Minutes: Civil Service Board 06-01-21

City of Miami

3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL  33133
www.miamigov.com

Meeting Minutes

Tuesday, June 01, 2021
10:00 AM
Commission Chambers

Civil Service Board

Troy Sutton, Chairperson
Rodrigo Jimenez, Chief Examiner
Ulysses Garcia, Board Member
Rafael Cabrera, Board Member
Travis Lindsey, Board Member

Pledge of Allegiance

The meeting was called to order at 10:09 am, with the Pledge of Allegiance. At commencement of the meeting, attendance was as follows: 

Attendee Name

Title

Status

Troy Sutton

Chairperson (At-Large)

Present

Ulysses Garcia

Chief Examiner (Elected)

Present

Rafael Cabrera

Board Member (At-Large)

Absent

Rodrigo Jimenez

Board Member (At-Large)

Present

Travis Lindsey

Board Member (Elected)

Present

Prior to today’s meeting, Member Cabrera advised the Board that he will not be attending due to a prior engagement.

Adoption of Agenda

Motion by Board Member Jimenez, seconded by Board Member Lindsey, that this matter be Approved, passed by the following vote:

AYES:                  Sutton, Garcia, Jimenez, Lindsey

 

ELECTION OF CHIEF EXAMINER

Chair Sutton reminded the Board that election for the position of Chief Examiner had been conducted at the meeting of May 18, 2021; however, have since received resignation notification from Chief Examiner Garcia. He went on to ask that the Board now elect a Chief Examiner, then opened the floor for nominations. A motion to elect Member Jimenez as Chief Examiner was considered and resulted as follows:

Motion by Board Member Lindsey, seconded by Board Member Garcia, that this matter be Approved, passed by the following vote:

AYES:                  Sutton, Garcia, Jimenez, Lindsey

Chair Sutton congratulated Member Jimenez on his new position.

A.        Approving of the Minutes

A.1

Civil Service Board - Regular Meeting - May 18, 2021 10:00 AM

 

Motion by Board Member Jimenez, seconded by Board Member Garcia, that this matter be Approved, passed by the following vote:

AYES:                  Sutton, Garcia, Jimenez, Lindsey

B.        Personnel Matters

B.1

Copy of a memorandum from Chief Art Acevedo, Director, Department of Police, requesting an extension of probationary period of Adrian Gonzalez, Emergency Dispatcher, for three (3) additional months beyond June 23, 2021. (DISCUSSION)

 

Following appearances by the employee, and responses to questioning by Member Garcia, the Board entered a motion to GRANT the extension as requested, which resulted as follows:

Motion by Board Member Jimenez, seconded by Board Member Garcia, that this matter be Approved, passed by the following vote:

AYES:                  Sutton, Garcia, Jimenez, Lindsey

C.        Military Leaves of Absence

C.1

Katherine Triana Vasquez, Police Officer, requests extension of Active Duty Military Leave without pay through May 28, 2021. Records reflect her previous approved extension request for Military Leave was through May 10, 2021. Copy of Orders extending leave were submitted. (DISCUSSION)

 

The Executive Secretary notified the Board, that this item has been withdrawn from today's agenda.

C.2

Nakea Johnson, Police Officer, requests re-employment as a Police Officer following her return from Military Leave. Copy of her DD214 from the Navy indicating Honorable Discharge submitted. (DISCUSSION)

 

The Board entered a motion to approve the return as a Police Officer as requested and thanked the employee for his service.

Motion by Board Member Jimenez, seconded by Board Member Garcia, that this matter be Approved, passed by the following vote:

AYES:                  Sutton, Garcia, Jimenez, Lindsey

D.        Disciplinary Matters

D.1

Copy of a letter from Arthur Noriega, V, City Manager, notifying Suzann Mudahy Nicholson, Building Services Assistant IV, of her Termination, effective May 12, 2021 and a copy of a request to Appeal from Matthew L. Baldwin, Attorney, on behalf of his client Ms. Nicholson. (NOTIFICATION)

 

E.        General Items

F.         Reports

F.1

Hearings Pending List as of June 1, 2021. (NOTIFICATION)

 

G.        Requests for Hearings

G.1

Copy of a Request for Whistleblower hearing from Matthew L. Baldwin, Attorney, on behalf of his client Suzann Mudahy Nicholson, former Building Services Assistant IV, in accordance with Florida Statute 112.3187. (DISCUSSION)

 

Matthew L. Baldwin, Attorney, on behalf of his client, Suzann Mudahy-Nicholson, former Building Services Assistant IV, and stated his position as to why Ms. Nicholson should be afforded a Whistleblower hearing in accordance with Florida Statute 112.3187.

Kevin Jones, Supervisor, Assistant City Attorney, appeared before the Board and indicated although he disagrees with all the statements made by Attorney Baldwin, he expressed no objection to the request.

The Board agreed to GRANT the request for hearing, which resulted as follows:

Motion by Board Member Garcia, seconded by Board Member Jimenez, that this matter be Approved, passed by the following vote:

AYES:                  Sutton, Garcia, Jimenez, Lindsey

Attorney Baldwin requests that any hearings be scheduled after June 23, 2021.

H.        Today's Hearings

H.1

Hearing of Appeal on behalf of Kevin Targia, Police Officer, concerning his 20-hour suspension, effective September 9, 2020.

 

The Executive Secretary advised the Board, that a Notice of Withdrawal was received from Eugene Gibbons, Attorney, on behalf of Kevin Targia, Police Officer.

This item will be considered withdrawn and removed from the Board's docket.

ADJOURNMENT:

There being no further business before the Board, a motion was entered to adjourn the meeting at 10:18 am, which resulted as follows:

Motion by Board Member Lindsey, seconded by Board Member Jimenez, that this matter be Approved, passed by the following vote:

AYES:                  Sutton, Garcia, Jimenez, Lindsey

SIGNATURE: Troy Sutton, Board Chairperson

ATTEST:  Tishria L. Mindingall, Executive Secretary