Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
The Board of City Service Commissioners met virtually on October 20, 2026, at 1:30 PM, with President Frank Bock presiding and Commissioners Cleary, Smith, and Wick Spoerl present (Vice President Miller excused). The board unanimously approved a consent calendar of seven temporary appointment extensions, three probationary period extensions, and one position re-exemption. The main substantive discussion concerned a seasonal layoff plan for four bridge operators from the Department of Public Works, which was approved with a modification to create a separate seniority list for maintenance crew members.
Seasonal Layoff Plan for Bridge Operators (File #260912) The Department of Public Works Infrastructure Services Division proposed laying off four bridge operators due to seasonal need: Jacob Hoffer (voluntary layoff out of seniority), David Robinson, Peter Marchese, and Richard Stieghorst. The department requested an efficiency-based layoff plan that would retain two junior employees (hired in 2026) who had been assigned to a maintenance crew, arguing that their training and willingness to perform maintenance work made them more efficient than more senior operators who performed only bridge operations.
President Bock raised concerns that the request misapplied the “efficiency” standard in Rule 13, Section 1A of the commission’s rules, which he said was intended to compare relative performance among employees doing the same job, not to distinguish based on different job duties. He proposed an alternative: create a separate seniority list for bridge operators assigned primarily to maintenance, as had been done historically in other city departments for employees with the same title but distinct functions.
Andrew Simons, HR Administration Manager for Infrastructure, and Karen Florenza, supervisor, explained that the two workers were the only ones on a new two-person maintenance crew (plus a crew leader position to be filled). They noted that the department was restructuring for 2027 to use crew leaders for maintenance work, but for the current season, retaining these trained workers was critical to avoid costly outside contracting (estimated $15,000 per bridge). Senior operators had been offered the maintenance assignments but declined. The department deferred to the commission’s judgment on the appropriate approach.
After discussion, the board agreed to approve the layoff plan with the condition that the department create a second seniority list for bridge operators performing maintenance functions, thereby protecting those two employees from being laid off out of seniority. The department was not required to return for re-approval on this administrative adjustment.
My name is Frank Bach. I serve as the President of the Board of City Service Commissioners. The first item on today's agenda is a call to order. This October 20th meeting of the Board of City Service Commissioners is called to order. The next item is the roll call. Would the executive secretary please call the roll? Vice President Miller. She's excused. Commissioner Cleary. Present. Commissioner Smith. Present. Commissioner Wixborough. Send President Bach. Present. For present. So we have a quorum for our meeting today. The next item, please. Item number three, file number 260905. Communication for the approval of the October 6, 2026 meeting minutes. Do commissioners have any comments or questions concerning the proposed minutes? No. I move approval. I second. It's been moved and seconded. I was excused. To approve the proposed minutes of our October 6th meeting, I'll poll the commissioners. Commissioner Cleary. Yes. Commissioner Wixparl. Yes. The minutes are approved as submitted. Next item, please. Item number four, file number two six zero nine zero six. Communication from the Department of Public Works to extend the temporary appointment for Bobby Phillips, driver training instructor for six months from October 19, 2026 through April 19th, 2027. This is the first extension request. Prior to the meeting, Commissioners, we received a letter from Tom Langeron, Director of Operations, who explains Mr. Phillips performs critical duties, including snowplow training and CDL training classes. They provided temporary appointment paperwork, a job description, and Mr. Phillips resume. Do commissioners have any comments or questions? No. No. I move approval. I move approval.