HomeMy WebLinkAboutCIV 1982-09-22 Minutes MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING
OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
~ SEPTEMBER 22, 1982 AT 6:30 P.M. IN
THE NORTH RICHLAND HILLS CITY HALL
7301 NORTHEAST LOOP 820.
l. CALL TO ORDER The Chairman called the meeting to order at
7:02 P.M.
2. ROLL CALL Members Present:
Ed Szol Chairman
Bob Roark
David Phelps
Absent:
George Pederson
Bob Skelton
Others Present:
Ron McKinney Civil Service Secretary
Dennis Horvath Assistant City Manager
3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Phelps moved, seconded by Commissioner Roark,
OF AUGUST 31, 1982 to approve the minutes of August 31, 1982 as written.
The motion carried unanimously.
. CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE Mr. Horvath stated that he did what the Commission asked
P& Z COORDINATOR, him to do at the last meeting. He said he explained to
UTILITY BILLING Mr. Line that the Commission wanted the City Manager to
SUPERVISOR AND CASHIER have the department heads submit any other job
SUPERVISOR CLASSIFIED classifications they felt were out of line and bring
POSITIONS them all before the Commission at one time. He stated
that he and the City Ma.nager narrowed it down to these
three.
Mr. McKinney said he also went to each department head
following that and these were the only three requests.
Mr. Horvath stated that with these three changes,
administration feels it will be cleared up to every-
body's satisfaction.
Chairman Szol asked Mr. McKinney if he had done any
preliminaries as to how these jobs compared with other
cities.
Mr. McKinney stated that he had checked on the P& Z
Coordinator and reported on it at the last month's
meeting. He explained how the position compared to
the area cities.
~
, Ciuil Service Minutes
September 22, 1982
Page 2
~ Mr. Horvath said that in regards to the other two positions,
there is very little to compare with in the other cities.
He stated that the position of Central Cashier is a new
position. He stated that Grapevine has a similar position
but he wasn't for sure about Euless. He explained the
concept of the Central Cashier office.
Commissioner Phelps asked how many people there are in the
department.
Mr. Horvath stated that there are four.
Chairman Szol asked what pay grade they were recommending
for this.
Mr. Horvath said he and Mr. McKinney discussed it and
decided to recommend Pay Grade 4 for both of these.
Mr. McKinney stated that the Billing Clerks and Clerk II's
are in Pay Grade 3 and it is logical that they should be
at least one step above them.
Mr. Horvath explained that the position of Billing Clerk
Supervisor is a position the City has had all along. He
explained that the lady who had the job of a Billing
Clerk 5upervisor was called "Cashier" and has now been
~ taken out from under Civil Service and is now the
Finance Assistant. He said the Billing Clerk Supervisor
position has been ta.ken over by one lady who supervises
six to eight clerks.
Mr. McKinney said the recommendation being made to the
Commission is that it be placed in Pay Grade 4 which is
one pay grade above Billing Clerks and Clerk II's.
Commissioner Roark asked what fiscal dates they are
operating under.
Mr. McKinney stated the fiscal year starts October 2.
Commissioner Roark said he was wondering that if rather
than have these reoccurrences if it couldn't be brought
under head as to a time span.
Mr. McKinney stated that for any requests for a
classification change or a movement of any kind to be
brought before the Commission during the year, it would
have to be because the job had taken on additional duties
and responsibilities.
Civil Service Minutes
. September 22, 1982
Page 3
Mr. Horvath stated that the Commission shouldn't see
~ anything until next year when the budget process starts
again. He stated that if there are any changes or
reorganizations the Commission would not see it before
July or August next year.
Chairman Szol asked if they felt comfortable that
these supervisory positions would be in Pay Grade 4
versus a Maintenance Worker III who is in Pay Grade 5.
Mr. Horvath said he didn't know. He said it appears
that all of the supervisors are a minimum of Pay
Grade 5 and we are now restricting these supervisors to
Pay Grade 4.
Chairma.n Szol stated he recalled that a true supervisor
was put two labor grades above those supervised.
Mr. McKinney stated that their recommendation that the
positions be put in Pay Grade 4 was more or less the
least that they thought it should be.
Chairman Szol stated that the P& Z Coordinator is not
really a supervisory position. He said he felt more
comfortable with the Cashier Supervisor and Utility
Billing Supervisor being in Pay Grade 5.
Chairman Szol moved, seconded by Commissioner Phelps,
to place the new classifications of Cashier Supervisor
and Utility Billing Supervisor in Pay Grade 5. The
motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Szol said he felt Pay Grade 4 is appropriate
for the position of P& Z Coordinator.
Commissioner Phelps said he agreed.
