Freeport Civil Service Commission — March 4, 2026 Minutes
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The three-member Freeport Civil Service Commission met March 4, 2026. The commission approved the February 3, 2026 minutes; reviewed an adopted Civil Service budget of $50,500 (including $30,000 legal, $15,000 conferences, $1,500 supplies, $4,000 technology); confirmed city staff administrative support is sufficient; accepted second-floor City Hall office space and near-complete commission-issued technology; scheduled focused meetings with Fire Chief Motley and Police Chief Howell for March 18 and planned multiple employee-group sessions to accommodate shifts; and began using the Alvin Civil Service Commission as the baseline document while incorporating selected San Marcos provisions. The commission identified specific rule edits (definitions, communications, attendance, director duties) and set the next review to Alvin Article III (3.01–3.05) and Article IV (4.01–4.15) with corresponding San Marcos sections.
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Key decisions
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- Approved minutes of the February 3, 2026 meeting (3-0).
- Presented and noted adopted Civil Service Commission budget of $50,500 with line items: $30,000 legal, $15,000 conferences, $1,500 office supplies, $4,000 technology (including ~ $400 annual licensing).
- Determined no additional temporary clerical support is needed at this time; current city staff administrative support deemed sufficient.
- Confirmed second-floor City Hall office space is available for commission use during business hours; after-hours access by request.
- Accepted near-complete commission-issued tablets/computers/phones; IT to finalize setup and distribute devices.
- Scheduled focused meetings with Fire Chief Motley and Police Chief Howell on March 18 to address entry-level/promotional eligibility, seniority, disciplinary appeals, and hearing processes/timelines.
- Planned multiple employee-group meetings to accommodate fire department shift schedules (A/B/(possible C) shifts).
- Selected the Alvin Civil Service Commission rules as the primary baseline, incorporating beneficial elements from San Marcos; Pasadena and Missouri City documents deprioritized.
- Agreed to prepare a single commission document with department-specific variations where necessary (per City Attorney recommendation).
- Identified specific rule edits to revisit: broaden drug-use definition to address prescription/illicit use; allow any commissioner to contact the director/place agenda items; retain attendance forfeiture thresholds (3 consecutive or 4 annual absences); review municipal personnel regulation adoption and clarify inclusion of 'firemen' where only 'policeman' is referenced; research authority to modify classification/rank structure under Chapter 143.
- Streamlined director duties by removing overly broad authorities (agenda setting, initial determinations, meeting scheduling) while retaining records custodian and recruitment advertising responsibilities.
- Set next document review focus to Alvin Article III (Procedural Rules of the Commission, sections 3.01–3.05) and Article IV (Classification and Qualifications and Appointments, sections 4.01–4.15) with corresponding San Marcos sections.
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