MINUTES  FORSYTH COUNTY CIVIL SERVICE BOARD REGULAR MEETING AND HEARING THURSDAY, AUGUST 8, 2024, 9:30 A.M. FORSYTH COUNTY PUBLIC SAFETY COMPLEX 3520 Settingdown Road, Cumming, GA 30028  MEMBERS PRESENT: Jerry Bowman, Chairman; Terry Smith, Vice Chairman; John Mullin, Member; Jack Allen, Alternate Member; Richard Neville, Counsel and Hearing Officer; Kathy Echols, Clerk. GUEST: Charity Clark, Employment Services Director; DeAndra Jordan,  Assistant Clerk I.  Call Meeting to Order  Chairman Bowman called the meeting to order at 9:30 a.m.  II. Adoption of Agenda  There was a motion by Mr. Smith with a second by Mr. Mullin to amend the agenda to include the adoption oft the. July 11, 2024, Executive Session minutes. Motion passed  unanimously. III. Adoption of Minutes  Regular Meeting July 11,2024  There was ai motion by Mr. Mullin with a second by Mr. Smith to adopt the minutes of the. July 11, 2024, meeting as presented. Motion passed unanimously,  Executive Session - July 11,2024  There was ai motion by Mr. Smith with a second by Mr. Allen to adopt the minutes oft the July 11, 2024, Executive Session as presented. Motion passed unanimously.  IV. Items for consideration and discussion:  (1) Attorney Updates - Richard Neville, General Counsel/Hearing Officer Mr. Neville presented the decision letter for the appeal hearing for Joslyn Bair. There was a motion to approve the Board's decision to uphold the County's position in the termination by Terry Smith with a second by Jack Allen. Motion passed (2) Administrative Updates - Kathy Echols, Civil Service Board Clerk Ms. Echols introduced DeAndra Jordan as the. Assistant Clerk for the Board. Chairman Bowman and the Board welcomed Ms. Jordan. Ms. Echols stated Dale Henderson had withdrawn his appeal. (3) Set Civil Service Appeal hearing date for Michael Downing, Sheriff's Office Mr. Smith made ai motion that the hearing be held on the regular meeting date of September 12th and will start at 9:30 a.m. and have the meeting and then proceed to  unanimously.    Forsyth County Civil Service Board Meeting  August 8, 2024 Page 2of3  the hearing. Mr. Mullin made the second. There was discussion concerning the potential length of this hearing. It was stated that there had been no subpoena requests. Chairman Bowman stated that given the fact that there are representatives, the Board should prepare for more than one day. Discussion was held. Mr. Smith modified his motion to hold the hearing on the 12that9 9:30 and extend it to the 16tha at 10:30: ifneeded. There was a second by Mr. Mullin. Motion passed unanimously.  V. Appeal Hearing for Curtis Dale Henderson  Ms. Echols stated that Mr. Henderson had withdrawn his appeal.  There was discussion regarding aj possible conflict between Policies 8()(Withdrawal of Appeal) and 12(5) (Settlement). Chairman Bowman stated it may not be a change in the policy, but a change ini the way the Board enforces thej policy. He questioned ift there should be some standard language included in the notification letter when an appeal has been received that ifas settlement is reached, that both parties will bei required under Civil Service policy to report it. Ms. Clark stated there is an informal appeal process that allows the parties the opportunity to reach an agreement before it ever gets to the Civil Service Board. Mr. Smith asked ift the Board wanted to ask both parties to submit a written report for the file. Mr. Neville asked ift the Board wanted to change the wording to say "iti is up to the Board's discretion" on whether to ask for that written report. Ms. Clark stated that the purpose of the Civil Service Board is to ensure that the employees have due process. Mr. Neville stated that every settlement is a withdrawal ofthe appeal. Chairman Bowman stated he did not see anywhere that requires either party to give the Board the details oft the settlement. He stated that it seems that both parties have to tell thel Board they have reached a settlement. Mr. Mullin stated that based on the policy, if they provide written notification to the Board, that satisfies the requirement. Mr. Allen stated he agreed with Mr. Mullin that ift they notify the Board the case is closed, the Board doesn'tneed tol know the details. Chairman Bowman stated that having the ability to ask for that review ift there is a concern about the settlement is probably a good idea, but it is not the normal policy. Mr. Smith stated the word discretion would fit well, that the Board would have the discretion to ask for it ifthe Board wants. Mr. Bowman stated at the Board's discretion the details ofthe settlement may be requested or required. He stated that cleaning up that section is probably the best thing to do. Ms. Clark stated that there may need to be some definitions added. Ms. Clark stated this appeal brought forward the review oft the policy language and that some discrepancies were identified Mr. Smith made ai motion that the Hearing Officer request written notification from both parties stating the appeal has been withdrawn. Mr. Mullin seconded the motion. Motion  that need to be addressed as directed by the Board.  passed unanimously. VI. Executive Session  No Executive Session was held.    Forsyth County Civil Service Board Meeting  August 8, 2024 Page 3 of3  VII. Adjourn  Mr. Smith made a motion to adjourn the meeting with a second by Mr. Mullin. Motion  passed unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 10:18 a.m.  The above and foregoing Minutes are hereby certified as being correct and ordered recorded.  tathy Behok  Clerk  BOARD MEMBERS:  BE  lohE TERRYSMITH, VICE CHAIRMAN   Cw  JACK ALLEN, ALTERNATE: MEMBER