RE 01-22-91.1 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS
RESOLUTION 012291.1
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF COPPELL, TEXAS OPPOSING
TEXAS STATE CIVIL SERVICE FOR FIRE AND POLICE PERSONNEL
IN THE CITY; AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE SUCH
RESOLUTION; AND DECLARING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, State Civil Service is relatively easy to adopt, but
almost impossible to repeal; and,
WHEREAS, State Civil Service is a shifting target it has been
amended dozens of times since 1947 by the state legislature and AFL-CIO
union lobbyists in Austin, and to approve State Civil Service also
approves all future AFL-CIO endorsed future amendments; and
WHEREAS, State Civil Service in part removes local control and puts
police and fire departments under the control of state legislature and
lobbyists, but the cost of Civil Service and future amendments will be
absorbed totally by the local taxpayer; and,
WHEREAS, State Civil Service removes voters confidence from the
local City Council/City Manager and gives that confidence to the
Governor/State Legislature; and,
WHEREAS, State Civil Service may cause either a tax increase or a
cut in other City servies; and,
WHEREAS, State Civil Service is unfair to other City employees
because it gives fire and police differential and preferential
treatment; and,
WHEREAS, State Civil Service greatly encourages mediocrity rather
than initiative, because promotion is based only on written test scores
and seniority - not Job performance, administrative or leadership
ability, or personal incentive; thereby, it becomes impossible to
promote someone for doing an outstanding Job; and,
WHEREAS, State Civil Service gives "permanent tenure" amd promotion
only from within. Although Coppell would always like to hire from within,
State Civil Service would not allow our City an alternative, thereby
possibly disal%owin~ the best qualified applicant, or more seriously,
promoting someone who is not at all qualified; and,
WHEREAS, State Civil Service fosters and encourages discipline from
without. For the last several years, outside arbitrators (hearing
examiners) can hear appealed disciplinary action. These arbitrators
will not live in Coppell or know anything about Coppell. In recent
years, virtually all appealed rulings have either totally overturned the
City disciplinary action or seeked a compromise; and,
WHEREAS, State Civil Service is strongly encouraged, endorsed, and
presently being promoted in Coppell by the AFL-CIO, and in fact would
virtually enable total unionization of fire and police; and
WHEREAS, State Civil Service supercedes our Home Rule Charter and
any ordinances of local government. Community law is put into the hands
of the State Legislature/Governor, and lessens the authority of the
local Fire and Police Chiefs, City Manager and City Council. Civil
Service would invalidate sections of our Home Rule Charter
overwhelmingly approved by Coppell's voters in 1986 by a ratio of 58 to
1; and
WHEREAS, State Civil Service creates a statute of limitation
provision in that Civil Service members cannot be tried for any
disciplinary action, whatever the charge may be, after six months of the
actual occurrence, even it the action is not discovered until after the
six month time frame.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved by the City Council of the City of
Coppell, Texas:
SECTION 1.
That the City Council of the City of Coppell, Texas hereby opposes
Texas State Civil Service for Fire and Police Personnel in the
City.
SECTION 2.
That this Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its
adoption and passage.
DULY ADOPTED AND APPROVED by t~e~ City Council of the City of
Coppell, Texas on the ~ day of~, 1991.
CITY OF COPPELL
Mark Wolfe, Mayorf
!
ATTEST:
Dorothy Tt~n ,g~Ctty Secretary
RESOLUTION
1189M