Civil Service Commission upholds city decision to bar Ruben Flores from lead technician eligibility list

The El Paso Civil Service Commission on May 8 upheld the city’s decision to disqualify Ruben Flores from placement on the eligible list for the engineering lead technician position.

The commission sustained the city’s determination after hearing from city human resources and Streets and Maintenance staff that Flores met the job’s experience requirement but did not provide the required 30 college credit hours in engineering, drafting technology or a closely related physical science. The commission’s motion to approve the city’s disqualification was made by Commissioner Omero Lucero and seconded by Commissioner Carlos Gonzales; the roll call vote recorded four votes to uphold the disqualification and one abstention.

City human resources manager Carla Mora told the commission that the position requires both experience and education: "As far as experience, it requires 8 years of construction or engineering related experience, including 1 year of it being in supervisory or lead position. . . . Mister Flores does meet those qualifications." Mora said the education standard could be met either by an associate degree in engineering or by at least 30 hours of college credit in engineering, drafting or a closely related physical science field, and she said Flores’s submitted transcripts and diploma did not show the required college credit in the specified fields.

Flores disputed the city’s reading of his records and described his welding diploma and Job Corps training as closely related to the physical sciences required by the job. "I do possess the knowledge and education in in physics and chemistry," Flores said, adding that his welding diplomas represent roughly 38 credit hours at the community college level and that some of his older Job Corps transcripts are handwritten and not available in the college’s digital archives.

Interim Streets and Maintenance Director Randy Garcia described the duties of an engineering lead technician and why the department requires the stated education. "Those 30 hours are necessary in order to have the base skills to really progress yourself forward with the engineering field," Garcia said, listing tasks such as reading blueprints, aggregate and geological testing and asphalt studies that, he said, depend on a broader scientific background than routine inspection tasks.

Monica Kreshmer of the city human resources department explained how the department’s qualifying exam works and why Flores’s self-reporting mattered. "Because he self identified that, yes, he did have the 30 hours," Kreshmer said, describing a multiple-choice application step in which applicants select the education-and-experience option that applies to them. She said applicants who pass the exam still must meet the documented education and experience requirements when staff review transcripts.

City staff told the commission there were four applicants on the current eligible list who met both education and experience requirements; adding Flores would have made him the fifth candidate on that list. Staff also said Flores had passed the department’s initial screening questions but that a subsequent transcript review found the specific 30 credit hours in the required fields were not present or had been withdrawn on his community college record.

After discussion, the commission approved a motion "to approve the disqualification decision by the city," made by Commissioner Omero Lucero and seconded by Commissioner Carlos Gonzales. The recorded roll call vote showed Michael Bester — yes; Woodrow Baer — abstain; Carlos Gonzales — yes; Omero Lucero — yes; Larry John Porras — yes. The commission directed no further immediate action; Flores was not added to the eligible list. The commission and city staff encouraged Flores to use the city’s tuition-assistance program once he completes his six-month probationary period if he wishes to pursue coursework to meet the listed educational requirements.

The commission concluded its business and adjourned the meeting after the vote.