A local firefighter union is suing the city of ӣƵ after a commission gave the mayor power to appoint an interim personnel director, a low-profile yet powerful city position that does not answer directly to the mayor’s office.
The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) Local 73 claims the amendments passed by the ӣƵ Civil Service Commission on Feb. 4 violate city charter, “which clearly never intended for the mayor to make an unqualified appointment to the position of Interim Director of Personnel.”
The suit also calls the recent amendments “unreasonable, arbitrary, capricious and an abuse of discretion and therefore invalid.”
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The ӣƵ Civil Service Commission voted unanimously to change how vacancies are filled for the personnel director, giving ӣƵ Mayor Tishaura O. Jones the authority to appoint an interim personnel director when there is a vacancy as there is now.
ӣƵ Mayor Tishaura O. Jones, seen here on Friday, Oct. 29, 2021.
Photo by Daniel Shular, dshular@post-dispatch.com
The city charter stipulates the Civil Service Commission will then provide a list of eligible candidates to the mayor, who will appoint one of those candidates to the director’s position.
The Personnel Department oversees standards for hiring, firing, payment and promotion of the city’s more than 5,000 civil service employees and also handles union negotiations.
It also chooses candidates for police chief, a position Jones is currently working to fill.
Jones announced former Laclede Gas senior vice president John Moten Jr. would take over as interim personnel director a few days after the commission’s vote.
IAFF Local 73’s lawsuit alleges that Moten is not a resident of the city, does not have hold the required educational degree and does not have experience with the department or the administration of a municipal civil service system.
John Moten Jr. was named provisional Director of the City of ӣƵ Department of Personnel. Photo courtesy of ӣƵ City.
He replaced longtime personnel department employee Sylvia Donaldson, according to the suit, who was named interim director of personnel in early January. IAFF’s lawsuit noted Commissioner Chairman Bettye Battle-Turner said Donaldson was “doing a fantastic job.”
Jones’ administration told the ӣƵ they were unable to comment on the suit at this time.
IAFF Local 73’ president, Demetris “Al” Alfred, did not immediately return a request for comment. Neither did the union’s representative, attorney Emily Perez.
The suit is asking the court to issue a declaratory judgment stating that the commission’s amendments violate the charter .
In addition, IAFF Local 73 is asking the court to reinstate the previous rule, prohibit Moten from holding the position and invalidate any actions taken by him as personnel director.
They’re also asking that the ӣƵ Civil Service Commission appoints an interim director from within the department.
