Judiciary & Legislation Committee - Regular Meeting

My name is Frank Bach. I serve as president of the Board of City Service Commissioners. The first item on today's agenda is the call to order. This May 5 meeting of the Board of City Service Commissioners is called to order. The next item is the roll call. Would the executive secretary please call the roll?

Alright. Here we go. Vice president Miller.

She's excused. Commissioner Cleary.

Present. Commissioner Smith. Present. Commissioner Wicksboro. Present. President Bach.

Present. Or present. Thank you. The next item, please.

Item number three, file number 260014. Communication for the approval of the 04/21/2026 meeting minutes.

Do commissioners have any comments or questions concerning the proposed minutes?

No. No. I move

I second. I heard her move the motion.

I did. I did.

It's been moved and seconded to approve the proposed minutes of the April 21 meeting. I'll poll the commissioners. Commissioner Smith? Yes. Commissioner Cleary?

Yes.

Commissioner Wickesboro?

Yes.

The minutes are approved as submitted. Next item, please.

Item number four, file number 260015. Communication for the approval of the classification reports as submitted.

Good afternoon, commissioners. Sarah Sinske of Compensation Services. We have one report for you today. This report is a market study for VetLab positions within the Milwaukee Health Department and DPW Milwaukee Water Works. The analysis and recommendation process of this report includes a review of position's duties and responsibilities, impact and accountability, relationship responsibilities, working conditions, well as minimum education and experience requirements. In addition to the market study and examining the titles, there is the recommendation to retitle the virologist as a microbiologist and the virologist senior as a microbiologist senior to better reflect the duties and responsibilities being performed. I would be happy to answer any questions that you may have.

It's, I've been notified by staff that we have a person, who would like to, speak to the report, mister Ian Gunther. Is that correct?

Muted, Ian.

Can you hear me?

Okay. Now I can.

Thank you so much. Yes. Hello, commissioners. My name is Ian Gunther. You may not know me. I'm I'm the president of ASME Local forty seven, city of Milwaukee workers union, that represents, many members in water quality. And, if I may, I have a letter from, our members in water quality staff, who would like to, they would like to communicate something to this commission regarding this, this item if if that's, okay for me to do.

Yes. It is.

Okay. Great. So, and these are not my words. This is the words of of, a number of, members that have submitted some, responses here. A while ago, I think last month, we held a meeting with, in which Jackie Carter was a part of, in which we submitted a, a petition from water quality staff, in which all, staff on water quality, supported proposing some changes to how market study, how the the result of the market study, for water quality.

So I'll go ahead and read this, letter here. The honorable, board of city service commissioners, city of Milwaukee, dear city service commissioners, Today, for the Milwaukee Waterworks market study laboratories market study, will potentially be approved, and the water quality staff of Milwaukee Waterworks have requests about its implementation. Our section believes that a matrix placement within the new pay ranges, is a crucial element necessary to complete this project process. Recent matrix placements in the water quality and plant operation sections in 2023 and 2021 outlined that employees would receive a 1% credit for every year service with a maximum of 10%. Pay progressions were used in 2016 when there was more of an emphasis on job performance and disciplinary actions.

The professional categorization of our section coupled with risk of salary inversion should elevate the need to adjust the matrix placement for this latest market study. There are currently 22 employees in the section, and only three of them have over twenty years of experience. There are 14 people that have under five years of experience, including six that were hired within the last year. The value of our senior staff is critical at this time when the majority of our staff are new and benefit from experienced leadership. There is currently a 20% turnover rate in water quality, which may persist if the newest hires see our leaders not getting adequately compensated for their knowledge, skills, abilities, and experience.

Historical knowledge of both water treatment plants and experience with evolving lake conditions continues to be under threat as staff keep seeking employment in similar positions held at, Milwaukee Metropolitan Sewerage District or the private sector. So the request here is, for action on the matrix play placement, a 1% credit, for each year of service with a maximum of fifteen years, a 1% credit for maintaining Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources certify certificates with a maximum of 3%, a 1% credit for advanced degrees above and beyond the minimum education requirement with a maximum of 2%. And then there's this concluding section here. Water quality does not have any career ladder positions, and our knowledge, skills, and abilities are not regularly evaluated. Our experienced people in every position continually make improvements to our lab, but don't have a mechanism to move up within our pay ranges.

