HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Civil Service Board - 07/17/2012MINUTES
555 "' CIVIL SERVICE BOARD HEARING
1201 LEOPARD ST., CITY HALL
HUMAN RESOURCES CONFERENCE ROOM
July 17, 2012
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT; CITV ST AFF PRESENT;
Susanne Bonilla, Chairperson Yastninc Chapman, Director of H.R.
Ilector Saenz, Member [,ilia Castro, Asst. City Attorney
Catherine Lutz, Member Ronald Sepulveda, Police Auxiliary Serv. Mgr.
Jennifer Freeman, H.R. Analyst
Chairperson Bonilla called the 555' Civil Service Board hearing to order at 9:07 a.m.
ITEM HI Review and approve the minutes of the 554 " Civil Service Board Hearing held
April 19, 2012.
ITEM #2 Review and consider the appeal Filed by Maria Pierce, Metro -Coin Technician
with the Police Department, for her termination.
Chairperson Bonilla read agenda itern 111. Board Member Saenz made a motion to approve the minr►tes
and the (notion was seconded. All members agreed and the minutes were approved.
Chairperson Bonilla read agenda item 1/2.
All witnesses present took the oath administered by Chairperson Bonilla and were asked to wait until called to
testify and were reminded not to discuss this case amongst each other while they waited to be called .
Asst. City Attorney L,ifia Castro advised the Board that a third of the Metro -Com employees were subpoenaed
to testily, but not all witnesses were available to testify based on the schedules of the employees required to be
on shift during; the scheduled date and time of the bearing. Employees unable to attend the hearing in person
would be available by phone in the department when called as a witness.
Asst. City Attorney Lilia Castro introduced herself and presented the City's opening; statement. Ms. Maria
Pierce was terminated for violating; City policy, Ms. Maria Pierce; established a pattern of inadequate
performance, liability, and tardiness which led to her termination. To support this pattern, the following;
documents would be entered as exhibits by the City, (5) Performance Appraisals, (10) l;tnployee Incident
Reports, (3) Letters of Counseling;, and (4) .Letters of Reprimand.
Ms. Maria Pierce representing herself made her opening statement. Ms. fierce stated she was aware of her
short comings as a dispatcher, however she felt that she was unfairly monitored as compared to other employees
and that she was judged by supervisors that were once coworkers in which she die{ not work well with. Ms.
Pierce acknowledged her problem with attendance, but stated they were clue; to several health issues she was
having and had provided doctor's notes and documentation for these absences that have occurred in the last
three years.
Asst. City Attorney Lilia Castro called Ronald Sepulveda, Policy Auxiliary Service Manager as a the City's first
witness
The City presented twenty - eight exhibits and entered them into evidence:
## I : Job Description for a MetroCom 'Technician
112: City of Corpus Christi, City Policy I IR 3.0
113: MetroCom Interim Standard Operating; Procedures Division Manual
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t #4: Performance Appraisal, Rating Period November 1, 2005 to October 31, 2006
16: Verbal Counseling Record dated August 16, 2006
116: Employee Incident Report dated October 13, 2006
#7: Written Counseling Record dated October 18, 2006
88: Perfor ►Hance Appraisal, Rating Period November 1, 2006 to October 31, 2007
#9: Employee Incident Report dated January 20, 2007
#10: Elnlploycc Incident Report. dated March 31, 2007
1 #11: Skill Based Pay Performance Appraisal, Rating Period November 1, 2007 to October 31, 2008
1112: Employee Incident Report dated January 8, 2008
f #13: Employee hteident Report dated February 8, 2008
1114: Employee Incident Report dated April 25, 2008
#15: Employee Incident Report dated August 4, 2008
916: Employee Incident Report dated September 6, 2008
#17: Letter of Counseling dated September 28, 2008
1118: Employee Incident Report dated September 29, 2008
1119: Letter of Reprimand dated September 29, 2008
#20: Performance Appraisal, Rating Period November 1, 2008 to October 31, 2009
#21: Letter of Reprimand dated March 6, 2009
#22: Performance Appraisal, Rating Period November 1, 2009 to October 31, 2010
1123: Letter of Reprimand dated May 4, 2011
#24: Employee Incident Report dated July 10, 2011
#25: Letter of Reprimand dated September 9, 2011
#126: Contemplated Disciplinary Action Letter dated January 24, 2012
1 #27: Contemplated Disciplinary Action Letter dated December 28, 2011
1 128: Termination Letter dated February 3, 2012
Asst. City Attorney [..,ilia Castro concluded her questioning of Witness Sepulveda and passed the witness.
Chairperson Bonilla initiated a break.
Upon return from the break, Ms. Pierce cross-examined Mr. Sepulveda.
Ms. fierce presented two exhibits and entered them into evidence:
#1: E ►nail date([ January 25, 2012
112: Email dated November 15, 2011
Ms. Pierce stated she had no further questions for Mr. Sepulveda.
Chairperson Bonilla initiated a break until 1:00 p.m.
Chairperson Bonilla called the bearing back into session at 1:07 p.m.
Asst. City Attorney Lilia Castro called Tangy Haliburton, MetroCom Supervisor as the City's next witness.
Ms. Haliburton could not he located.
Asst. City Attorney Lilia Castro called Deborah Merlo, MetroCom Supervisor as the City's next witness via
telephone conference cull.
Deborah Merlo took the oath administered by Chairperson Bonilla,
Asst. City Attorney Lilia Castro concluded her questioning of Witness Merlo and passed the witness.
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Chairperson Bonilla asked Ms. Pierce if she had any questions for Witness Merlo. Ms. Pierce stated she slid
not.
Asst. City Attorney Lilia Castro called the City's next witness, Ms. Tangy Haliburton.
Asst. City Attorney Liha Castro concluded her questioning of Witness Haliburton and passed the witness.
Ms. Pierce cross- cxa►nined Ms. Haliburton. Upon conclusion of the cross examination, Ms. Haliburton was
excused.
Asst. City Attorney I_ilia Castro called Cheryl Daubs as the City's next witness.
Chairperson Bonilla announced a five minute break at 1:40 p.m. before resuming testimony ol" Witness Daubs.
Chairperson Bonilla announced at 1:45 p.m. they were back on the record.
Ms. Pierce stated she would Like to withdraw lacr appeal.
Chairperson Bonilla asked Ms. fierce if wanted to withdraw. Ms. Pierce stated "Yes ".
Chairperson Bonilla asked Ms. Pierce if she wanted to take a few more moments to think about that before
making this decision. Ms. Pierce responded "Yes ".
Chairperson Bonilla stated they were going; off the record at 1:47 p.m. and would resume at 2:00 p.m.
Chairperson Bonilla stated they were back on the record at 1:55 p.m.
Chairperson Bonilla asked Ms. Pierce if she had considered what she wanted to do. Ms. Pierce responded by
stating; "Yes, withdraw. I was trying to do something I cannot do ".
Chairperson Bonilla announced the appeal was withdrawn at 1:56 p.m.
Chairpersons Bonilla adjourned the hearing at 1:56 p.tm
L q5t
Susanne Bonilla, Chairpersons
Civil Service I:3oard
1
Catherine Lutz, Member
Civil Service Board
Hector Saenz, Member
Civil Service Board
Vasmine Chapman, S
Civil Service Board
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