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Record of Proceedings

September 1, 2026 Civil Service Board Meeting

Meeting Portal — Tuesday, September 1, 2026
BodyMiami, Florida
SessionMeeting Portal
DateTuesday, September 1, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 38:37

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
1:49

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the September first, twenty twenty six Civil Service Board meeting.

1:54

We'll begin with a Pledge of Allegiance.

2:21

Motion.

2:23

Motion by Board Member Jimenez.

2:27

Second.

2:27

Second by board member Soliman.

2:29

All in favor?

2:30

Aye.

2:32

Approving of the minutes.

2:34

Motion.

2:36

Motion.

2:36

Second.

2:37

Motion by board member Lanier.

2:39

Second by Board Member Soliman.

2:41

All in favor?

2:42

Aye.

2:45

D disciplinary matters.

2:47

D one board members take note.

2:50

E general items.

2:53

E one status updating concerning the appeal hearings of Marcel Jackson, police officer, former, as it relates to his ten-hour suspension, effective December thirteenth, twenty twenty-five.

3:05

Forty-hour suspension effective December 14th, 2025, and a sixty-hour suspension effective December twenty-one, twenty twenty-five.

3:17

Um, we've been able to settle all of Mr.

3:19

Marcel Jackson's cases.

3:21

So the settlement agreement was sent over, I believe yesterday.

3:24

Um, to the board, and um, all the cases should be removed from the docket.

3:29

Excellent.

3:30

Thank you.

3:31

Thank you.

3:38

As of September first, twenty twenty-six.

4:01

Um scheduled before that.

4:04

And as of right now, we have two board meetings scheduled.

4:09

Um September twenty-ninth.

4:16

That there are no hearings uh scheduled for October sixth, we have one hearing because one of the other hearings is Marcel Jackson that we just got an update from the city that that's been settled on those two hundred hours you see there.

4:37

So I'd like to make a motion.

5:04

Um I guess as we don't have hearings that uh that's a motion.

5:10

We have a second, second it second.

5:14

Um any discussion on it.

5:16

The next the next uh board meeting would be October 6th, where we have the one hearing scheduled for now.

5:24

Uh any other discussion?

5:26

Seeing none, all in favor?

5:28

I alright.

5:31

Um anything else from the um calendar pendings list?

5:36

No.

5:36

All right, then take note the next civil service board meeting will be October 6, 2026 with a scheduled hearing.

5:47

Moving on H today's hearings, H1 appeal hearing on behalf of Alfonso Davila, heavy equipment mechanic helper, former concerning of a termination effect of July 11, 2026, continued from June 23rd, 2026 meeting.

6:05

Morning.

6:06

Good morning.

6:06

Good morning.

6:08

State your name.

6:08

My name is Alfonso Davila, heavy equipment mechanic helper for GSA.

6:13

Wonderful.

6:16

City.

6:17

Sorry, yes, Lynette Gary on behalf of the city.

6:20

Um if I could just have five minutes.

6:22

I'm trying to um get some scheduling done with my witness because I thought she was gonna be here by now, but she's not.

6:28

So if I could just have five minutes just to clarify that, and if if I'm not gonna be able to call her, then uh we could just continue and move forward.

6:34

But if I could just have five minutes to figure that out, please.

6:36

Okay.

6:37

We will take a five-minute uh recess and then we'll pick up with H1.

7:00

We'll come back from recess and continue with H1.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Personnel Matters█████████████████████████████████████████████56%
Procedural██████████████████████████32%
Pending Litigation██████████12%
Summary of Proceedings

September 1, 2026 Civil Service Board Meeting

The Civil Service Board met on September 1, 2026, at approximately 11:16 AM ET in Miami City Hall. The meeting covered routine approvals, a settlement update, and an appeal hearing for a terminated employee. The board voted unanimously to reverse the termination and recommended full back pay.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of minutes: Motion by Board Member Jimenez, seconded by Board Member Soliman, passed unanimously.
  • Settlement of Marcel Jackson appeals: The city reported that all appeal hearings for former police officer Marcel Jackson (concerning suspensions on December 13, 14, and 21, 2025) had been settled. The cases were removed from the docket.
  • Continuance of Marquise Williams hearing: A joint continuance was requested for the appeal of police officer Marquise Williams (10-hour suspension effective June 17, 2023). Motion by Board Member Soliman, seconded by Board Member Lanier, passed unanimously. The hearing was rescheduled to a future date.

