READY FOR YOU TO OPEN THE MEETING .
[1. Opening remarks and adoption of rules for the Salary Grievance Committee.]
[00:00:06]
>> GOOD MORNING , YOU GUYS. THANK YOU, ADMINISTRATOR. THE FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU, GUYS. GOOD MORNING. I AM HAIR IS COUNTY JUDGE, LINA HIDALGO, AND THE CHAIR OF THE SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE. I WOULD LIKE TO CALL THE AUGUST 20TH SALARY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE MEETING TO ORDER. IT SERVES THE IMPORTANT FUNCTION OF HEARING THE GRIEVANCES, WITH REGARD TO THE SETTING OF THEIR SALARY OR CIRCUMSTANCES, LET ME JUST ADD , THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME IN YOUR DAY. THIS IS AN ADDITIONAL TASK . I APPRECIATE YOU , YOU ARE QUITE SMALL ON THIS SCREEN . TODAY, I AM DESIGNATING THE COUNTY FACILITATOR , I AM A NON-VOTING MEMBER, SO, ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ WILL NOT BE VOTING, ONLY PARTICIPATING. ADD SO, THANK YOU , AGAIN , FOLKS. WE APPRECIATE YOU, COUNTY STAFF, COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR , AS WELL. I WILL NOW PASS THIS TO ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ AND I WILL BE LOGGING OFF TO CONTINUE
WITH MY RESPONSIBILITIES. >> THANK YOU AND WE REALLY APPRECIATE YOU TAKING TIME OUT OF YOUR DAY, WE WILL STRIVE TO BE EFFICIENT WITH OUR TIME, SO THAT WE CAN GET THE PEOPLE'S WORK DONE TODAY. LET ME JUST GO THROUGH A FEW LITTLE HOUSEKEEPING ISSUES. SO, THIS MEETING IS BEING LIVE STREAMED AND RECORDED. AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE LUNCH PREPARED . WE ARE GETTING STARTED A LITTLE LATER THAN WE ANTICIPATED. WE ARE EXPECTING TO BEGIN THE LUNCH BREAK AT 12:30. IF ALL OF THE WORK IS DONE, GREAT, WE CAN GO HOME. IF NOT, WE WILL COME BACK AND FINISH. RESTROOMS, LOCATED ON THIS FLOOR, AND YOU CAN GO IN THE MAIN LOBBY IF SOMEONE NEEDS TO HELP YOU. WE WILL TRY TO TAKE A BREAK EVERY SO OFTEN. IF YOU DO NEED TO GO, YOU KNOW, JUST WALK OFF AND GO TO THE BATHROOM. JUST PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF DECORUM -- THE QUORUM . WE NEED SIX PEOPLE ON THE DAIS, EXCLUDING ME. WE HAVE MICROPHONES THAT YOU WILL NEED TO SHARE, IT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL FOR THE RECORDING TO BE ABLE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE CAN UNDERSTAND WHAT YOU ALL ARE SAYING, THIS MEETING IS BEING HELD UNDER THE TEXAS OPEN MEETINGS ACT. IT IS A PUBLIC MEETING, THEY CAN ONLY TAKE UP ITEMS ON THE POSTED AGENDA, WHICH EACH OF YOU HAVE AN AGENDA COPY IN YOUR FOLDER. THE COMMITTEE MAY ADOPT A REASONABLE RESTRICTIONS ON COMMENTS. AS I SAID BEFORE, THE MEETING IS BEING RECORDED AND LIVE STREAMED. WE HAVE REPRESENTATIVES FROM THE COUNTY ATTORNEY'S OFFICE WHO CAN ADVISE THE COMMITTEE ON ANY QUESTIONS THAT MAY ARISE. AND WE HAVE THE COUNTY CLERK'S OFFICE REPRESENTATIVES TO TAKE THE MINUTES. AND WE HAVE A COUPLE OF MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC AS WELL, SO THE COMMITTEE TODAY IS LIMITED TO INCREASING THE SALARIES REQUESTED BY ELECTED OFFICIALS. HOWEVER, THE COMMITTEE MAY NOT SET THE POLICY OR ADD ANY NEW ITEMS TO THE PROPOSED COUNTY BUDGET. IT IS STRICTLY ON THESE PIECES REQUESTED. AT THE CONCLUSION OF THE HEARINGS , WE WILL TAKE A VOTE ON EACH GRIEVANCE, EACH INDIVIDUALLY-AGGRIEVED PERSON.
IF THERE ARE FIVE OR FEWER MEMBERS VOTING IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE REQUEST OF AN ELECTED OFFICIAL, NO FURTHER ACTION IS TAKEN, AND THE REQUEST FAILS. IF THERE ARE SIX TO EIGHT VOTING TO APPROVE, THEN IT WILL BE FORWARDED TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AS A RECOMMENDATION, AND THEY WILL
[00:05:03]
VOTE WHETHER TO TAKE A RECOMMENDATION OR NOT, IF IT IS A UNANIMOUS INTERVIEW, IF ALL NINE OF YOU VOTE IN FAVOR OF APPROVING THE REQUEST, THERE WILL BE NO MORE DELIBERATION AND IT WILL BE AUTOMATICALLY INCLUDED. WE HAVE SEVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS WHO HAVE SUBMITTED GRIEVANCES, AND WITHIN THE STATUTORY TIME FRAMES, THEY WILL BE REFERRED TO BY GRIEVANCE. YOU WILL SEE EACH NAME LISTED IN THE AGENDA.BEFORE WE HEAR FROM THEM, I WANTED TO DISCUSS THE POSSIBLE SEQUENCE OF THE AGENDA ITEMS, WHAT WE ARE RECOMMENDING IS THAT THE FIRST ITEM AN ADOPTION OF RULES FOR HOW THE COMMITTEE WILL WORK TODAY. AND AFTER WE FINISH THIS PART, WE WILL JUMP TO THE REQUESTS. AFTER THE RULES ARE REVIEWED, WE WILL VOTE TO ADOPT THEM, AND THEN WE WILL MOVE TO ADOPT THEM. ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS? I APOLOGIZE , IF WE WERE NOT ABLE TO GET ANY OF THESE MATERIALS OUT EARLIER. THE PROPOSED RULES ARE IN YOUR PACKET, IT IS JUST TWO PAGES, NOT TOO LONG. AND THEY BROADLY OUTLINED THE ROLE AND THEY PROVIDE AN ORDER OF OPERATIONS, FOR THE COMMITTEE. SO, I WILL GIVE YOU A COUPLE OF MINUTES. YOU CAN RAISE YOUR HANDS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AND I WILL RECOGNIZE YOU.
>> OKAY, ONE THING I WANTED TO DO IS TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU SEE, IN YOUR PACKET WITH THE INFORMATION, YOU DO HAVE THE AGENDA. YOU DO HAVE THE NOTICE OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND THE AGENDA. THEN YOU HAVE THE GRIEVANCES , IN THE PACKET, FROM EACH ELECTED OFFICIAL. YOU HAVE THE ACTUAL PROPOSED RULES OF CONDUCT. AND THEN YOU HAVE A COUPLE OF CHARTS, ONE SHOWS THE CHART FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS THAT HAVE FILED GRIEVANCES, THEY ARE ALL CONSTABLES, THEIR PRECINCT, THE NAME, THE CURRENT SALARY, THE SALARY PROPOSED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, THE SALARY REQUESTED IN THE GRIEVANCE. AND WE HAVE ALSO INCLUDED THE SALARY INCREASES THAT WERE , THAT WERE NOTIFIED , BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, AS APPROVED BY THE COURT ON THE
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SIXTH , CONSISTENT WITH THE SALARY, I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE THAT INFORMATION BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT TO TAKE IN, DO WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS ON THE RULES THEMSELVES, RIGHTNOW? SO , YES? >> YOUR HONOR I DON'T HAVE THE SUMMARY. THAT RIGHT THERE SHOWS THE ONE WITH ALL THE ELECTED
OFFICIALS. >> IS IT OKAY IF WE CAN GIVE THEM THIS ONE THAT SHOWS EACH ONE? EACH GRIEVANCE? WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR, SO THEY DO NOT HAVE TO GO THROUGH EACH GRIEVANCE ON THE PAPERWORK, WOULD THAT BE OKAY? IT
>> YES, THAT SHOULD BE FINE. >> IF SOMEONE CAN MAKE COPIES FOR FOLKS, IT WOULD BE HELPFUL . WE WOULD HEAR FROM EACH OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. YES, SIR. AND YOU WANT WHAT? CAN YOU
USE THAT MICROPHONE? >> ONE OTHER QUESTION IS, IS THIS AN UP OR DOWN VOTE, OR CAN WE ADJUST THE SALARY TO WHAT WE
BELIEVE IT SHOULD BE? >> THE SALARY CAN BE ADJUSTED.
