Civil Service Board Meeting - March 17, 2026
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Civil Service Board Meeting - March 17, 2026
The Miami Civil Service Board convened on March 17, 2026. The meeting covered routine consent items, a joint continuance request, and a contested motion to dismiss in a grievance hearing. The board approved consent items, granted a continuance, and voted to dismiss a sergeant's abuse of power claim on grounds of res judicata and the employee's probationary status.
Consent Calendar
- Agenda adopted unanimously.
- Minutes of the previous meeting approved unanimously.
- Military leave of absence for firefighter Nicholas Messiah: retroactive unpaid leave from January 25, 2026 through February 6, 2026, and an extension through February 10, 2026. Approved unanimously.
- Joint continuance request for the appeal hearing of Maria Cutulo Meonks (two-day suspension). The board approved the continuance, rescheduling the hearing from March 17 to March 31, 2026. (The March 31 meeting was later cancelled due to no other hearings.)
Discussion Items
- Motion to Dismiss – Sergeant Marvin Bravo Grievance: The City Attorney moved to dismiss the grievance hearing, arguing that the same allegations (abuse of power and discrimination based on military service) had already been investigated by the U.S. Department of Labor (Veterans' Employment and Training Service) and closed without finding a violation, thus barring relitigation (res judicata). The City also contended that Sergeant Bravo was a probationary employee in the lieutenant position and therefore had no civil service rights to a hearing under Board Rule 1.8. The PBA attorney for Sergeant Bravo opposed, stating that the Department of Labor letter only stated the file was closed and did not contain findings of fact, that the City had waited a year before filing the motion, and that the claim pertains to abuse of power regardless of probationary status. Board counsel supported the motion on both grounds (probationary status and prior federal review). Board members questioned the sufficiency of the DOL summary and the timing of the motion. After debate, a motion to grant the dismissal was made and seconded.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Dismiss (Sergeant Marvin Bravo): Approved by a vote of 3‑2 (Board Members Solomon, Cabrera, and Chair Cabrera in favor; Board Members Lanier and Jimenez opposed). The board determined that the issue had been previously adjudicated by the Department of Labor and that Sergeant Bravo, as a probationary lieutenant, lacked standing under the board's rules. As a result, the grievance hearing was dismissed.
- Next Board Meeting: The March 31, 2026 meeting was cancelled due to the lack of pending hearings. The next regular meeting is scheduled for April 14, 2026.
- Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
To the March 17, 2026 Civil Service Board meeting. We will start with the Pledge of Allegiance. Begin with the adoption of the agenda. Motion. Second. Motion by Board Member Solomon. Second by Board Member Jimenez. All in favor? Aye. Approving of the minutes. Motion. Second. Motion by Board Member Jimenez. Second by Board Member Lanier. All in favor? Aye. Aye. C military leaves of absence. C one. Nicholas Messiah, firefighter. Request retroactive military leave without pay from January 25, 2026 through February 6th, 2026, and a military leave extension through February 10th, 2026. Copy of both memorandums submitted. Motion. Motion by Board Member Jimenez. Second. Second by Board Member Soleiman. All in favor. Aye. As always, thank you to the men and women that serve. D disciplinary matters. Take note. E general items. E one, e2, take note. E three. Copy of a request for a joint continuance from Stephanie K. Panoff, Division Chief, Office of the City Attorney, and Brody M. Schulman, attorney, concerning the appeal hearing of Maria Cutulo Meonks, Paralegal as it relates to her two-day suspension. Effective January 30th, 2025. Attorney Shulman. Attorney Shulman, can you hear us? Um, Lynette Ghier, I'm covering for Miss Panoff this morning. I can tell you that they have been in communication. They are both requesting a joint continuance for this hearing. Who who has to unmute? So somebody has to there we go. I think Mr. Schulman, I think Mr. Schulman, you might need to unmute your there you go. Good morning, everyone. Yeah, I just got transferred over, so now I can hear all of you.
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