(Part 2 of 2) LIVE @ Asheville's Civil Service Board (CSB) 11/01/18

Asheville Civil Service Board Meeting Recap – November 1, 2018 (Part 2)

On November 1st, the Asheville Civil Service Board (CSB) held a meeting focused on clarifying its authority and addressing a backlog of research related to the rules governing civil service matters. This meeting, the second part of their November 1st session, primarily centered around understanding the difference between procedural rules (how meetings are conducted) and "substantive rules," which define the regulations impacting city employees. While no major policy changes were enacted, the discussion highlighted ongoing efforts to formalize these rules and address ambiguities within state law.

A significant portion of the meeting was dedicated to dissecting the Sessions Act, a key piece of legislation that grants the Board authority to create or amend substantive rules. Board members and outside counsel, Mr. Henning, acknowledged that the Act provides very little detail on how these rules should be developed and approved. Discussions referenced previous attempts, dating back to 2014-2015, to establish substantive rules that ultimately stalled. The Board recognized a past tendency to engage in broader city policy discussions, which spurred the initial consideration of formalizing these rules. A key challenge identified was Mr. Henning’s contract, which limits his work for the Board to just 20 hours per year – a constraint that complicates the extensive research needed to develop substantive rules.

The meeting also included brief discussion regarding scheduling upcoming grievance hearings, with three appeals needing to be addressed. The Board is exploring potential dates in December and will coordinate with City Council on scheduling, potentially requiring two full days for these hearings. There was no public comment during this portion of the meeting, meaning residents did not directly address the Board.

Ultimately, the Board unanimously voted to table further discussion on substantive and procedural rules until January when Mr. Henning can return with more research and clarification. The Board also unanimously voted to adjourn until their December 6th meeting. Several key action items emerged from the discussion: Mr. Henning will return in January to continue his research; City Attorney's office will retrieve minutes from the 2014-2015 discussions on substantive rules to provide historical context; a poll will be sent out to Board members regarding availability for grievance hearings, and the Board will coordinate with City Council on scheduling those hearings.

This ongoing work to define and formalize substantive rules is important for Asheville residents as it directly impacts the fairness, consistency, and transparency of how city employees are managed. While no immediate changes were made, the Board’s commitment to clarifying its authority and addressing these long-standing questions suggests a continued focus on strengthening civil service practices within the city. Residents can expect further updates in January as Mr. Henning’s research is presented and discussed.