Commission authorizes recruitment of on-call backup hearing officer; residency in El Paso required

The Civil Service Commission unanimously authorized staff to recruit and select an on-call backup civil service hearing officer to support the incumbent hearing officer and meet statutory time limits.

Staff said the incumbent hearing officer's caseload is "feast or famine," and noted that previous hires were deployed before they could be trained. Staff recommended authorizing recruitment for an on-call backup so the commission can meet hearing time limits and give the incumbent flexibility for vacation and case overages.

Staff described minimum qualifications in the record: a licensed attorney in good standing with the Texas State Bar, five years' experience practicing general law (preferably in labor relations and employment law or before administrative agencies), and residency within the El Paso city limits by the date the independent contract is effective. As staff explained, earlier recruitments drew applicants from across the United States, and the commission revised posting parameters to require local residency so the hearing officer can meet in person as needed.

A commissioner moved the recommended motion to authorize recruitment and selection of a backup hearing officer; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously. The clerk recorded the vote and staff said HR would return with an update after posting and screening candidates.

When asked about the job requirements, staff read the minimum qualifications into the record and emphasized the residency requirement: "Residency within the city of El Paso city limits required by date the independent contract is effective," according to the transcript. The record does not include a salary or contract length; those details will be provided in any subsequent recruitment materials and HR updates to the commission.