Water chemist senior Shannon De La Cruz is the sole analyst who performs the full suite of certified proficiencies and has maintained proficiency in three advanced instruments. She is also the top resource of institutional knowledge in the water quality lab for junior staff and management and maintains iron removal and distribution Wisconsin NDR certifications. Sorry. DNR certifications. Water Chemist senior Lindsey Gajiroski has obtained an additional Wisconsin DNR certification and coordinated with the Milwaukee Waterworks distribution section to expand field training their staff to ensure proper testing techniques and monitoring for the distribution system.

Water microbiologist senior Brian Mika has widened the scope of the of testing to include cryptosporidium sampling and has seen a dramatic increase in of training and onboarding duties. The patchwork of market studies for different sections done at different times with varying results of compensation disproportionately impacts employees that advance their career with promotions in different sections. The Linwood and Howard water treatment plant employees historically regularly transfer within the sections housed in those two buildings and become valuable assets to the, utility. Water quality assurance specialist, Jen Erby, began as a chemical field operator, feed operator, and has moved back and forth between water quality and plants operations. Her promotional opportunity to move from water quality to plants operations in 2015 was one month before that section received their market study raise.

And when prom promoted back to water quality in 2022, was excluded from the over $10,000 raise received by plant operations, the following year. Water treatment plant, positions between water quality section and plant operations significantly overlap more than water quality and the Milwaukee Health Department and may be beneficial for the the Department of Employee Relations to evaluate all of the sections housed within the two water treatment plants together to limit unavoidable friction of awarding different but very similar sections, thousands of dollars of diff at different times. This practice per per perpetuates our turnover problem, leads to a lot of frustration between the sections, and also limits the earning potential of employees that move to other water treatment positions. We greatly appreciate your time and consideration of our concerns. Sincerely, water quality section Milwaukee Water Works.

And I can send this letter, if you like. I've I've all, already sent it to the, k k urban, at milwaukee dot gov. I don't know if that's still the the viable email address to send, letters to the city service commission. Thank you for your time.

Commissioners, I I think we have we have an issue that's been brought to us. We have not received by the way, miss mister Gunther, we have not received any copies of any letter. I don't know when this letter was sent in.

If I may, it was sent this morning, but I may have the incorrect email address to send it to. I don't know if there's a better one to send it to.

I According to the email that I have, we received this about forty five minutes before this meeting started.

Right. That's, that's a little difficult for the commission Yeah. To take to take into consideration today. It's a relatively complex pay, administration problem, perhaps in some ways more than although I'm I'm going just on what you my understanding of what you said. It would have been easier if I had the report or the letter in front of me.

I and this this seems to concern just the Waterworks side of the, situation. Mister Bach, if I may? Yes.

So I just wanna be clear. The classification study is what is before you. What mister what what mister Gunther is talking about is a matrix placement, which is an administrative decision. This is not governed by any CSC rule. So that is something that would happen kinda behind the scenes based on decisions made, by the department and and other leadership within the city.

So and I and I also wanna point out that in conversations with with the the department, with mister Gunther and and some of his, partners, the timing of this is also critical because we're about to enter a transition. So if this is not approved, this is going to probably have to wait until the fall. So I just wanna make that clear, that we if we don't take action on this today, and and we would be holding it for something that is not that is not a matter that would come before the CSC. I just wanna put that out there.

I am concerned that, we're getting into pay administration within the pay ranges as opposed to the placement of the pay ranges or the the laying out of the pay range, I'm not comfortable with, holding it up for that reason. Right. I do I do think there sometimes are issues that can be raised, and we've had we've had these, pay programs in other sections of the sit of the general city departments where people, move from the traditional just five step or six step, advancement to a more complex and performance oriented, movement. But that that's not something I'm I'm comfortable with deciding on the last minute without getting a a chance to to review it in detail and get a staff report in detail. I my own feeling is that we should re approve the reports that we have before us, but that's just my opinion.

