HR outlines Career Service Commission appeals; six employee appeals in 2026

Fazeria Coontz, Senior Employee Relations Specialist in Human Resources, briefed the committee on the Career Service Commission’s role and appeal process for advanced discipline. She said the Commission is composed of five citizens appointed by charter for six‑year terms and that an employee may appeal suspensions, involuntary demotions, fines or terminations to the Commission after appealing to department leadership.

Coontz said six employees appealed in 2026. Examples she provided included an Aurora Water five‑day suspension submitted in April and dismissed in May (reduced to a written reprimand), a Public Works termination appealed in April and dismissed in June for a failure to provide required disclosure documents, and a Housing and Community Services termination where the employee withdrew the appeal. She said a Human Resources termination appeal has a hearing set for Oct. 23 and two other terminations have pending hearing dates. Council members asked trend questions and Coontz said the number is consistent with recent years.