City service commissioners approve three personnel extensions, re-exemption of wellness director post

MILWAUKEE — The Board of City Service Commissioners on Tuesday, April 22, approved three personnel actions and a staffing classification change during a virtual meeting, voting unanimously among commissioners present to extend temporary appointments, extend a probationary period and re-exempt a director position.

The actions included a six-month extension for Janice Burnell Jones as a temporary chief of staff in the Department of Neighborhood Services, a four-month extension for Emma Cobb as a temporary library services manager at Milwaukee Public Library, a three-month extension of the probationary period for Jasmine Bounds, a communications assistant in the Department of Public Works, and a re-exemption of the Community Wellness and Safety Director position and its pay range.

The measures were routine personnel items brought forward with supporting documents including notices of temporary appointment, job descriptions and resumes. Mike Lasmanian, deputy commissioner of Neighborhood Services, told commissioners the office is seeking a reclassification and asked for more time to work with the Department of Employee Relations on moving the position forward. Commissioner Smith said, "I think the continuity of service is very important here," and moved approval of the six-month extension for Janice Burnell Jones. Commissioner Cleary seconded the motion. The board then took a roll-call vote: Commissioner Smith — yes; Commissioner Cleary — yes; Vice President Marilyn Miller — yes. The extension runs from April 20, 2025, through Oct. 26, 2025, and was described in the agenda as the second extension request.

For the Milwaukee Public Library item, Danielle Robleski, the library's temporary human-resources administrator, answered commissioners' questions before Commissioner Smith moved approval and Commissioner Cleary seconded. The board approved the four-month extension for Emma Cobb, from April 26, 2025, through Aug. 26, 2025; the item was noted on the agenda as the first extension request and supporting correspondence came from Library Director Joan Johnson.

On the Department of Public Works item, Makeisha Porter, operations human-resources administrator, said Jasmine Bounds has shown improvement in productivity and job tasks but has had attendance concerns. Vice President Marilyn Miller moved approval of a three-month probation extension for Bounds, from April 28, 2025, through July 28, 2025; Commissioner Smith seconded. The motion carried on the same roll-call vote pattern.

The board also considered a request from the Department of Administration to re-exempt the Community Wellness and Safety Director position and to set a pay range. Deputy Director Mahan told commissioners that federal grant dollars will fund a portion of the position at times and that "we do have some grants currently ... that we actually have the cash funds on hand." Commissioner Smith moved approval of the re-exemption; Commissioner Cleary seconded. The re-exemption passed on a unanimous roll-call vote by commissioners present.

All four votes followed the board's practice of rolling call votes. The meeting included a brief discussion about a fifth commissioner vacancy; a name had been submitted to the mayor's office more than a month earlier, and the board expressed interest in moving the appointment process along. The meeting was then adjourned.

Items approved at the meeting were listed on the board's agenda with file numbers and supporting documents; each passed by the three commissioners present by roll-call vote.