Item 2a - Letter to Council RE Recommendation — original pdf

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MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION August 10, 2020 Letter Regarding MCS Review Dear Mayor and Council: Sincerely, As you know, the Municipal Civil Service Commission sent a recommendation for council action dated November 8, 2019. We are not aware of any action that has been taken. Enclosed please find a copy of that letter and its attachments. Chair Pamela Lancaster Vice Chair Melissa Rogers Commissioner Rebecca Eisenbrey Commissioner Erika Kane Commissioner Teresa Peréz-Wiseley Teresa Peréz-Wiseley Pamela LancasterMUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION 20191108-4B Date: November 8, 2019 Subject: Review and report of Municipal Civil Service Commission denial of promotion and discharge appeals. Motioned By: Pamela Lancaster, Chair Seconded By: Rebecca Eisenbrey, Commissioner Recommendation The Municipal Civil Service Commission recommends Council direct the appropriate City official to review granted denial of promotion and discharge appeals, gather data, and report the findings of the review back to the Commission. Description of Recommendation to Council The Commission requests that the City Council direct the appropriate City official to: 1) Identify each appeal that the Commission granted from an employee who sought to overturn a discharge or denial of promotion; 2) For each such granted appeal, identify the effect of the appeal, including but not limited to the employee's position, rate of pay and any other relevant information regarding the employee before and after the appeal was granted; 3) For each such employee who had an appeal granted, identify whether the employee is still employed with the City and if so, the employee's position; 4) For each such employee who had an appeal granted, identify whether the employee has applied for any promotions or transfers and, if so, the result of such application; 5) For each such employee who had an appeal granted, identify whether the employee has been disciplined or placed on a performance improvement plan, and, if so, the nature and outcome of such disciplinary action or performance improvement plan; and 6) Report the finding of such review back to the Commission Rationale: The MCS Commission is a five-member commission established by the City Charter that, among other things, hears appeals and makes final, binding decisions in the case of any municipal civil service employee who is discharged, suspended, demoted, denied a promotion, or put on disciplinary probation. The first appeal hearing heard by this Commission was in September 2014 and it has been approximately five years since that date. 1of2 The Commission has received information that some employees who have had appeals granted may have suffered negative consequences. The Commission believes that a review of its rulings is appropriate. Pamela Lancaster, Chair; Melissa Rogers, Vice-Chair; Commissioner Rebecca Eisenbrey; Commissioner Teresa Perez-Wiseley Absent: Commissioner Lottie Dailey Vote For: Against: Abstain: Attest: 2 of2 MUNICIPAL CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION November 8, 2019 Letter Regarding MCS Review Dear Mayor and Council: As you know, the Municipal Civil Service Commission is a five-member commission established by the City Charter that, among other things, hears appeals and make final, binding decisions in the case of any municipal civil service employee who is discharged, suspended, demoted, denied a promotion, or put on disciplinary probation. The first appeal hearing heard by this Commission was in September 2014 and it has been approximately five years since that date. The Commission has received information that some employees who have had appeals granted may have suffered negative consequences. The Commission believes that a review of the results of its rulings is appropriate. The Commission requests that the City Council direct the appropriate City official to: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. Identify each appeal that the Commission granted from an employee who sought to overturn a discharge or denial of promotion; For each such granted appeal, identify the effect of the appeal, including but not limited to the employee's position, rate of pay and any other relevant information regarding the employee before and after the appeal was granted; For each such employee who had an appeal granted, identify whether the employee is still employed with the City and if so, the employee's position; For each such employee who had an appeal granted, identify whether the employee has applied for any promotions or transfers and, if so, the result of such application; For each such employee who had an appeal granted, identify whether the employee has been disciplined or placed on a performance improvement plan, and, if so, the nature and outcome of such disciplinary action or performance improvement plan; and 6. Report the findings of such review back to the Commission. Commissioner Lottie Dailey Teresa Perez-Wiseley Chair Municipal Civil Service Commission Melissa Rogers Vice-Chair Municipal Civil Service Commission July, 8 2021 Councilmember Alter: Re: Municipal Civil Service Commission Recommendation 20191108-4B – Audit Per your request, we are writing to you to provide further detail regarding Municipal Civil Service Commission Recommendation 20191108-4B (“The Recommendation”). In The Recommendation, the Commission asked that Council direct that there be an audit of “granted denial of promotion and discharge appeals.” The Commission requested such an audit because it has received information that some employees who had appeals granted may have suffered retaliation. The scope of the audit is narrow. Based on data compiled by MCS staff, there have been 58 cases heard by the Commission. (Data attached) Of those 58 cases, the Commission has granted the appeal in 13 cases involving 12 employees and nine departments. Of those cases, only nine involved denials of promotion or discharge. Three cases involved probation and are not included in the Commission’s request for an audit. The audit would involve reviewing those nine cases and investigating what occurred to the employee following their appeal. Retaliation against an employee who pursues an appeal before the Commission undermines the authority of the Commission and thwarts the intentions of the MCS Rules. However, the Commission has no power or ability to conduct such an audit. We would welcome the opportunity to speak with you directly regarding our concerns and to answer any questions that you might have. We are available to meet virtually. Sincerely, Teresa Perez-Wiseley Chair Melissa Rogers Vice-Chair Kevin S. Mullen Commissioner McKenzie Frazier Commissioner