CLEVELAND, Tenn. – The Cleveland City Council is expected to continue today its comprehensive review and revision of the city’s personnel policies.
The council’s agenda includes consideration of a technology policy by Councilman Richard Banks and a proposal to decide whether to have a process for employees to appeal disciplinary actions.
“With these updated policies, we want to run the city more like a business,” City Manager Janice Casteel said in a recent discussion with City Council members.
In September, a proposed amendment to the personnel manual called for eliminating the employee appeal process. Until two months ago, employee disciplinary appeals were heard by the city manager, who also administered disciplinary actions. The City Council recently amended the policy to have a third-party attorney attorney hear appeals – at least for the time being.
The move follows legal challenges to the old appeals process by former and current city employees who were disciplined or fired. In a lawsuit by former firefighter Josh Keller, a recent Chancery Court ruling basically said the city manager cannot serve both as disciplinarian and appellate officer.