Council remands firefighter personnel matter for full evidentiary hearing

The City Council on March 26 voted to overturn the personnel committee’s prior determination and return a firefighter grievance to the personnel committee for a full evidentiary hearing. The motion, offered by Councilman Bill Kling, initially produced confusion among members about procedure and options; after clarification from the city attorney the council took a roll-call and approved the remand unanimously.

Assistant city counsel explained the practical effect: returning the matter to the personnel committee will allow a full evidentiary hearing on the grievance rather than the limited just-cause review that had been used previously. "This time it would be for a full evidentiary hearing," counsel said, describing the broader scope of evidence the personnel committee would then consider. The personnel committee’s subsequent finding could again be appealed to council on the full evidentiary record.

The council’s action restores the grievance to the personnel committee process and leaves the final outcome contingent on the committee’s evidentiary hearing and any further appeal.