>> THE SALARY CAN BE ADJUSTED, IF IT IS THOUGHT TO BE
SOMETHING ELSE. >> TO CONFIRM, IT CAN BE ADJUSTED UPWARDS FROM THE ELECTED OFFICIAL'S CURRENT SALARY, BUT THERE CANNOT BE A RECOMMENDED DEED THAT MAKE
DECREASE. >> IF I WANT TO GO ABOVE WHAT
THEY ARE REQUESTING , I CAN? >> YES , SIR.
>> IF THE COMMITTEE HAS NO QUESTIONS ON THE RULES, WE WOULD LIKE TO ENTERTAIN A MOTION TO APPROVE THE RULES AND THE WAY THAT THE MOTION, WHAT I NEED YOU TO SAY, AYE, AND YOUR NAME. DO I HAVE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO MAKE SUCH A MOTION FOR
THE RULES? >> I MOVE TO ADOPT THE RULES,
AS PRESENTED. >> DO WE HAVE A SECOND? IT WOULD BE OUR , YOUR NAME, AND THEN WE WOULD MOVE. CAN YOU TURN ON YOUR MICROPHONE AND ACTUALLY SAY THAT?
>> MY NAME IS CHARLES BAUER , AND I MOVED TO SECOND THE
MOTION AS PRESENTED. >> MS. MILLS? MS. BURRELL? MR. MINTZ? MR. HALFORD? MS. MCGEE? MR. NEWTON? MR. JONES? MS. DICKERSON? THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. OKAY. THE FIRST PART IS DONE. NOW WE WILL MOVE TO THE GRIEVANCES AND UNDER THE RULES ADOPTED, THIS IS HOW THE PROCESS WOULD WORK, EACH AGGRIEVED PERSON WILL HAVE FIVE MINUTES TO PRESENT THE ARGUMENT. WE WILL HAVE OUR HR DIRECTOR, WHEN HE GETS BACK IN THE ROOM, HE WILL MAKE THE PRESENTATION. BEFORE SPEAKING, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS SHALL WAIT TO BE CALLED ON. AND YOU CAN COMBINE TIME , IF YOU LIKE. IF TWO WOULD LIKE TO COMBINE THEIR COMMENTS, YOU WOULD GET FIVE MINUTES, TIMES TWO, 10 MINUTES. AFTER ALL PRESENTATIONS, THE COMMITTEE WILL HEAR ANY PUBLIC COMMENT. EACH MEMBER OF THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE ONE MINUTE TO SPEAK. AND AFTER THE PUBLIC COMMENTS, WE WILL HAVE DELIBERATION AMONG THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. AGAIN, BEFORE SPEAKING, THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS ARE ASKED TO RAISE THEIR HANDS. IF THERE IS ANY DISCUSSION AMONG THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS, IT IS LIMITED TO 20 MINUTES. AFTER THAT, THERE CAN BE A ONE TIME EXTENSION OF 10 MINUTES. WE ARE THINKING, IF WE CAN GET THROUGH THIS FOR 30 , AT THE END OF THE DISCUSSION,
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THEY WILL VOTE FOR EACH GRIEVANCE REQUEST, FOR EACH GRIEVANCE, I WILL ANNOUNCE THE AMOUNT OF THE INCREASE REQUESTED. IF A MEMBER WOULD LIKE TO MAKE A MOTION, THE MEMBER WOULD RAISE THEIR HAND AND SAY, MY NAME, MOVED TO RECOMMEND, REQUEST AN INCREASE , TO WHAT THE FINAL EVENT SHOULD BE. THEN WE WILL SEE IF THERE IS A SECOND TO THE MOTION. AND THEN WE WILL ASK THE PERSON TO SAY, OUR , I MOVED TO SECOND THE MOTION, THEN WE WILL HAVE A ROLL CALL VOTE FOR EACH ONE. ONCE WE HAVE THAT VOTE, WE WILL ANNOUNCED THE VOTE, AND THE MEMBERS IN FAVOR OF THE INCREASE WILL SIGN THE FORM AND THIS WILL BE A VERY STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS. WHEN THE COMMITTEE HAS COMPLETED ALL OF THE GRIEVANCES, WE WILL THEN[2. Hearing for grievance filed by Constable Alan Rosen, Harris County Precinct One.]
ADJOURN. IS EVERYONE READY TO HEAR THE FIRST ONE? HEARING THE GRIEVANCE FILED BY ALAN ROSEN , CONSTABLE ALAN ROSEN?>> THANK YOU , COMMITTEE, I APPRECIATE THE PAST SERVICE THAT YOU HAVE PROVIDED TO HARRIS COUNTY AND THE SERVICE THAT YOU ARE PROVIDING TODAY. TO THE HONORABLE MEMBERS OF THE HARRIS COUNTY GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE, ESTEEMED COLLEAGUES, FELLOW CITIZENS, GOOD MORNING, I AM YOUR ELECTED CONSTABLE SINCE 2014 , STANDING BEFORE YOU WITH BOTH HUMILITY AND CONVICTION. FOR OVER 30 YEARS, I HAVE HAD THE PRIVILEGE OF SERVING THIS GREAT COUNTY, WORKING TIRELESSLY AMONG THE BRAVE MEN AND WOMEN OF THE OFFICE , TO ASSURE THE SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMITTEES. WE EFFECTIVELY CONTINUED TO ADDRESS CRIME AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS THAT WE PATROL AND WE EFFECTIVELY PROVIDE SERVICES TO HUNDREDS OF COMMUNITY PROGRAMS. YOUR AREA CONSTABLES HANDLE OVER 42% OF CRIME AND HARRIS COUNTY. THIS IS NO SMALL FEAT, GIVEN THE LAW ENFORCEMENT CHALLENGES WITHIN THE COMMUNITY, AND MOST ARE INTIMATELY FAMILIAR WITH THE CLOSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE CONSTABLES OFFICES IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD. VOTERS ONCE AGAIN HAVE PLACED THEIR TRUST IN ME TO CONTINUE THE VITAL WORK OVER THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, THAT IS A RESPONSIBILITY THAT I DO NOT TAKE LIGHTLY. TODAY, I ENTERED THE GRIEVANCE PROCESS TO ADDRESS THE NUMBER OF FUNDAMENTAL FAIRNESS AND PUBLIC INTEREST. PAY EQUITY FOR THE CONSTABLES OFFICE. AFTER YEARS OF FIGHTING FOR MY EMPLOYEES, FOR VERY INEQUITABLE CONSOLATION , I NOW FIND MYSELF WAITING FOR ME TODAY, UNFORTUNATELY. LET ME BE CLEAR, THIS IS NOT MERELY ABOUT NUMBERS ON A PAYCHECK, IT IS ABOUT RECOGNIZING THE CRITICAL ROLE THAT LEADERSHIP PLAYS IN PUBLIC SAFETY. WHEN MAKING YOUR DECISION, I AM ASKING YOU ONE QUESTION. DO YOU VALUE THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO RISK THEIR LIVES EVERY DAY, WHO ARE LED BY LEADERS LIKE ME? OUR HARD-WORKING HARRIS COUNTY FIRE MARSHAL, FOR INSTANCE, EARNS $204,000 . OUR POLLUTION CONTROL DIRECTOR'S SALARY IS SET AT $259,000 AND THE COMMUNITY SERVICES DIRECTOR WAS GIVEN, BY COMMISSIONERS , A SALARY OF $344,000. THESE FIGURES REFLECT THE IMPORTANCE OUR COUNTY PLACES ON THESE VITAL SERVICES. AND THE SALARIES REFLECT THEIR IMPORTANCE . ALL OF THESE COUNTY EMPLOYEES WERE HIRED AND THEN APPOINTED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT AND THEN THE SALARIES WERE APPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONERS COURT. THERE IS NO OTHER COUNTY IN TEXAS WHERE LAW ENFORCEMENT LEADER MAKES LESS THAN THEIR SUBORDINATES. IN MARCH OF THIS YEAR, COMMISSIONERS COURT VOTED TO APPROVE A 40% PAY RAISE FOR DIRECTOR OF THE TOLL ROADS. WE ARE ASKING YOU TODAY TO FAIRLY APPROVE AN INCREASE OF 17.5%, AFTER NINE YEARS WITHOUT A PAY RATE INCREASE. I STAND BEFORE
