Nogales council approves changes to personnel manual grievance and appeals process

The Nogales City Council on June 24 approved Order 2020‑05‑618 (as read in the meeting), adopting amendments to the city personnel manual (chapters 27 and 28) that revise the grievance board and appeal commission process.

The amendments remove final binding authority from boards and commissions for employment matters and instead provide for independent review panels to examine grievances and make recommendations to the city manager, who retains final authority over employment decisions under the existing city code.

Councilman Bell raised concerns that the proposed change concentrated final authority in the city manager and suggested the council itself should retain the final decision. “I personally don't think it should be on 1 person,” Bell said, continuing that council review could provide broader perspective. City Attorney Mister Estes and other staff responded that the change brings the personnel manual into alignment with the city code and charter and that under a manager‑council form of government the manager is the final authority for day‑to‑day employment matters.

The ordinance was described by staff as consistent with practices in other municipalities where appeals boards or hearing officers perform independent review and then submit recommendations to the manager. The personnel manual will be updated with the approved language; staff also said human resources will continue reviewing other sections of the manual for future council consideration.

The council voted in favor of the order after discussion and adopted the amendments.