The City’s charter states there shall be two (2) civil service boards.  One board for police and fire personnel and the other for general employees.  Both Civil Service Boards' functions are to sign employment eligibility lists and hear appeals on demotions, suspension, and terminations.    For many years the boards’ activity was limited only to signing eligibility lists in the selection of hiring and promoting employees.  Other functions of the boards became dormant.   Prior to May 2019, both Civil Service Boards had not heard an employee appeal in many years because employees used the bargaining agreements’ grievance process.

Still, in 2009, there were attempts by employees to address the Civil Service Boards. However, since Florida Statue 447 only allows one grievance avenue, the requests were denied because the employees initially grieved their concerns by exercising their rights through the bargaining units. Since 2009, there were not any requests to appear before the Board until May 2019.  The grievance process through the Boards includes the grievant appealing a demotion, suspension, or termination before a hearing officer. The hearing officer makes a recommendation to the Boards.  The Boards’ decision is binding, which can support or overturn the City Manager’s decision.

In 2017, there was a discussion on re-activating the Civil Service Boards. Emphasis was placed on filling the General Employees Civil Service Board first; then continuance to solicit application for the Police/Fire Civil Service Board.   The Human Resources Department advertised for volunteer board members for both Boards in 2018 and received a total of six applications.  In August 2018, five of the six applicants were sworn in as General Employee Civil Service Board members.  Even though an attempt was made to amend the ordinance to reflect the Boards' limited activities before the advertisement of the applications, no changes were made prior to the re-sitting of the Board. To date, there have not been additional applications received. In addition, an employee election was held to select employees’ representatives. The first General Employee Civil Service Board meeting was held August 8, 2018.   The General Employees Civil Service Board heard an employee’s appeal in May 2019.

The city’s Civil Service Boards are the only Boards that have authority to render binding decisions in an employee’s appeal and employees must be on an eligibility list for hiring or promotions. Nineteen agencies were surveyed concerning the use of Civil Service Boards. Of the nineteen cities surveyed, only six (6) agencies have Civil Service Boards and the other cities that do not have them rely on their bargaining agreement.  The civil service boards, in cities that do have them, are advisory boards that hear appeals and send advisory opinions to the Manager.

Therefore, staff recommends that the City amends the City’s Ordinance to make the Civil Service Board an advisory board.