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YOU, EMPHASIZING THE VERY FOUNDATION OF OUR THRIVING COMMUNITY DESERVES EQUAL CONSIDERATION. AND THIS IS NOT JUST ABOUT PAY PARITY . IT IS ABOUT PAY EQUITY AND ALIGNING COMPENSATION WITH THE STAKES INVOLVED. THE LIVES AND THE SAFETY OF THE MEN AND WOMEN WHO WE ALL SERVE. AS I PREPARE TO BEGIN MY NEW TERM IN JANUARY, I HUMBLY ASK YOU TODAY, AS THE MOST TENURED CONSTABLE, TO CONSIDER ELIMINATING PAY GAPS THAT EXIST IN OUR SYSTEM AND I ASK YOU TO CHOOSE PAY EQUITY, THIS REQUEST IS NOT OUT OF THE REALM OF REASON, IT IS ROUGHLY 6.5% ABOVE OUR CHIEF DEPUTY'S CURRENT PAY , 9.2% RAISE WAS GIVEN, THE RANK-AND-FILE EMPLOYEES, AND THE COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS, SINCE 2016, THEY HAVE BEEN RECEIVED.UNFORTUNATELY, I HAVE NOT. IN CLOSING , I WANT TO RECOGNIZE A YEAR OF TOUGH WORK THAT WE BRING TO BRING EFFECTIVE, COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING IN TIMES OF COMMUNITY NEED.
>> THANK YOU, YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> I HAVE ONE MORE SENTENCE, IS THAT OKAY, MADAM CHAIR?
>> HIS TIME, SO LONG AS THE TWO TAKE 10 TOTAL?
>> THAT IS FINE. >> GO RIGHT AHEAD , SIR.
>> I WANT TO RECOGNIZE THIS REQUEST RECOGNIZES THE YEARS OF TOUGH WORK WE BRING TO COMMUNITY-BASED POLICING . THIS IS BEFORE YOU, THE DECISION-MAKERS, TO MAKE THIS RIGHT AND THIS CAN BE DONE TODAY WITH YOUR UNANIMOUS VOTE.
I APPRECIATE BEING YOUR CONSTABLE AND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> ANY QUESTIONS FOR CONSTABLE ALAN ROSEN? YES, SIR.
>> IN THE GRIEVANCE, YOU HAVE YOUR CHIEF DEPUTY AS 150 -SOMETHING. DOES HE GET THAT, OR A SALARY INCREASE GOING
FORWARD? >> HE WAS JUST VOTED, NO, I TAKE THAT BACK. THAT IS A SALARY , 151, AND SOME CHANGE .
SO, HE IS GETTING -- >> HE IS GETTING A SALARY
>> SO, THE 9.1%, THAT IS NOT FOR HIM?
>> NO. IT IS FOR EVERYONE ELSE.
>> THANK YOU. YES, AFTER EACH ONE.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON, THIS IS SHANE, AND PART OF THE STATUTE, THERE MUST BE ELECTED OFFICIALS DURING BUDGET HEARINGS FOR EACH FISCAL YEAR. THE HARRIS COUNTY FISCAL YEAR BEGINS OCTOBER 1ST , SO IT IS COMING UP, ON AUGUST 6TH, 2024, THE OFFICE OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATION PRESENTED TWO OPTIONS TO CONSIDER FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS . THE OPTIONS WORK 9.2% AND 4.6%. COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROVED THE HIGHER AMOUNT OF 9.2%. THE 9.2% FOR ELECTED OFFICIALS WAS DERIVED FROM THE VARIOUS COST OF LIVING ADJUSTMENTS THAT OTHER HARRIS COUNTY EMPLOYEES HAVE RECEIVED IN RECENT YEARS, 1.2% IN 2021, 1% IN 2022, AND 7% IN 2023.
HUMAN RESOURCES DID CONDUCT A SURVEY, INCLUDING THE FIVE LARGEST TEXAS COUNTIES, DALLAS, BARRON COUNTY, TRAVIS COUNTY, TARRANT COUNTY AND EL PASO COUNTY. I WILL CONSTABLES WERE BEING PAID LESS, PER YEAR, THEN THE SURVEY AVERAGE , THE PROPOSED INCREASE WOULD PUT US 5.6 PERCENT HIGHER.
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COMMISSIONERS COURT AUTHORIZES HUMAN RESOURCES TO CONDUCT A COUNTYWIDE, PAY EQUITY STUDY, FOR ALL POSITIONS, INCLUDING CONSTABLES. THIS SHOULD START NEXT MONTH AND IT WILL BEN SMART TO ASSESS THE COMPETITIVENESS OF THEIR PAY COMPARED TO THE MARKET. COMPARED TO THE AMOUNT GET -- MARKET, THE RESULT WOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR THE FOLLOWING FISCAL YEAR. FINALLY, I WOULD LIKE TO POINT OUT THAT SEVEN ELECTED OFFICIALS, INCLUDING THE COMMISSIONERS COURT THEMSELVES, HAVE EMPLOYEES EARNING SALARIES GREATER THEN THE ELECTED OFFICIAL. IN CONCLUSION, IT IS THE RECOMMENDATION OF HUMAN RESOURCES TO INCREASE CONSTABLE SALARIES FOR THE 9.2% , TO PUT THEM IN PARITY WITH WHAT THE OTHER EMPLOYEES HAVE RECEIVED IN COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT IN RECENT YEARS. THEN ALLOW THE PAY EQUITY STUDY TO THE CLAIM PLEADED BACK MAGGIE BE COMPLETED NEXT YEAR, WITH OTHER HARRIS COUNTY ELECTED OFFICIALS. INCLUDED IN YOUR PACKET ARE THE SALARIES OF ALL OF THE ELECTED OFFICIALS APPROVED FOR THE UPCOMING FISCAL YEAR. APPROVING INCREASES TO $177,483, $178,509 PER YEAR FOR THE CONSTABLES, THAT WOULD BE AN APPROXIMATE 30% INCREASE, AND MAY CAUSE MORE PAY DISPARITY AMONG OTHER COUNTY POSITIONS, ESPECIALLY AMONG ELECTED OFFICIALS. THAT CONCLUDES MY REMARKS AND I WILLTAKE ANY QUESTIONS. >> COMMITTEE MEMBERS, PLEASE
USE YOUR MICROPHONE. >> HOW MANY YEARS HAS IT BEEN , SINCE THE CONSTABLES, SINCE CONSTABLE ALAN ROSEN HAS
RECEIVED A PAY INCREASE? >> THE LAST RAYS THEY RECEIVED
WAS IN 2016. >> MR. MILFORD? ANYONE ELSE?
OKAY. THANK YOU. >> CAN I APPROACH THE BENCH ? I NEED TO GIVE EVERY MEMBER A COPY OF WHAT I HAVE SUBMITTED I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU HAVE IT AND FORGIVE ME I THOUGHT I
[3. Hearing for grievance filed by Constable Jerry Garcia, Harris County Precinct Two.]
