Avondale council unanimously adopts personnel policy updates for hiring and discipline

The Avondale City Council voted Jan. 12 to adopt updates to the city’s personnel policies aimed at clarifying hiring and discipline procedures.

The council approved two related amendments after presentations from Andy Corbin, the city’s human resources director. The Chapter 4 changes increase the maximum duration of a certified list of qualified candidates from one year to two years, a change Corbin said would help with promotional testing for police and fire. Corbin told the council the amendment also aligns the city’s promotional probation practice with recent state law changes so that, in certain instances involving law enforcement officers, demotion—rather than dismissal—would be the expected action when a promoted officer does not successfully complete promotional probation. "This change does not limit the employer's ability to terminate a law enforcement officer at any time for just cause," Corbin said.

Corbin said the Chapter 18 amendments represent a comprehensive review (the policy had not been comprehensively updated since 2014). The revisions introduce a transparent progressive-discipline framework, require HR consultation before formal written discipline, define notice-of-intent and pre-determination hearing procedures, expand representative rights during investigatory interviews, and add a disciplinary matrix intended to promote consistency across departments.

Councilmember White pressed staff on the matrix’s language around arrests and dismissal, noting concern that the policy as written could be read to allow dismissal on the basis of arrest alone. Corbin and other staff described the matrix as an initial framework that will be continuously evaluated and stressed safeguards such as access to investigation reports when violations are sustained.

Councilmember Solorio moved to adopt the Chapter 4 amendments (item 5B); Councilmember White seconded, and the council approved the item 6–0 with one member absent. Councilmember White moved to adopt the Chapter 18 amendments (item 5C); Councilmember Garcia seconded, and the council approved the item 6–0 with one member absent.

The actions were presented as negotiated items; Corbin said the Avondale Professional Firefighters Association supported key provisions and staff solicited feedback from other associations and department directors.