And I do think that, these are critical employees, in water quality and the, also the scientific people at the two plants that we should ask DER perhaps not so much from a perspective of their classification, perspective, but to pay administration, they should maybe get back to us at our next meeting or the meeting after that, with a with a report on on these issues and responding to some of the some of the points that mister Guthler made on behalf of the water quality people. So I don't know if we need a motion for for that part of it, but I, I do think I do think we should deal with the report. And I don't know that the report itself is has been success successfully objected to by, Mr. Gunther. It's it's more the pay administration of it and and the timing of some of it as it affects individual pay administration as it affects individuals.

And I don't think we're the commission is usually it does not get involved in in that kind of detailed review of the administration of of the pay ranges to current employees. I don't know how the other commissioners feel. I'd like to hear from

Yeah. Mister president

Yes.

I I think the letter made some very good points.

Yes. And

it provides very good information for waterworks management, but I don't think it it changes my my vote to approve the report as it stands. But but I think the pay matrix, all those issues could be evaluated and considered by management and water. So I'm gonna move approval of the report.

I I I I'm with you, commissioner Smith. I that's I'm not saying that there aren't there might not be some legitimate concerns being raised, but, doing it at the last minute and from my perspective at least, and not getting it in writing ahead of time, I don't see a reason to hold up the reports themselves. I think the re the reports, from a compensation system perspective, I think they're they're fine. There may be some issues with how it's administered, but that could be something that the waterworks could speak to to the employees or they could also speak to DER about that.

Yes.

And so I'd I'd be more comfortable with with putting it back in the lap of management, management being both the waterworks and DER, and not here as part of our deliberations.

But but, generally, I just thought it was a very good letter. I'd like to know that we appreciated the importance of the experience of the people that have been there a long time, and the the younger workers are are benefiting by them. Anyway, there were some very good points made. But Yes. The bottom line is I'm gonna move approval of the report.

I will second, and, I agree that, these issues should be referred back to DER and the department.

Okay. It has been moved and seconded to approve the classification reports as the report as submitted. I'll poll the commissioners. Commissioner Smith? Yes. Commissioner Cleary?

Yes.

Commissioner Wickesboro?

Yes.

The classification report is, approved. The next item, item five, which is file number 260016, concerns recommendations regarding probationary periods for reclassified positions. However, the reports in this meeting cycle involve market studies. So there are no staff recommendations concerning new or or extended probationary period. No commission action is required. Next item, please.

Item number six, file number 260017. Communication from the Department of Public Works Administration to extend the temporary appointment of Amber Graham, program assistant one for seven months from 05/10/2026 through 12/19/2026. This is the first extension request.

Prior to the meeting commissioners, we received a letter from Jerrell Kruschke, commissioner of public works, explaining that the contract administration office lost a temporary outside employee. And miss Graham, who has worked in the office for the past couple of years, has been a significant help, and she is needed for contract compliance concerns with the many outside contractors used by the city. And, of course, that work, increases during this time of year to include not only the year round activities, but also a variety of seasonal contract work. They also provided the temporary appointment paperwork and job descriptions. Do commissioners have any comments or questions?

No. No.

Is there a motion? Approval.

I move approval.

A second.

It's been moved and seconded to approve the request to extend this temporary appointment. I'll pull the commissioners. Commissioner Smith?

Yes.

Commissioner Cleary? I'm sorry. I couldn't hear commissioner Cleary's response.

I think her signal's bad. She's frozen.

Yes.

What's wrong?

Your vote, commissioner Cleary?

Yes.

K. Commissioner Wick Sparrow? Yes. The request is approved. Next item, please.

Item number seven, communication from the Department of Public Works to extend the temporary appointment for Lashonda Everett, fleet operations manager for six months from 05/24/2026 through 11/24/2026. This is the first extension request.

Prior to the meeting, we received a letter from Jerrell Krishski, commissioner of public works, explaining that miss Everett is needed to to provide emergency responses for fleet operations, and the department is working to fill this critical vacancy. They also provided the temporary appointment paperwork and job description. Do commissioners have any comments or questions?

No. No. I move for approval.

Is there a second?

I second.

It's been moved and seconded to approve the request to extend this temporary appointment. I'll poll the commissioners. Commissioner Smith?

Yes.

Commissioner Cleary? Yes. Commissioner Wickesboro?

Yes.

Request is approved. Next item, please.