HAD ONE MINUTE. I WILL NOT BE AS LONG AS CONSTABLE ALAN ROSEN. GOOD MORNING , COMMITTEE, I WANT TO THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE TO THIS PROCESS AND WITHOUT YOU, I WOULD NOT HAVE THE ABILITY. I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, ELECTED CONSTABLES HAVE NOT RECEIVED A RAISE SINCE 2016, OUR DEPUTIES HAVE RECEIVED SEVERAL WELL-DESERVED RAISES DURING THE SAME TIME PERIOD. WITH THE INCREASE IN PAY , BEGINNING IN 2019 , THE CHIEF DEPUTY POSITIONS BEGAN RECEIVING MORE PAY THAN ELECTED CONSTABLES. EACH YEAR THEREAFTER, THE PAY FOR THE CHIEF DEPUTY POSITION HAS INCREASED, BUT US, AS ELECTED CONSTABLES, WE RECEIVE THE SAME UNTIL TWO WEEKS AGO UNTIL WE RECEIVED AN INCREASE TO BEGIN IN OCTOBER. AS VOTED BY COMMISSIONERS COURT APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS AGO, THEY SHARE A SALARY WAS RAISED TO $217,483. HISTORY OF DEPUTY WILL RECEIVE A SALARY OF $185,182. I AM NOT ASKING TO RECEIVE THE SAME SALARY AS THE SHERIFF, NOR AM I ASKING TO RECEIVE THE SAME SALARY AS HIS CHIEF DEPUTY. THE SHERIFF RECEIVES A SALARY THAT IS 17.5% MORE THAN HIS CHIEF DEPUTY, WITH THIS INCREASE IN PAY THAT WE JUST RECEIVED, OR WILL RECEIVE, AS ELECTED CONSTABLES, WE ARE RECEIVING $6000 LESS THAN OUR CHIEF DEPUTY, WHICH IS 4.1% LESS. AS ELECTED CONSTABLE, I AM ASKING FOR PAY PARITY STRUCTURED SIMILARLY TO THAT OF THE HARRIS COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND I AM ASKING THAT MY SALARY BE THE SAME TO MY SHERIFF AS HIS CHIEF DEPUTY, 17.5% MORE THAN THE SALARY PROVIDED TO MY CHIEF DEPUTY. AS I RESEARCHED , TO[00:30:06]
PREPARE FOR TODAY , I WAS UNABLE TO FIND ANY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICE IN TEXAS WHERE THE ELECTED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL RECEIVED LOWER PAY THAN HIS SECOND IN COMMAND. COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS, ON NEW OCCASIONS, IN OPEN COURT, SPOKEN ABOUT THE NEED FOR PAY PARITY. AND I STRONGLY AGREE. AND I ASK THAT YOU KINDLY CONSIDER MY GRIEVANCE.AGAIN, I TRULY APPRECIATE YOUR TIME, SUPPORT, AND SERVICE TO THIS PROCESS. AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, I WILL TAKE THEM
NOW. >> COMMITTEE MEMBERS , ANY
QUESTIONS? YES ? >> I AM NOTICING THIS , THIS WITH THE DIFFERENCES, IS THERE ANY REASON WHY IN 2019, THE DEPUTIES ' SALARIES INCREASED BY SO MUCH MORE ? WHO DECIDED
THAT, WHY WAS IT DONE WE >> COMMISSIONERS COURT DECIDES THE PAY. WE DO NOT HAVE ANY SAY IN THE PAY, SORRY.
>> WE CAN SPEAK TO THEM. >> COMMISSIONERS COURT DOES SET THE SALARIES. IT WOULD'VE BEEN THE COMMISSIONERS COURT OR ANYONE ELSE BESIDES BE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
>> IS THIS THE ONLY WAY THAT THE ELECTED OFFICIALS GET WHAT
THEY BELIEVE THEY DESERVE? >> COMMISSIONERS COURT , THEY HAVE TO DO IT DURING THE BUDGET HEARINGS , WHEN THEY APPROVE THE BUDGET. THEY DO APPROVE THE SALARIES AND IF THEY DO NOT LIKE THE SALARIES, THEY CAN OF COURSE ASK FOR A GRIEVANCE.
>> TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION , CORRECT, IF YOU DECIDE THAT WE RECEIVE THE PAY INCREASE, THEN A -- IT WOULD BE BASED ON THE RULES. IF YOU DECIDE NOT TO, COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL NOT
GIVE IT TO US. THANK YOU. >> YES, SIR?
>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR YOU. WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME ALL OF THESE OTHER COUNTY POSITIONS GOT A SALARY INCREASE ?
>> I SHOULD SAY MOST OF THE OTHER EMPLOYEES RECEIVED 7% IN
2023. >> BUT I AM TALKING ABOUT THE
>> EVERYONE ELECTED HAD AN INCREASE IN 2016 AND HAS NOT
SINCE THEN. >> THERE ARE SOME CAVEATS REGARDING JUDGES, BUT FOR THE MOST PART , NO ONE SINCE 2016.
>> IN CLOSING, SOMETHING WAS MENTIONED EARLIER, ABOUT THE POPULATION SIZES OF THE COUNTIES IN TEXAS. HARRIS COUNTY IS THE THIRD LARGEST COUNTY IN THE COUNTRY AND THE SECOND LARGEST IN THE STATE, BEHIND US, 2 MILLION PEOPLE ARE BEHIND US. I WANTED TO KEEP THAT IN MIND, WE SERVE OVER 2
MILLION . >> ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS ? YES,
MA'AM? YES? >> I AM IN A MILLS , ARE THERE ANY OTHER INCENTIVES GIVEN, CONSIDERING THEY WERE NOT GIVING ANY RAISES SINCE 2016 ? THE DEPUTIES, THEY HAVE RECEIVED CONSISTENT INCREASES.
>> THEY DO GET CERTAIN ASSENTED -- INCENTIVE ALLOWANCES. YOU COULD GET A CERTAIN INCENTIVE IF IT WAS A BACHELORS DEGREE MAY BE, BUT THOSE AMOUNTS HAVE NOT CHANGED, YOU KNOW, SINCE
2016. >> THAT APPLIES TO THE CHIEF
DEPUTY AS WELL? >> THEY WOULD BE ELIGIBLE IN CERTAIN INSTANCES FOR ALLOWANCES.
>> WHAT ABOUT VERSUS GIVING EVERYONE ELSE RAISES ?
>> THE INCENTIVE ALLOWANCES, WE HAVE NOT INCREASED ANY OF
[00:35:02]
THOSE, FOR THE CHIEF DEPUTIES, OR , YOU KNOW, THE RANK AND FILE, THAT HAS PRETTY MUCH BEEN STANDARD. SAME WITH THE CONSTABLES, THEY WOULD GET THE EXACT SAME THING, IF THEY HAD ACOLLEGE DEGREE. >> THEY ARE ELECTED, AND THE
OTHER ONES ARE NOT? >> WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THEIR BASE SALARY, THAT IS WHAT THIS IS IN REGARDS TO. YES.
>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? SHANE ?
>> I WAS GOING TO ASK IF, WITH ALL OF MY PRIOR STATEMENTS, IF
[4. Hearing for grievance filed by Constable Sherman Eagleton, Harris County Precinct Three.]
THAT CAN BE INCLUDED IN MY TESTIMONY? THANK YOU.>> NEXT, WE HAVE CONSTABLE SHERMAN EAGLETON FROM PRECINCT
3. >> THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE IN THIS PROCESS. I DO HAVE A HANDOUT FOR YOU. THANK YOU, SO MUCH.
