HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Civil Service Board - 03/18/1999 MINUTES
487TH CIVIL SERVICE BOARD MEETING
1201 LEOPARD ST., CITY HALL
HUMAN RESOURCES CONFERENCE ROOM
March 18, 1999 8:30 a.m.
BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT CITY STAFF PRESENT
Diana Martinez, Vice-Chairperson Alex Lopez, Asst. City Attorney
Rev. William Pullam, Member Dr. N.M. Sisley, Director
Health Department
Cynthia C. Garcia,Director
Human Resources Department
The 487th Civil Service Board meeting was called to order at 8:32 a.m.
Item# 1: Review and approve the minutes of the 486th Civil Service Board meeting
held on August 17, 1998. Member Pullam made a motion that the minutes
be approved. Vice-Chair Martinez seconded the motion and it passed.
Item#2: Review and consider the appeal of 5-day suspension filed by Joe Vela, Jr.,
Animal Control Officer II, Health Department.
City Attorney Alex Lopez noted his concern to the Board regarding the employee
representative present also being a witness. Mr. Vela appointed Roland Garza and
Norma Cisneros to act as his representatives.
The City invoked the rule.
Vice-Chair Martinez swore in the witnesses present.
The City made opening statements outlining a brief history of the case.
City Witness: Dr. N.M. Sisley, Director of Corpus Christi/Nueces County Public Health
District. — Dr. Sisley testified that Mr. Vela did not ship the animal head in a timely
manner and that Mr. Vela was insubordinate to his supervisor.
City.Exhibit # 1: Contemplated Disciplinary Action letter issued to Joe Vela, Animal
Control Officer II on October 30, 1998 by Dr. N.M. Sisley.
City Exhibit # 2: Civil Service Board letter dated November 16, 1998, from Dr. N.M.
Sisley, advising that Joe Vela was suspended for five days.
Dr Sisley gave further testimony regarding the disciplinary incident. She outlined her
visit with Mr. Vela discussing the Contemplated Letter. Further discussion regarding a
correction to the Contemplated Letter.
SCANNED
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March 18,1999
Page 2
City Exhibit # 3: Letter from Cynthia C. Garcia, Director of Human Resources,
responding to Joe Vela, clarifying that his Civil Service Board letter was a 5 day
suspension without pay, and that the statement of termination was a typographical error.
Further discussion regarding the disciplinary incident.
Employee representative Garza questioned Dr. Sisley about the Civil Service Board
letter. 'Much discussion ensued regarding Dr. Sisley's involvement with Mr. Vela's
alleged insubordination, non-shipment of the animal head and the subsequent suspension.
The City responded to Mr. Garza's questioning of Dr. Sisley.
City Witness Kenneth Lease, Assistant Director of Animal Control — Discussion
regarding general responsibilities of division and his responsibilities. Testimony about
incident and reason for using the West area Animal Control Officer II to ship heads.
Vice-Chair Martinez clarified the day the heads were shipped.
Employee representative Garza questioned Mr. Lease about processes, policies and
normal procedure. Discussion and clarification on dates, insubordination and
documentation.
City Attorney Lopez asked rebuttal questions regarding the June 19, 1998 and October 2,
1998 incidents in question.
Employee representative Garza asked rebuttal questions. There was some clarification on
incidents that occurred on the day in question. Discussion regarding the time it takes to
ship animal heads. Further questioning about the interchange on the radio and discussion
on body language, tone and facial mannerisms.
•
Break at 10:25 a.m. and reconvened at 10:30 a.m.
City Witness Kenneth Lease called back. Employee representative. Garza asked a
clarifying question on the June 19, 1998 incident.
City Witness Jeff Beynon, Animal Control Supervisor.
Discussion on available witnesses for the Civil Service Board hearing. Mr. Vela released
Ismael Guerrero and Sylvia Ybarra as witnesses. Mr. Vela stated that he would not call
Angel Hernandez because his father was very ill and Tanya Martinez is out of town.
Mr. Beynon gave.testimony regarding shipping of heads at Animal Control. Discussion
regarding incidents in question and general rules on animal head shipment.
Employee representative Garzaasked rebuttal questions regarding disciplinary actions in
general, the division's policy and common practice at the division.
annutes of the 487` Civil Service Board
March 18,1999
Page 3
City Attorney Lopez responded with questions regarding the rotating of Animal Control
Officers and the West Side Officer assignments.
Employee representative Garza asked Mr. Beynon questions about discredit to the public
service. Mr. Vela asked Mr. Beynon if he recalled Mr. Vela asking who was responsible,
for shipping heads. Mr. Beynon responded that he has said the night officer, and
sometimes he has said the West Side Officer.
City Attorney Lopez questioned the rebuttal comments.
Mr. Vela released Robert Rust and Robert Morado as witnesses. He said he will call
James Butcher, Juan Ramirez and Albert Ortiz.
Employee Witness Juan Ramirez, Animal Control Officer II –Employee questioned Mr.
Ramirez' recollection of the incidents surrounding his 5 day suspension and how animal
head shipments are handled today.
City Witness James Butcher, Animal Control Officer II – Mr. Vela questioned the head
shipment policy. Mr. Butcher testified that the head shipment policy changes from day to
day: : Questions regarding the incidents in question and the tone of the interchange
between Mr. Vela and Mr.Lease. Mr. Butcher stated he kept records of daily activity.
Break at 11:40 a.m. and reconvened at 11:45 a.m.
Joe Vela gave testimony / closing remarks regarding this discipline and his feelings that
the discipline was unfair and the policy was unclear.
The City rests. The Employee rests.
The Board went into closed session at 11:55 a.m. and reconvened at 12:10 p.m. -
Member Pullam moved to modify the suspension from a 5-Day suspension to a 3-Day
suspension. Vice-Chairperson Martinez seconded the motion and it passed.
With no further business,the Board adjourned at 12:12 p.m.
fNbs 1-8-99
C Chia C. Garcia, Secretary Andrew Lehrman, Chairperson
Civil Service Board Civil Service Board
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i lana • artinez, i99--Cha' .- • Rev. William Pullam, Member
Civil Service Board Civil Service Board
CS/1999 CSB/MINUTES 487