Item number eight, file number 260019, communication from the Department of Administration to extend the probationary period for Carl Chop, administrative services manager for three months from 04/29/2026 through 07/28/2026.

Commissioners, prior to the meeting, we received a letter from Steven Mahan, the administration deputy director. He explains there's been a change a change in department leadership during the course of, mister Chopp's probationary period. And but this extension will give the new leadership a chance to evaluate him. They also provided the probationary service report and a job description. And I believe they indicated the employee is aware of this request to extend. Do commissioners have any comments or questions? No.

No. No.

I move approval.

I move approve. I second.

It's been moved and seconded to approve the request to extend the probation period. I'll pull the commissioners. Commissioner Smith?

Yes.

Commissioner Clery?

Yes.

Commissioner Wicksboro?

Yes.

The request is approved. Next item, please.

Item number nine, file number 260021. Communication from the Department of City Development to reexempt the residential property disposition manager position pay range one k x.

Prior to the meeting, we received a letter from Sam Leichten, deputy commissioner, explaining this position manages city owned foreclosed real real estate. The request is based on the responsibility for policy development regarding foreclosed property, representing apartment before the council and with real estate brokerage firms. A memo from Christian Hennessy Urban Human Resources Manager did support the request, and there was a job description. Commissioners, do you have any comments or questions?

No.

No. I move for approval.

I second.

It's been moved and seconded to approve the request to reexempt the position. I'll pull the commissioners. Commissioner Smith?

Yes.

Commissioner Cleary? Yes. Commissioner Wickesboro?

Yes.

The request is approved. Well, that concludes all of the regular item of businesses business for our commission. Before I ask for a motion to adjourn, I'd like to check with you, my fellow commissioners, and our executive secretary regarding any announcements anyone might have. Do any of my fellow commissioners have comments or information to share?

I would make a comment, mister president, that I I submitted submitted a a a letter to the mayor's office. And the main thing I was trying to do is avoid quorum problems for the commission because I've been ex I've experienced that along with the rest of you a number of times where it's very hard to find someone willing to work with us. No. I mean, it's very hard. It's very sometimes it's very hard to go through the selection process to find someone for the commission who has the right background.

And I had suggested to Oscar Tovar in the mayor's office that I think a legal background or a human resources background would be a plus for whoever they search for. But the main thing is I didn't wanna give the customary two week or four week notice. So you're stuck with me for who knows how long. And Oscar Tovar did say if people have any suggestions of someone who would be a good commissioner, please let them know. That's why I asked Chuck Schumacher how long before he retirees. But

Well, that means you'll be on the commission for ten years based on that.

So, anyway, I I enjoyed the experience of working with commission, but I I I started with the Department of Portal Relations in '69 and with the commission in 2009. And and now I have other things to do, like, with my grandchildren and going to medical appointments and on and teaching pickleball. Okay. So but but but, you know, it's a very good experience, and I and and he did like the analytical aspect of having a report. And instead of watching streaming on Netflix or something, you go through this multipage real life situation about a bridge or whatever. So, you you know, there's some drama involved.

So, I I just I

just wanted to let you know that I I'm still a commissioner for the foreseeable future.

Well, well, thank you for that. That's and I appreciate you'll be around for a while. I hope that the mayor's office is unsuccessful in finding someone so that we can keep you.

Good. Thank you.

Do I I don't know. That'd be hard hard to follow. Do any other commissioners have a comment or information to share? Alright. I'll also ask our, miss Carter, our executive secretary and director of employee relations, if she has any comments.

My only comment is, commissioner Smith, thank you. We appreciate your service. And, as I said to you via email, I've not known you long, but I've known you long enough to know that, your presence will be missed when when that time comes. And so, I I appreciate your graciousness in allowing us to find your replacement before you, step off. So thank you for that.

Thank you.

If there's, no other comments, I would entertain a motion to adjourn.

I move that we adjourn. I second the motion that we adjourn this May 5, 2026 meeting. I wish it was on the fourth so I could say maybe the fourth, but I just said it anyway.

Cicco de Mayo is fine.

It's working with you.

Yes. I'll pull the commissioners. Commissioner Smith.

Yes.

Commissioner Cleary.

Yes.

Commissioner Wickesboro.

Yes.

We are adjourned. Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Take care. Thank you.