AGAIN , THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE, I AM SHERMAN EAGLETON, THE ELECTED CONSTABLE FOR BRAKES -- PRECINCT 3. I WAS ELECTED TO TAKE CARE OF PRECINCT 3'S CONSTABLE'S OFFICE. I HAVE BEEN THE CONSTABLE FOR GOING ON EIGHT YEARS AND I HAVE NOT HAD A RAISE SINCE I HAVE BEEN IN OFFICE. I REFERRED SOME OF MY TIME OVER TO PRECINCT 1. I AM ASKING FOR THE 17.5% RAISE, TO BRING US UP TO $178,000, EVERYTHING I LISTED IN MY GRIEVANCE IS RIGHT THERE. I WILL NOT TAKE UP ANY MORE OF YOUR TIME. THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE. ONE MORE THING. I HAD MY STAFF DO A STUDY ON ALL THE ELECTED POLICE OFFICIALS IN TEXAS, HARRIS COUNTY IS THE ONLY COUNTY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS WHERE THE CHIEFS MAKE MORE THAN THE ELECTED OFFICIALS. THAN YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. COMMITTEE MEMBERS?
>> TO THE HR PERSON AGAIN, IS THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AN
ELECTED OFFICIAL? >> YES, THE HARRIS COUNTY
[5. Hearing for grievance filed by Constable Mark Herman, Harris County Precinct Four.]
SHERIFF IS AN ELECTED POSITION.>> THANK YOU. >> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NEXT , CONSTABLE MARK HERMAN, HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT FOR SKI . --
FOUR. >> MY PICTURE DOES NOT SHOWING.
I APOLOGIZE FOR NOT BEING THERE. I HAD A MEDICAL PROCEDURE THIS MORNING. I MIGHT NOT BE ON THIS CONFERENCE, BUT THESE OTHER CONSTABLES ARE MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND I LOVE THEM AND I WISH THAT I COULD BE THERE FIGHTING WITH YOU ALL, IN PERSON, BUT I CAN'T. I JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT MY LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, UP NORTH, WE REPRESENT , WE SERVE ABOUT 1.3 MILLION CITIZENS. I HAVE BEEN DOING THIS JOB AT THE PRECINCT FOUR CONSTABLES OFFICE, SINCE I WAS 21, I AM GOING ON MY 39TH YEAR AND I LOVE DOING WHAT I DO. I HAVE NEVER DONE IT FOR THE MONEY. I WILL SAY, WITHOUT GETTING INTO THE WEEDS OF EVERYTHING, IT HAS BEEN A TOUGH BATTLE FOR THE LAST SIX YEARS, WHEN IT COMES TO CONSTABLES IN OUR COURT. BE THAT WHAT IT MAY, THIS IS A COMMON SENSE SITUATION THAT IS RIGHT IN FRONT OF US. THE COURTS CAN ALWAYS GIVE US WHAT THEY WANT TO GIVE US. YOU KNOW, IF IT WERE UP TO ME? EVERY CONSTABLE WOULD BE MAKING THE SAME AS GONZALEZ, OUR JOBS ARE THE SAME, WE TAKE THE SAME RISKS AND I AGREE WITH MY OTHER COLLEAGUES. BASICALLY, WE WANT TO KEEP IT CONSISTENT. IT IS NOT ABOUT THE MONEY IT IS ABOUT THE PRINCIPAL BUT I MUST ASK YOU, AND I WAS RELIEVED TO HEAR THAT IT WAS A COMMITTEE OF PEOPLE THAT WAS NOT AFFILIATED BEFORE. BECAUSE IN MY OPINION, IF THE COURT WAS A REAL COURT, THEY WOULD MAKE A DECISION AND THEY WOULD NOT BE PULLING YOU ALL INTO IT IS -- THIS. EVERY
[00:40:02]
YEAR WE ASK FOR SOME KIND OF RAISE, TO KEEP THE SITUATION FROM HAPPENING BUT EVERY YEAR WE ARE TOLD, IT IS ELECTION TIME, HERE WE ARE AGAIN, IT IS ELECTION TIME, AND THEY DON'T WANT TO MAKE THE DECISION. I FEEL BAD ABOUT THAT, BUT REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU ALL DECIDE, I WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT AND I WILL BE HERE ANOTHER FOUR YEARS. ALL I GOT TO SAY, GOD BLESS THE SHERIFFS, THE CONSTABLES, AND THE JOB THAT WE HAVE BEFORE US. BECAUSE IT IS GOING TO GET PRETTY TOUGH, PRETTY DICEY , IN THE NEXT FOUR YEARS, FOR ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT. WE ARE UP TO IT. PLEASE CONSIDER OUR REQUESTS .IT IS JUST A COMMON SENSE APPROACH. BUT AGAIN, THANK YOU
ALL VERY MUCH. >> ANY QUESTIONS? MS. BURRELL ?
MS. WILLIAMS? >> YOU JUST BROUGHT UP SOMETHING THAT I MIGHT BE NAÏVE TO UNDERSTANDING. YOU SAID THE SHERIFF'S POSITION IS NO DIFFERENT THAN THAT OF THE
>> SO, WHY IS HE MAKING SO MUCH MORE THAN YOU GUYS?
>> THAT, YEAH, THAT IS A VERY GOOD QUESTION. YOU SPEAK ABOUT QUANTITY AND QUALITY, I CAN ASSURE YOU EACH OF THE ELECTED EIGHT CONSTABLES HAVE THE SAME QUALITY OF WORK THAT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE PUTS OUT, DO NOT GET ME WRONG, ED GONZALEZ IS A VERY GOOD FRIEND OF MINE. I LIKE HIM. ALL OF THE CONSTABLES GET ON VERY GOOD WITH ED GONZALEZ AND HIS TEAM.
BUT FOR THE LIFE OF ME, I NEVER COULD UNDERSTAND WHY HIS CHIEF DEPUTIES, AND SO MANY OF HIS CHIEFS, COULD MAKE MORE THAN THE ELECTED CONSTABLES, WHEN IN FACT, THE CONSTABLES THROUGHOUT HARRIS COUNTY, WE HAVE LITTLE MORE THAN A HALF OF LAW ENFORCEMENT IN AN UNINCORPORATED HARRIS COUNTY, AGAIN, THIS IS SOMETHING THAT OUR COMMISSIONERS BASICALLY WORKED TO STRUCTURE THROUGH THE YEARS. YOU KNOW, ED GONZALEZ MAKES $217,000 PER YEAR. IF YOU AGREE TO THIS. THE CONSTABLES WILL MAKE WHATEVER THE FIGURES WERE ON THE LETTERS THAT WE SUBMITTED, WHICH IS STILL $40,000 LESS THAN ED GONZALEZ.
THAT IS WHAT I MEANT BY THAT. OUR JOBS ARE THE SAME, WE ARE ON CALLS. IT IS LAW ENFORCEMENT, IT IS THE SAME
MIX. >> THERE IS NO DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SHERIFF AND THE CONSTABLES ? WHAT ABOUT THE AREA, DOES HE HAVE MORE PEOPLE THAT HE SERVES?
>> THE SHERIFF AS MORE EMPLOYEES , BUT HE HAS MORE COMMAND STAFF TO MANAGE THOSE EMPLOYEES. THE MAKEUP, I MEAN, THE SHERIFF HANDLES THE JAILS, AND DIFFERENT THINGS, BUT I CAN ASSURE YOU, AND I WILL NOT SPEAK FOR THE SHERIFF, BUT I CAN SPEAK FOR ME. I HAVE CLOSE TO 700 EMPLOYEES. AT THE END OF THE NEXT BUDGET SEASON, AND AGAIN, ALL EIGHT TOGETHER, WE COMPRISE ALMOST HALF OF ALL LAW ENFORCEMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY.
THERE IS NO REASON WE SHOULD BE IN THIS POSITION, NO ONE EVER WANTED TO BREACH THIS . I AM THANKFUL TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT FOR BRINGING IN YOU FOLKS SO THAT YOU CAN LOOK AT IT FOR WHAT IT IS AND MAKE A GOOD DECISION.
>> I NEED TO REITERATE WHAT CONSTABLE MARK HERMAN SAID , WE HAVE EIGHT CONSTABLE BREE STINKS -- PRECINCTS , AND HE MANAGES ONE OF THE LARGEST JAILS AS WELL, THAT IS ACTUALLY
A LITTLE BIT OF A DIFFERENCE. >> YOU ARE SAYING THAT THE
SHERIFF DOES THAT? >> THE SHERIFF DOES THAT.
