FY2018 Arlington Fire Department Annual Report FY 2018 | Page 5

T
he City of Arlington Civil Service Commission consists of three members appointed by the Arlington City
Manager. The Commissioners serve staggered three-year terms with the term of one member expiring each
year. The Commission may, by majority, vote and make rules for the administration of the Texas Local Government
Code Chapter 143.
The Civil Service Director shall administer these [City of Arlington} Local Rules and perform
work incidental to the Civil Service System as required by the Commission. All communications
or requests to the Commission shall be made in writing to the Director, who shall determine if
the Commission has jurisdiction over the matter. The Director shall also act as Secretary to the
Commission. The Commission may designate one or more person(s) as deputy secretaries of
the Commission.
The City’s newly formed Civil Service Office managed the first year of Civil Service hiring and promotional
examinations, including written test appeal processes, in order to ensure compliance with Texas Local Government
Code Chapter 143 and Civil Service Local Rules. A major, first-year accomplishment for the Civil Service Office was the
auditing and modification of existing City personnel policies to comply with Chapter 143. The team also conducted an
audit of all Civil Service personnel files and created “A-Files” and “G-Files” for approximately 345 employees per
Chapter 143.
The Civil Service Commission conducted 13 meetings resulting in 39 decisions including the adoption and
publication of AFD Civil Service Commission Local Rules, ruling on promotional examination appeals, adopted
additional local rule amendments, and heard a mental health fitness determination for a Civil Service employee.
A Civil Service administrative team was also established. This team is comprised of members from the Civil Service
Office, City Attorney’s Office, City Manager’s Office, Human Resources, and Fire Department management. The team
meets weekly to address ongoing transitional issues and ensure administrative and operational stability and
compliance with Chapter 143. Some of the issues addressed by the team in year one included hiring and promotions,
light-duty issues, leave rules, FMLA under Civil Service, discipline process elements, policy reviews and adjustments,
benefits and compensation, and other issues having Civil Service implications.
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