The Board of City Service Commissioners denied an employee appeal Tuesday after a contested hearing over minimum‑qualification requirements for the assessment appeals director post.

Nola Nelson, human resources representative for the Department of Employee Relations, told the board that the open, competitive announcement required “five years commercial valuation experience, including significant experience defending property values, writing commercial narrative appraisals, and managing projects,” work that she said is necessary because the director drafts appraisal reports for high‑exposure commercial cases and may testify in court. Nelson recommended the commission deny Angela Granger’s appeal of DER’s rejection of her application because Granger’s submitted materials did not demonstrate the posted experience threshold.

Granger disputed the assessment. She said she submitted an internal resume and letters of recommendation and argued the staff report miscounted the share of commercial properties she handled: “Along with my application, I also submitted additional attachments including an internal resume that speaks to my specific appeal process experience,” she said. Granger added that in the 2020 assessment year she was responsible for 11,769 properties, of which “5%… were commercial… or a total of 578 properties,” and that her workload and appellate experience exceed those of a candidate whose application was accepted.

Commissioners and staff questioned how the minimum was developed, whether equivalencies for education were applied and what additional coursework or certifications would be expected. The board heard from the deputy assessment office representative that the assessor’s office requires a balance of formal commercial appraisal coursework and courtroom/testimony experience for the director role, citing courses from the International Association of Assessing Officers and advanced appraisal‑institute classes as typical progression steps.

After discussion, Commissioner Cleary moved to deny the appeal and Commissioner Smith seconded. President Frank Bach then called a roll; the record shows a 4–0 vote to deny. Bach announced, “the appeal is denied, on a 4 to nothing vote.”

The board advised Granger of career‑progression options and that DER’s report suggested underfill and additional training as a path to future consideration. No further procedural action was taken at the meeting.

What’s next: The board concluded its disposition in open session; Granger and DER were given guidance about training and equivalency options but the commission did not alter DER’s decision during the meeting.