>> THANK YOU. MS. MILLS ? >> I HAVE A QUESTION. IS THE CHIEF DEPUTY EXPECTED TO RECEIVE AN INCREASE FOR THIS
BUDGET YEAR? >> THE COMMISSIONERS COURT THUS FAR HAS NOT INDICATED ANY INCREASES.
>> THE UPCOMING BUDGET YEAR? >> YES.
>> OVER TO YOU. >> YOU KNOW HOW MANY PEOPLE ORDERED THE SHERIFF? IT IT , GO AHEAD.
>> IT IS BETWEEN 5000 AND 6000 . THAT INCLUDES THE JAIL
EMPLOYEES. >> SO, IN THE STRUCTURE OF YOUR OFFICE , THE CONSTABLE IS THE HIGHEST POSITION, CHIEF DEPUTY
[00:45:03]
IS THE NEXT AND WHAT COMES AFTER THAT?>> THAT WOULD BE ASSISTANT CHIEF, THEN CAPTAIN, THE LIEUTENANT, THEN SERGEANT, THEN CORPORAL, AND THEN DEPUTY.
>> SO, MY QUESTION IS, WE HAVE HEARD A PRETTY CONSISTENT ASK FOR 17.5% , BETWEEN THE CONSTABLE AND HIS CHIEF DEPUTY.
DOES ANYONE HERE TODAY KNOW WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE CHIEF DEPUTY AND, WHAT WAS IT ? THE ASSISTANT ?
>> ASSISTANT CHIEF . >> THE ASSISTANT CHIEF, WHAT IS
THAT PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE? >> CURRENTLY --
>> CAN YOU COME UP TO THE MICROPHONE, SIR?
>> CURRENTLY, MY NAME IS TED HEAP, I AM THE CONSTABLE FOR PRECINCT 5, THE CONSTABLE MAKES 4.5% LESS THAN HIS CHIEF DEPUTY, AFTER CONSIDERATION A WEEK AGO. 17.5% ABOVE HIS CHIEF, THE CONSTABLES ARE 4.5% BELOW THEIR CHIEF DEPUTY, EVEN AFTER THE ADJUSTMENTS TO THE COMPENSATION.
>> BUT THEN, THE NEXT STEP DOWN, PLEASE.
>> THE ASSISTANT CHIEFS ? I DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.
UNTIL THE ACTION OF THE COURT A COUPLE OF WEEKS AGO, THE CONSTABLE, AT 133, WAS MAKING NOT ONLY LESS THAN HIS CHIEF DEPUTY, BUT LESS THAN HIS ASSISTANT CHIEFS , TOO. SO, WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, WE WERE ACTUALLY MAKING THE THIRD-LOWEST DOWN, THE ADJUSTMENT FOR THE ELECTED OFFICIALS BROUGHT US BACK UP ABOVE THE ASSISTANT CHIEFS.
STILL $6500 BELOW OUR CHIEF DEPUTIES. AND WHAT WE ARE ASKING FOR IS THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN US AND THE CHIEF TO BE THE SAME AS WHAT THE SHERIFF HAS BETWEEN HE AND HIS CHIEF.
>> ANY OTHER -- OH. HOLD ON, HOLD ON. COUNTY ATTORNEY, YES,
SIR? >> JUST TO CONFIRM THE RULES , WE RECOMMEND THAT THE COMMITTEE MAKE SURE TO ASK QUESTIONS ONLY TO THE PERSON WHO HAS JUST PRESENTED, JUST BECAUSE EACH OF THE GRIEVANCES WILL HAVE THEIR OWN TIME.
>> I KNOW THAT THIS WOULD BE FOR CONSTABLE HERMAN THEN.
OKAY, GREAT. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS FOR CONSTABLE HERMAN
? >> I WANTED TO SAY THANK GOODNESS FOR A COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR GETTING US BACK ON TRACK.
AND I SAY THAT FACETIOUSLY. >> OKAY, NEXT , CONSTABLE TED
[6. Hearing for grievance filed by Constable Ted Heap, Harris County Precinct Five.]
HEAP, PRECINCT FIVE. >> THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT OF YOUR BUSY SCHEDULE TO BE HERE TODAY.
AS MY COLLEAGUES HAVE VERY ELOQUENTLY STATED, YOU KNOW? WE ARE ALREADY ALL HERE DEALING WITH THE SAME ISSUE. THE OTHER EIGHT CONSTABLES GET PAID THE SAME AMOUNT AND THERE IS NO DIFFERENTIAL IN OUR PAY, AS FAR AS BASE SALARY GOES. WHAT I WOULD LIKE TO DO WAS BE ABLE TO HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO ANSWER YOUR SPECIFIC QUESTIONS. YOU KNOW, I DON'T NEED TO REPEAT WHAT MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THIS IS REALLY NOT ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT, YOU KNOW? WHAT THE PREVIOUS COURT HAS BEEN, WHETHER OR NOT THE ELECTED OFFICE , OR THE ELECTED CONSTABLE IS MAKING , YOU KNOW, WHAT THEY , YOU THINK THEY SHOULD BE MAKING. NONE OF THIS IS RELEVANT, IN MY OPINION , AT ALL, THIS IS ABOUT A DECADE OF STAGNATION, IN OUR SINGLE POSITION. THERE ARE ONLY EIGHT OF US. NOW, I KNOW THAT THERE HAS BEEN TALK ABOUT PAY OFFICIALS NOT RECEIVING RAISES SINCE 2016 AND I UNDERSTAND THAT. BUT I AM NOT GRIEVING FOR THEM. I AM GRIEVING AS THEY ARE, FOR BEING ABLE TO REPRESENT THEMSELVES, IF YOU LOOK AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE . THE SHERIFF, YES, HE DID NOT RECEIVE THE PAY RAISE, HE IS GOING TO RECEIVE EXACTLY WHAT WE DID, BUT THE DIFFERENTIAL BETWEEN WHAT HE WAS MAKING AND HIS CHIEF DEPUTY WAS SO SUBSTANTIAL, EVEN WITH HIS CHIEF DEPUTY NOT GETTING THE RAISE, HE IS STILL MAKING 217 TO 185. SO , EVEN WITH WHAT THE COURT ACTION TOOK , ON OUR
[00:50:09]
BEHALF, THAT STILL PUTS US 4.5%. IT IS LIKE WE ARE TRYING TO RIGHT THE WRONG AND I TOTALLY UNDERSTAND THIS. BUT, LISTEN, LISTEN, LISTEN, FOR 41 YEARS I HAVE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN HARRIS COUNTY AND I AM NOT FIGHTING FOR MYSELF. I AM RETIRING DECEMBER 31ST! I AM FIGHTING FOR EVERYONE WHO COMES AFTER. I AM FIGHTING TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT.AND THE KEY IS, UNLESS WE DO WHAT IS RIGHT, UNLESS WE SET THIS SHIP STRAIGHT, IT WILL NEVER PROGRESS. WE CAN DO COUNTYWIDE STUDIES. WE CAN SAY THAT WE ADDRESS LAW ENFORCEMENT DIFFERENTLY THAN WE ADDRESS CIVILIANS AND ALL OF THAT IS CORRECT, BUT YOU CANNOT LEAVE PEOPLE STAGNANT, IN A PARAMILITARY ORGANIZATION WHERE THE RANK STRUCTURE IS COMMENSURATE WITH THE PAY. THAT IS NOT DONE ANYWHERE, AS YOU HAVE HEARD SEVERAL TIMES, WITHIN THE STATE OF TEXAS AND IT IS NOT DONE WITHIN THE MILITARY. TO EXPECT THAT FOR THE LIABILITY, THE CULPABILITY, YOU KNOW, IT IS US, THE ELECTED OFFICIAL. I HAVE ABOUT 1.3 MILLION PEOPLE, WE ARE THE ONES WHO GET CALLED, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE RIGHT -- NIGHT. WE HAVE THE COUNTY ATTORNEY FOR CERTAIN CASES TO DEFEND OURSELVES. BUT THESE ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT FALL ON THE ELECTED OFFICIAL. AND, YOU KNOW? WE TALKED ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS, AS EARLIER MENTIONED , ABOUT HOW THIS HAS PROGRESSED.
