News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
Monterey Aldermen are considering making changes to the town’s code concerning the town’s Civil Service Board.
City Attorney Evan Wright said after reviewing the town’s code, employee handbook, and the Civil Service Board’s policies. Wright said he believes they overlap and contradict each other making it unclear what the Civil Service Board can and cannot do. Monterey Mayor Alex Garcia said the contradictions are something that needs to be addressed.
“We are going to have to reconvene on this again because just looking over it I find language that isn’t right,” Garcia said. “Not that it isn’t right it just kind of counteracts another part if you see what I’m saying.”
Garcia said MTAS sent a packet that clarified the responsibilities of the Civil Service Board in 2021 but was never adopted. Garcia said the packet is a good starting point but changes would need to be made to the policies proposed by MTAS.
“Even this is in conflict,” Garcia said. “So if you look at 14 administration of policy the mayor is responsible for all proper operations of the town and enforcement of application of laws. Well, that’s a little bit in conflict with what we have now.”
The board considered reaching out to MTAS for assistance with the code. Wright said MTAS would most likely provide a code that does not fit what the town is trying to accomplish.
“They have cookie-cutter language,” Wright said. “They are not going to come in and write you something that’s specific to your city or your town or what you want to do and so what they give you is template language and it’s up to you to make your own.”
Aldermen Cecelia Paulsen said she had concerns about having MTAS help them with the code.
“First and foremost things with the employee handbook and regulation, it is very clear and very precise,” Paulsen said. “For me, it’s getting the information and feedback from an organization that has very stringent rules and regulations not just recommendations or considerations around it. That’s my only concern.”
Wright said he has not yet read the MTAS packet and will now compare the packet to the current code to see what he can find. The aldermen will look over the city’s code and will meet in the new year to decide what parts of the code need to be changed.
