04/19/1979
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Proceedings of the Civil Service Board Meeting held April 19, 1979.
The Clearwater Civil Service Board as constituted under Ordinance 1831, met in its
initial session on Thursday evening, April 19, 1979 in the Personnel Department,
City Hall, Clearwater.
Members present: Tom Chenoweth, A. D. Finch, Helen Berman and,Mary Drew Kane
Visitors: Paul Kane, Public Service Superintendent, Michael Stuart, Police Officer
and President of F.O.P., Jeanne Wilder
Representing City Attorney: Frank Kowalski, Chief Asst. City Attorney
Representing City Manager: Gerald Weimer, Asst. City Manager
Personnel Director H. Michael. Laursen called the meeting to order. He indicated
the first order of business was the need to select a temporary Chairman.
Mr. Pinch moved that Tom Chenoweth be designated Temporary Chairman. Motion was
seconded by Mrs. Herman and motion carried 3 - 0 with Air. Chenoweth abstaining.
Board Members discussed the appointment of a fifth member by the Board. After some
discussion, Mrs. Herman moved that Jeanne Wilder be appointed as the fifth member.
Motion was seconded by Mr. Finch and carried unanimously.
Mrs. Herman moved and Mrs. Kane seconded the motion that Mrs. Wilder be appointed as
Chairman of the Civil Service Board for the calendar year 1979. Motion passed
unanimously, and Mr. Chenoweth passed the gavel to Mrs. Wilder as Chairman.
Mrs. Kane requested that copies of the Police and Fire Department Departmental Rules
be provided to her. It was determined that copies would be obtained for all members.
Mrs. Berman inquired as to whether the. Board desired to meet regularly. It was moved
by'Mr. Chenoweth that the Board meet on the first Tuesday of each month unless notified
by the Personnel Director that there were no items on the Board's Agenda. Seconded
by Mrs. Kane and motion carried unanimously.
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Mrs. Wilder asked if any citizens desired to be heard. Mr. Paul Kane, Public Service
Director of the City advised the Board that a Reprimand had been placed in his file
in 1976 by the City Manager due to his action in making a promotion and that he wished
to have the Reprimand removed from his file. Mr. Kane indicated that he had previously
requested the Civil Service Board (as formerly constituted) to remove the Reprimand
and related that the Board, Circuit Court and Appeals Court had upheld the action of
promotion upon which the Reprimand was based. Board Members discussed this request and
inquired of Mr. Kowalski as to whether the Board could remove the Reprimand.
Mr. Kowalski indicated that the Board does have the authority to investigate the matter
and make a request or recaTmendation. lie indicated that the Board, under the current
Ordinance, does not have t!he authority to remove a Reprimand placed in an employee's
file at the time the old Civil Service Law was in effect. He further indicated that
the request had been phrased in terms of removing a Letter of Reprimand from an
,employee's record and that it is a public record under Chapter 119. Being a public
record, it can only be destroyed pursuant to a statuatory procedure requiring
notification to the State, Division of Archives, which would authorize the removal
or destruction of a record.
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Civil ' Service Board Meeting April 19, 197
Mr, Finch stated that perhaps.Mr. Kane used the wrong terminology and that what he
wanted' to do was. "expunge" it from the Personnel.'file.
Mr. Chenoweth moved that Mr. Kane's request be held in abeyance until the Board
'. could receive,' at the next meeting, a written legal opinion from Mr. Kowalski.
a written report from the Personnel Director as to the history of the issue,
and. views o£ the City Manager. Seconded by Mrs. Herman. Motion passed 3 - 2
s, with affirmative votes by Mr. Chenoweth, Mrs. Berman, and Mrs. Wilder and negative '
votes by Mr. Finch..and Mrs. Kane.
Mr.';Chenoweth moved to adjourn. There being no further business, Chairman declared
v, the meeting•adjourned.
'Respectfully submitted,
Personnel Director and
Secretary"
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`Chairman .
.Teanne' Wilder
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