IT IS NOT THE FAULT OF THE CURRENT COURT. THERE HAS BEEN SOME NONACTION TAKEN BY THIS COURT IN COURT. BUT IF YOU GO BACK, I AM GOING TO ASK YOU TO LOOK AT THE LAST PAGE OF WHAT I SUBMITTED. THIS IS MY PERSONAL INFORMATION. THIS CAME FROM THE COUNTY DOCUMENT, SO IF THERE IS ANY DOUBT, THIS IS NOT TED HEAP MAKING UP STUFF, I WAS THE CHIEF DEPUTY, IN 2016 AND MY CONSTABLE MADE $4000 MORE THAN ME AND FROM THAT POINT ON, YOU NOTICED THAT I WAS ELECTED BY THE PEOPLE OF PRECINCT FIVE.
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS FOLLOW THAT ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 2024, TO SEE THAT THE CHIEF DEPUTIES, AND EVERYBODY ELSE, THE CHIEF DEPUTIES, THE CAPTAINS, THE LIEUTENANTS, THEY ALL PROGRESSIVELY RECEIVED A VERY WELL DESERVED COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT. WE TALKED ABOUT 2020 TO 2024, THIS CAUGHT US UP, WITHIN THE COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENT. IT DOES NOT INCLUDE 2016 TO 2020, NOW WE CAN USE WORDS LIKE, THERE WERE NOTHING LIKE THAT THEN, THERE WERE SALARY ADJUSTMENTS, BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS BUDGET DIRECTOR USED THOSE WORDS, THEY CAN, PECAN .
THERE WAS A PAY RAISE FOR THE OTHER EIGHT ELECTED CONSTABLES.
AND THAT IS HOW WE GOT INTO THAT SITUATION, DURING THOSE YEARS, FROM 2016, THERE WAS A SHORT BUDGET CYCLE, AND EIGHT
YEARS -- >> THAT IS YOUR TIME.
>> CAN ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS? >> COMMITTEE MEMBERS , MS.
BURRELL? >> FIRST OF ALL, CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT! SECONDLY, DEPENDENT UPON WHAT WE DECIDE, MAYBE IT IS NOT FOR YOU, MAYBE IT IS FOR YOU, BUT DOES THIS GET REEVALUATED IN A YEAR? COULD THIS POSSIBLY GO DOWN , OR COULD IT CHANGE, IN THE NEXT
BUDGET, TO LOWER? >> FIRST OF ALL, WE ARE NEVER GOING TO HAVE THE TAXES COMPROMISE, YOU WILL NEVER HAVE THEM COME DOWN. THE TRUTH IS, IF THIS REQUEST IS GRANTED, WE WOULD BE RAISED . PLEASE REMEMBER, AS OUR WELL DESERVING STAFF, THE MEN AND WOMEN, YOU KNOW? I RAISED MY MONEY -- FAMILY ON ONE SINGLE INCOME, WORKING AS A COP. AS THEY GET COST-OF-LIVING INCREASES, THE COUNTY NEEDS TO SAY, LOOK, WE NEED TO ASSESS AND EVALUATE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS, TOO SO THAT WE DO NOT FIND OURSELVES BACK IN THE SITUATION, AS WE DID OVER THE LAST DECADE, WHERE WE HAVE NOT TAKEN ANY OF THAT INTO CONSIDERATION. IT WOULD BE CONSIDERED BUT IT IS UP TO THE EXISTING COURT TO SAY, WE NEED TO ADDRESS THIS!!
>> THE OTHER PERSON SAID THEY HAVE A SEVEN-PERSON FORCE. WHAT
IS YOUR SIZE? >> 530, GIVE OR TAKE , SOME.
1.3 MILLION RESIDENTS ON THE WESTSIDE, KIND OF A PIE SHAPED
[00:55:05]
ON THE WEST SIDE OF HARRIS COUNTY.>> ANYONE ELSE? COMMITTEE MEMBERS? THANK YOU, SIR.
>> I KNOW THAT IT IS A REAL TASK TO COME DOWN HERE. THANK
YOU FOR ALLOWING US TO SPEAK. >> PART OF OUR RECOMMENDATION THAT THE COMMISSIONERS COURT DID, THEY APPROVED THE COMP STUDY, FOR THIS COMING FISCAL YEAR, AND ELECTED OFFICIALS, THEY WILL BE PART OF THAT STUDY. AND, YOU KNOW, IT WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, THAT WILL BE SOMETHING TO DECIDE IF THEY WANT TO INCLUDE THAT IN THE
NEXT BUDGET. >> SHANE, HAVE THERE BEEN ANY STUDIES DONE BEFORE? WE ARE STILL NOT MAKING IT RIGHT, I HAVE SEEN ALL OF THESE STUDIES.
>> I DON'T KNOW IF WE CAN HAVE THOSE KINDS OF, YEAH, THOSE KINDS OF CONVERSATIONS. I AM SORRY. I AM TRULY SORRY ABOUT THAT BUT DID ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY KIND OF COMMENT? MR.
GILFORD? >> HAVE YOU SEEN ANY OTHER
STUDIES? >> ABSOLUTELY, THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER STUDIES AND SOME OF THEM HAVE BEEN UTILIZED TO BRING THEM UP TO PARITY OR UPDATE AS , I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY YEARS AGO THAT WAS, BUT YES, EVERY SIX OR SEVEN YEARS, THE STUDY COMES OUT THAT SAYS WE ARE GETTING GROSSLY UNDERPAID, MONTGOMERY, FULTON COUNTY, TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE NOT TAKING OUR OFFICERS. AND THE COUNTY TAKES THAT ADJUSTMENT .
[7. Hearing for grievance filed by Constable Silvia R. Trevino, Harris County Precinct Six.]
>> ANYONE ELSE? COMMITTEE MEMBERS? THANK YOU SO MUCH.
NOW, CONSTABLE SILVIA TREVINO, PRECINCT 6 ?
GOOD MORNING , AND THANK YOU ALL VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME OUT FROM YOUR BUSY SCHEDULES TO HEAR US OUT TODAY.