Discussion Items

  • Appeal hearing – Alfonso Davila (H1): Davila, a former heavy equipment mechanic helper for GSA, appealed his termination effective July 11, 2025 (note: the transcript initially stated July 11, 2026, but the relief discussion confirmed July 11, 2025). The hearing had been continued from June 23, 2026.
    • City's position (Lynette Gary, assistant city attorney): The city argued that Davila abandoned his position under CBA Article 17.1 and civil service rules. He requested 40 hours of vacation leave but had only 8 hours available; only 8 hours were approved, yet he did not report for the remaining four days and did not call in. The city presented testimony from supervisors Robert Rionda and Mardalis Puig that Davila was notified of the 8-hour approval three times.
    • Employee's position (Alfonso Davila, pro se): Davila argued that he submitted a formal leave request for July 7–11, which was initially signed by his supervisor and placed on the calendar as 40 hours. The city later added an 8-hour restriction to the form without providing him a revised copy or written denial. No witness produced proof of delivery. He also noted discrepancies in emails and questioned the reliability of altered records.
  • Board deliberation: Board Member Cabrera moved for a finding of "not guilty" on both charges (abandonment and failure to return from leave). He stated that Davila left under a good-faith belief that his leave was approved, and the supervisor never notified him of the change. Board Member Soliman agreed, calling the practice of altering a signed document without notice a "gross violation." The board voted 5-0 in favor of Davila.

Key Outcomes

  • Davila termination reversed: The board found Davila not guilty of job abandonment and failure to return from leave. The case will be forwarded to the city manager for final adoption.
  • Relief recommendation: After a brief reopening of the meeting, Board Member Lanier moved to make Davila whole from July 11, 2025, through the date the city manager issues a decision. The motion included restoration of back pay, vacation hours, a 6% cost-of-living increase, and reimbursement for retirement withdrawals made during the termination period. The motion passed unanimously. Formal findings will be presented at the October 6, 2026 board meeting.
  • Next meeting: The next civil service board meeting is scheduled for October 6, 2026, with at least one hearing.

Meeting Transcript

Good morning, everyone, and welcome to the September first, twenty twenty six Civil Service Board meeting. We'll begin with a Pledge of Allegiance. Motion. Motion by Board Member Jimenez. Second. Second by board member Soliman. All in favor? Aye. Approving of the minutes. Motion. Motion. Second. Motion by board member Lanier. Second by Board Member Soliman. All in favor? Aye. D disciplinary matters. D one board members take note. E general items. E one status updating concerning the appeal hearings of Marcel Jackson, police officer, former, as it relates to his ten-hour suspension, effective December thirteenth, twenty twenty-five. Forty-hour suspension effective December 14th, 2025, and a sixty-hour suspension effective December twenty-one, twenty twenty-five. Um, we've been able to settle all of Mr. Marcel Jackson's cases. So the settlement agreement was sent over, I believe yesterday. Um, to the board, and um, all the cases should be removed from the docket. Excellent. Thank you. Thank you. As of September first, twenty twenty-six. Um scheduled before that. And as of right now, we have two board meetings scheduled. Um September twenty-ninth. That there are no hearings uh scheduled for October sixth, we have one hearing because one of the other hearings is Marcel Jackson that we just got an update from the city that that's been settled on those two hundred hours you see there. So I'd like to make a motion. Um I guess as we don't have hearings that uh that's a motion. We have a second, second it second. Um any discussion on it. The next the next uh board meeting would be October 6th, where we have the one hearing scheduled for now. Uh any other discussion? Seeing none, all in favor? I alright. Um anything else from the um calendar pendings list? No. All right, then take note the next civil service board meeting will be October 6, 2026 with a scheduled hearing. Moving on H today's hearings, H1 appeal hearing on behalf of Alfonso Davila, heavy equipment mechanic helper, former concerning of a termination effect of July 11, 2026, continued from June 23rd, 2026 meeting. Morning. Good morning. Good morning. State your name. My name is Alfonso Davila, heavy equipment mechanic helper for GSA.

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