnel exception), on the appeal filed by Jonathan Kringen regarding their Discharge from the Austin Police Department. A hearing was conducted on the appeal filed by Jonathan Kringen regarding their Discharge from the Austin Police Department. The Commission considered a request from Brad Heilman, representative of Jonathan Kringen, to have their appeal heard in closed session pursuant to 551.074 of the Texas Local Government Code (personnel exception). The motion to conduct the hearing in closed session, pursuant to 551.074 of the Texas Local Government Code (personnel exception), was approved on Chair Mullen’s motion, Commissioner Rogers’ second on a 4- 0 vote. Chair Mullen recessed the Municipal Civil Service Commission meeting to go to closed session at 9:30 AM. The hearing was conducted in closed session on the appeal filed by Jonathan Kringen regarding their Discharge from the Austin Police Department. Chair Mullen reconvened the Municipal Civil Service Commission meeting at 5:45 PM. 3. Deliberate in open session or closed session, pursuant to 551.074 of the Texas Government Code (personnel exception), on the appeal filed …
Municipal Civil Service Direct Hiring Pilot October 28, 2024 1 Purpose The Human Resources Department is seeking a 12-month pilot to waive the posting requirement for specific positions for Citywide hiring. Focuses on those position that require no experience or where substitution for minimum experience is allowed Look at positions that can be hard-to-fill and have a higher turnover The City seeks to be competitive in the job market Support new talent with the City 2 Article IX – City Charter At a minimum, the civil service rules must contain provisions governing: (1) initial appointments, promotions, and lateral transfers, all of which shall be based on merit and fitness; (2) disciplinary probation or suspension, involuntary demotion, denial of promotion, and discharge, all of which, in the case of non-probationary employees, must be for cause; (3) the establishment of probationary periods not to exceed six months for all initial appointments, during which time the appointee may be removed from the position without cause; (4) the establishment of probationary periods not to exceed three months for all promotional appointments, during which time the appointee may be removed from the position promoted to, and returned to his/her prior position, without cause; (5) procedures for reductions in force that give consideration to the affected employees' length of service and past work performance; and (6) other provisions, not inconsistent with this subsection, that may be required by the city council. 3 Municipal Civil Service Rules Hiring Process 4.03.A - No competitive position in the Classified Municipal Civil Service may be filled except after posting in a manner and format approved by the Human Resources Department, and an evaluation of candidates through a competitive process is conducted. 4.03.C - No individual shall be selected to a competitive position unless the individual has submitted an application 4.02.A - All positions must be selected or directly appointed on the basis of Merit and Fitness, which includes demonstrated education, training, experience, performance, knowledge, skills, ability, licenses, certification, and fitness to perform the essential functions and meet the qualifications of a position 4.02.B - All candidates are evaluated on Merit and Fitness, and all positions are considered competitive unless designated otherwise by the Municipal Civil Service Commission or as specified in the Municipal Civil Service Rules 4 Pilot The City seeks to allow …
2024 Municipal Civil Service Commission Regular Meeting Schedule January 8, 2024 January 22, 2024 July 8, 2024 July 22, 2024 February 12, 2024 August 12, 2024 February 26, 2024 August 26, 2024 March 11, 2024* September 9, 2024 March 25, 2024 September 23, 2024 October 14, 2024 October 28, 2024 November 18, 2024 December 9, 2024 April 8, 2024 April 22, 2024 May 13, 2024 June 10, 2024 June 24, 2024 MCS Commission Schedule approved on August 28, 2023. * Meeting cancelled at November 13, 2023 MCS Commission Meeting.
January 27, 2025 February 10, 2025 February 24, 2025 March 10, 2025 March 24, 2025 April 14, 2025 April 28, 2025 May 12, 2025 June 9, 2025 June 23, 2025 2025 Municipal Civil Service Commission Regular Meeting Schedule January 13, 2025 July 14, 2025 July 28, 2025 August 11, 2025 August 25, 2025 September 8, 2025 September 22, 2025 October 13, 2025 October 27, 2025 November 17, 2025 December 8, 2025 MCS Commission Meeting Schedule approved on September 9, 2024.