Chairman Szol moved, seconded by Commissioner Phelps,
that the new position of P& Z Coordinator be classified
in Pay Grade 4. The motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Szol moved Agenda Item 6 ahead of Agenda Item 5.
6. CONSIDERATION TO Mr. Horvath explained to the Commission that two years
RECOMMEND AN EMPLOYEE ago the City surveyed all the employees regarding opting
SURVEY TO CONSIDER out of Social 5ecurity. He explained the City of Arlington
OPTING OUT OF SOCIAL had an outside consulting firm come into their city to do
SECURITY a study and North Richland Hills used the same survey
they used. He stated it was about 70-30 to withdraw
from Social Security. He said the City made a specific
point not to promise the employees anything if they
withdrew from Social Security. He said the City gave
Civil Service Meeting
September 22, 1982
Page 4
Social Security their letter of intent and there is a
two-year waiting period. He said that since that time
he has heard through the grapevine that the employees
are asking what the City is going to do to replace
loss benefits. He said the City went out for proposals
and none appealled to the City Council. He said the
City Council has asked if there was an implied
program offered to the employees. He said he discussed
it with the Mayor and told him he would like to ask
the employees if they still wanted to get out of Social
Security.
Commissioner Phelps asked what constituted an acceptable
majority or minority.
Mr. Horvath said he didn't know.
Commissioner Phelps asked what the objective is of the
survey.
Mr. Horvath said the objective is to reconfirm that
the majority of the employees still want out of Social
Security.
Chairman Szol said the problem is the employee says I
am going to be able to put a 6.7~ increase in my pocket
and the city is going to provide additional benefits.
Commissioner Phelps asked if there were any plans at
all.
Mr. Horvath said no.
Mr. McKinney said the City Council does not want to
imply to the employees that they will get anything in
return.
Mr. Horvath stated the Mayor has heard that the employees
want a bigger paycheck and by withdrawing from Social
Security they will get a bigger check. He said it will
be up to the individual if he wants to do something else
with it.
Chairman Szol stated that maybe a decision should be
based on the fact that there will be a savings of 6.7~
for the employee and 6.7~ for the City.
Mr. McKinney asked if the Commission would like for
the letter to read so that the employee will fully
understand that if the City withdraws from Social
Security there would not be some other plan.
Civil Service Minu~es
. Sep~ember 22, 1982
Page 5
Chairman Szol stated it could be worded "it is possible
that if you opt out the City will not replace 5ocial
Security with any other plan. This will resul~ in a
savings of 6.7~ for you and 6.7~ for the City."
Commissioner Phelps moved, seconded by Commissioner Roark,
to recommend that the City go ahead with the survey. The
motion carried unanimously.
5. INTERPRETATION OF Mr. McKinney stated he had one other bit of information
WORKMEN'S COMPENSATION on workmen's compensation leave of absence in regards
INJURY LEAVE OF ABSENCE to how the time is used up. He said that both Texas
Employers Insurance and the City Attorney said that
once the City allows an employee to return to work,
even though the employee has the same injury reoccur
again, they treat it as a separate injury and time
starts over again. He stated that Texas Employers
requires a whole new report of the incident as opposed
to a supplemental report.
Commissioner Phelps stated it might be wise to have the
employee see the City Doctor in addition to his
personal doctor.
Chairman Szol stated he had no problem with the approval
of the City Manager up to six months or with the Council
after one year. He stated his problem is with the time
~ after the six months.
Mr. McKinney stated that the City Attorney said that "may"
should have been "shall". He stated that the paragraph
says you have these two options; he may extent it or
recommend it to the City Council. He stated the City
Attorney felt it was a typographical error.
The Commission discussed the intent of the rule.
Chairman Szol anaved, seconded by Commissioner Phelps,
that the interpretation of Rule 10.05 be as follows:
First 30 days: Department Head approval
After 30 days: Department Head to confer with the Ctiy
Manager and the City Manager can approve
up to six months.
After 6 months: (1) City Manager can qrant upon recommend-
ation of hea].th officer (doctor); or
(2} City Manager may put the burden on
the City Council to grant additional leave
of absence up to a year, by having written
recommendation of doctor.
Civil Service Minutes
Se~tember 22, 1982
Page 6
~ (3) The City Manager's actions under 1
cannot go beyond one year.
After One Year: Requires Council action.
The motion carried unanimously.
6. APPEAL HEARING NO. Chairman Szol stated that Mr. Duncan submitted a letter
C5 82-2, MICHAEL L. to the Personnel Director dated September 21, 1982
DUNCAN expressing his desires to withdraw the grievance appeal.
The Commission accepted his withdraw of appeal.
ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
c'"' ~
Ed Szol, Chairman, '
Ran McKinney, 'vil Se ' e Secretary