Council opens preliminary discussion on a volunteer chaplain program for employees; staff to explore options

Councilmembers discussed a proposal to establish a volunteer chaplain program to provide spiritual-support resources to city employees. The item drew questions about program structure, training and legal risk; no formal action was taken and staff was asked to explore options and return with recommendations.

Mayor introduced the concept as a volunteer program — not a paid staff position — modeled after programs in neighboring cities. City Manager Dan Johnson and the police chief explained differences between a general volunteer chaplain list and formal police or fire chaplain programs, which often require specialized training and certification to respond to first-responder needs.

HR director Chad described existing employee assistance resources (EAP) already available to staff — counseling via Texas Health/NextLevel and other vendors — and recommended that a chaplain list be an additional resource, not a replacement for professional counseling services.

Council members raised concerns about vetting and liability: Mayor Pro Tem David Lands asked staff to consider how the city would protect employees and the city from potential legal exposure or missteps by volunteer chaplains. Councilors suggested creating a vetted list of willing local religious leaders, clarifying that participation would be voluntary for employees and non-denominational in approach.

Council did not direct immediate implementation but asked staff (HR and the city manager) to research the matter, including program design, background checks, any required training, and whether chaplains would be available for all employees or require specialized police/fire chaplain certification for first-responder use. Staff will report back with options.