HomeMy WebLinkAboutR90-133CIVIL SERVICE'
RESOLUTION NO. R90-133
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF PLAINVIEW, TEXAS OPPOSING THE
ESTABLIShmENT OF STATE CIVIL SERVICE FOR THE
FIRE DEPARTMENT IN PLAINVIEW, TEXAS.
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WHEREAS, on May 5, 1990, the citizens of Plainview shall
decide whether to establish state Civil Service for their fire
department; and
WHEREAS, the City Council desires to make the following
statements and comments in order to better inform the citizens on
the issues and consequences of state Civil Service:
1. A petition was filed in October,1989. This
petition mandated, under state law, that the
proposition of state Civil Service law for the fire
department be placed on ~the .ballot for citizen
rejection or approval.
2. The express purpose of the state Civil Service law
is to provide permanent tenure of employment to one
group of employees.
3. If adopted, the imposition of state-mandated Civil
Service law for the fire department dictates to the
Council, Administration, and the citizens of Plainview,
how your fire fighters must be hired, promoted or
disciplined and what benefits they must be paid.
4. If adopted, state-mandated Civil Service law
imposes an array of benefits, to a single city
department, which must be paid without question or
choice and without consideration of experience,
qualifications, or performance.
5. If adopted, state-mandated Civil Service law would
transfer control over our city's fire department to
Austin and the State Legislature.
6. If adopted, state-mandated Civil Service law will
impact the cost of administration. A tax increase
cannot be ruled out in order to comply with the
benefits required under state CiVil Service law. The
cost of compliance with this law is currently estimated
at $80,000 dollars.
7. If adopted, state-mandated Civil Service law would
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be virtually impossible to repeal. 4001 citizens would
have to vote to repeal the law, and that number has not
voted in any city election, ever.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Plainview that the imposition of state mandated Civil Service law
in Plainview for the fire department would remove local control
and increase the cost of administration. It is the position of
this Council that the citizens of Plainview are better served by
continuing to allow their duly elected representatives the
administration of the fire department. A tax increase to comply
with the administrative costs of state Civil Service law is not
recognized by this Council to be in the best interests of the
City of Plainview.
~r, Mayor
A One
Do Three
Pro Tem
Five
Precinct Six
Ross Owen, Prec]
Seven
C~--ia Reese, City Secretary
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
D. Bai~-~-kburn, City Attorney
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