Board of City Service Commissioners Meeting – September 8, 2026

The Board of City Service Commissioners convened in hybrid format on Tuesday, September 8, 2026, at 9:00 AM. The meeting covered routine probation extensions and reinstatements on a consent calendar, followed by a public hearing on the discharge appeal of Scott Reiske, a Residential Property Appraiser 2 from the Assessor's Office. After hearing testimony and closing statements, the Board found cause for discipline but amended the discharge to a 15-day suspension without back pay, ordering reinstatement prospectively.

Consent Calendar

• Probation Extensions:
  • Donald Turner (Programmer Analyst, ITMD) – 3 months, retroactive September 6, 2026 – December 6, 2026. (Approved unanimously)
  • Antajia Sanders (Water Laboratory Technician, MWW) – 3 months, retroactive August 12, 2026 – November 11, 2026. (Approved unanimously)
  • George Smith (Water Field Supervisor, MWW) – 3 months, September 15, 2026 – December 14, 2026. (Approved unanimously)
  • Brian Weinberg (Environmental Health Coordinator, MHD) – 6 months, September 15, 2026 – March 14, 2027. (Approved unanimously)
• Reinstatement Requests:
  • Adrian Blevins (CADD & GIS Tech, MWW) – Approved unanimously.
  • Serina Moreland (Program Assistant II, DNS) – Approved unanimously.
  • Sharon Conley (Public Health Nurse 2, MHD) – Approved unanimously.
• Minutes: The July 21, 2026 meeting minutes were approved as corrected (noted that only four commissioners were present for item 18).

Public Comments & Testimony

• No public comments were received.

Discussion Items: Discharge Appeal of Scott Reiske

• Background: The appeal concerned Mr. Reiske's discharge (effective November 4, 2025) from the position of Residential Property Appraiser 2. The department alleged falsification of check‑in/out times, failure to record inspection notes in the CAMA system, and a pattern of non‑responsiveness to taxpayers.
• Department’s Case (led by Emmy Tomtschik, Administrative Services Manager):
  • Presented evidence that from January 2025, Mr. Reiske had 30 calendar appointments; only 4 had corresponding inspection notes in the CAMA system. Badge swipe records and office camera footage showed check‑in times inconsistent with his reported times.
  • Pamela Williams (Residential Division Manager) testified about prior verbal warnings, a written warning, and a performance improvement plan (PIP). She stated Mr. Reiske's behavior improved during PIPs but reverted afterward.
  • Steven Schwoerer (Assessment Operations Director) testified about repeated failures to submit auto insurance proof in a timely manner (two months overdue).
  • Commissioner Nicole Larson testified that she forwarded multiple taxpayer complaints to Mr. Reiske (e.g., December 2024, August 2025, October 2025); all required follow‑up from her office. She noted a pattern of non‑responsiveness and that Mr. Reiske had not conducted any Board of Review hearings since 2022.
• Appellant’s Case (Scott Reiske, representing himself):
  • Denied knowingly falsifying time; attributed missed calls to malfunctioning phone indicator lights. Claimed he had always completed assigned work and often stayed late.
  • Argued the discharge was a “rash” response to two taxpayer complaints received on October 27–28, 2025, and that no progressive discipline was given before discharge.
  • Stated that he never received feedback during bi‑weekly check‑ins and that Pamela Williams once told him, “Get the job done,” implying flexibility.
• Cross‑Examination Highlights:
  • On cross, Pamela Williams clarified that the calendar investigation began only after Commissioner Larson noticed missing notes; she did not know about the pattern before October 2025.
  • Mr. Reiske attempted to call Williams as an adverse witness; she denied ever warning him that Commissioner Larson “has it out for you.”
  • The department introduced prior PIPs from 2021 (Kate Nelson) and 2024, showing a long‑standing pattern of failing to respond to taxpayers.

Key Outcomes

• Finding of Cause: The Board voted unanimously (4‑0) that the department had cause for discipline.
• Penalty Amendment: The Board voted unanimously (4‑0) to amend the discharge to a 15‑day suspension without pay. Mr. Reiske will be reinstated prospectively only (effective the following Monday), with no back pay for the period of discharge.