MY PRESENTATION IS NOT GOING TO BE THAT LONG, WE DID NOT KNOW HOW MUCH TIME WE WERE GOING TO HAVE I THINK I LIMITED IT TO MAYBE A MINUTE AND A HALF. MY NAME IS SILVIA TREVINO, THE HARRIS COUNTY CONSTABLE FOR PRECINCT 6 , I COMPLETE MY SECOND TERM AS CONSUL AT THE END OF THIS YEAR BUT I WILL BEGIN MY THIRD TERM ON JANUARY 1ST, 2025, EACH OF OUR TERMS IS FOUR YEARS. I HAVE 37 YEARS AS A LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER AND I RETIRED FROM THE HOUSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH 21 YEARS OF SERVANTS SERVICE. I SPENT 16.5 YEARS PATROLLING THE STREETS OF HOUSTON, A .5 YEARS WITH PRECINCT 7, AND NOW GOING ON EIGHT YEARS AS CONSTABLE. PLEASE KNOW THAT I AM VERY PROUD AND HONORED TO REPRESENT THE COUNTY, PRECINCT 6, WHERE I WAS BORN AND RAISED. BUT THERE IS THIS HUGE , HUGE DISPARITY HERE BETWEEN THE CONSTABLE'S OFFICE AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, THAT IS WHAT THIS IS ALL ABOUT TODAY. THE SHERIFF'S NEXT IN RANK SUBORDINATE, AS YOU HAVE ALREADY HEARD SEVERAL TIMES, IS HIS CHIEF DEPUTY. THE NEXT IN RANK TO THE CONSTABLE IS OUR CHIEF DEPUTY. AND I AM HERE TODAY, TO EXPRESS MY GRIEVANCE REGARDING THE FACT THAT, SINCE I TOOK OFFICE ON JANUARY 1ST, 2017, MY SALARY HAS BEEN SIGNIFICANTLY LESS THAN MY SUBORDINATE, MY CHIEF DEPUTY, IN COMPARISON TO THE SHERIFF'S SALARY, WHICH IS 17.5% MORE THAN THE NEXT . NEXT -IN-RANK SUBORDINATE, IS CHIEF DEPUTY, THE SHERIFF'S SALARY IS $270,483, AND HIS CHIEF DEPUTY'S SALARY IS $185,182. WE ARE NOT ASKING TO BE PAID THE SAME AS THE $217,483, WE ARE NOT EVEN BEING ASKED TO BE PAID AS THE CHIEF DEPUTY SALARY , $185,182. RIGHT NOW, OUR CONSTABLE CHIEF DEPUTY MAKES $151,000. WE ARE ONLY ASKING THAT YOU PAY THE CONSTABLES THE SAME PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE, OF THAT 17.5% MORE THAN THE NEXT-IN-RANK SUBORDINATE , INCREASING IT TO $147,000, THIS REQUEST FALLS IN LINE WITH THE HARRIS COUNTY SUBMISSION, OF BEING RIGHT, JUST, EQUITABLE,
[01:00:04]
AND INCLUSIVE. AND, IF PART OF THE MISSION OF THE COUNTY IS TO KEEP THE SHERIFF'S SALARY AND THE SHERIFF'S DEPUTY'S SALARY, THE 17.5% , IT WILL STILL FALL IN LINE WITH THAT GOAL AS WELL. AND PLEASE KNOW THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, I RECALL, IN 2018, WHEN THE BUDGET DIRECTOR , BACK THEN IT WAS BILL JACKSON. HE TOLD THE COMMISSIONERS COURT, IF YOU GIVE THIS RAISE, FROM THE CHIEF DEPUTY, ON DOWN, AND DO NOT INCLUDE THE CONSTABLES, THE CHIEF DEPUTY IS GOING TO START MAKING MORE THAN THE CONSTABLES. AND THEY GAVE THAT RAISE ANYWAY, THEY GAVE IT IN 2018, THEY GAVE IT IN EVERY YEAR AFTER THAT, UNTIL 2023.SO, I THINK, ONE OF YOUR QUESTIONS WAS, IF YOU VOTED FOR THIS 17.5%, COULD THEY EVER PASS US UP AGAIN? THEY COULD.
IF THE COMMISSIONERS COURT CONTINUES TO GIVE THEM THE PAY INCREASES AND NOT INCLUDE THE CONSTABLES, YES, THEY COULD, THEY COULD, EVEN, EVEN AFTER YOU GIVE US THE 17.5% , THAT PERCENTAGE INCREASE. THAT WAS IT. I APPRECIATE IT. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING. IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS , I WOULD BE MORE THAN HAPPY TO TAKE THEM AT THIS TIME.
>> COMMITTEE MEMBERS, ANY QUESTIONS? MR. NEWTON?
>> NO , WE ARE DONE WITH QUESTION FOR CONSTABLE SILVIA TREVINO. I HAD A QUESTION. WE ARE HEARING PRETTY CONSISTENTLY ABOUT THAT 17.5% THAT COMP, TO THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE. DO YOU HAVE ANY DIFFERENT COMPARISONS IN MIND? OR IS YOUR ANSWER, WE ARE GOING TO WAIT? I WILL BE HONEST WITH YOU, IF WE DON'T HEAR A DIFFERENT NUMBER OR ALTERNATIVE, I AM INCLINED TO GO WITH THE 17.5% , TO THE SHERIFF 'S OFFICE. DOES THAT
MAKE SENSE? >> IT DOES. TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, THE COUNTY WENT COMP STUDY, WHICH YOU ARE NOW ALLUDING TO, WE WANT TO LOOK TO EVERYONE, TO MAKE SURE, BECAUSE WE HAVE NOT, WE HAVE NOT DONE A COUNTY WIDE STUDY, MAKING SURE THAT EMPLOYEES IN THIS DEPARTMENT DOING SOMETHING SIMILAR, OR THE SAME, NOT JUST THE CONSTABLES, BUT IN OTHER DEPARTMENTS, YOU KNOW? WE DON'T WANT TO GET OUT THERE AND JUST DO, YOU KNOW, INCREASES, THEN WE DO THE STUDY, AND WE REALLY HAVE NOW SOME HAY DISPARITY, IF WE START INCREASING SALARIES ON A NUMBER, I UNDERSTAND HOW THEY CAME UP WITH THE NUMBER. BUT, WE DO NOT WANT TO PUT OURSELVES IN A WORSE POSITION FROM THE PAY EQUITY STANDPOINT.
>> SO, HOW? I AM CONFUSED. I AM CONFUSED. ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU ARE GOING TO BE PUTTING YOURSELF IN A SITUATION, BY INCREASING THE SALARY, JUST BY LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS? THIS SALARY CONTINUES . IT CONTINUES TO DECREASE BETWEEN THE CHIEF, CONSISTENTLY, YEAR-OVER-YEAR, IT WENT FROM THE 3% COMPARABLE DIFFERENCE, AND THEN , IT WENT UNDERWATER, 4%, 6%, 7%, 12% AND
THAT IS A BIT MUCH. >> I UNDERSTAND THE CHIEF DEPUTY IS HIGHER THAN THE ACTUAL CONSTABLE'S SALARY.
BASICALLY, THEY ARE PROPOSING A 33% INCREASE, TO PUT THEM OVER THAT, IS THAT THE 17.5% SPREAD THAT THEY ARE REQUESTING, IS THAT THE RIGHT AMOUNT OR NOT? WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE CHIEF
DEPUTIES. >> IF YOU ARE LOOKING AT THAT 30%, COMPARED FROM 2016, TO CURRENTLY, THAT IS NOTHING.
THAT IS NOTHING. OKAY. >> MR. MINTZ ?
>> THIS COULD BE INTERESTING. ANY DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THE SHERIFF AND HIS CHIEF DEBBIE, THEY ARE SHOWING 17.5%, BUT FROM WHAT YOU WERE SAYING, THE SHERIFF HAS NOT HAD AN INCREASE SINCE 2016. BUT I WOULD ASSUME THE CHIEF DEPUTY HAS. SO IT SEEMS LIKE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THOSE TWO POSITIONS WAS A LOT HIGHER BACK IN 2016. DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT NUMBER WAS?
[01:05:32]
>> SO, BACK WHEN , BACK WHEN THE 2016 INCREASE, IT WENT TO $199,160, THE CHIEF DEPUTY, IT WAS $158,101.
>> THAT IS OVER 20% DIFFERENCE, FROM WHAT I AM CALCULATING. OR,
>> THE OTHER QUESTION WOULD BE, IS THERE MORE THAN ONE CHIEF DEPUTY ? ONE PERSON , ONE PERSON, AND THEN MORE?
>> I BELIEVE , I THINK , WELL I KNOW THERE IS MOVEMENT BUT I
>> YOU SAID BEFORE THERE NEEDS TO BE A STUDY TO STUDY COUNTYWIDE JOB, THAT KIND OF THING. OVER THE YEARS THERE HAS BEEN DISPARITY THAT PROBABLY WAS THEIR OPINIONS. WHY HAS THAT STUDY NOT BEEN DONE AND TO ME, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS A STALL TACTIC. WE NEED TO DO THAT COUNTYWIDE, JOB TO JOB. AND IT IS NOT DONE YET. IS IT
EVER GOING TO GET DONE? >> THE COMMISSIONERS COURT IS ABOUT TO APPROVE A CONTRACT. IT WOULD PROBABLY BE THE FIRST ONE IN SEPTEMBER TO A COUNTYWIDE. WE HAVE BEEN COMPENSATION STUDIES IN THE PAST IT JUST KIND OF DEPENDS FROM DEPARTMENT TO DEPARTMENT. THIS IS LOOKING AT EVERY POSITION ACROSS THE
>> WOULD THAT BE COMPLETE AND AVAILABLE ON TIME FOR THE
BUDGET CYCLE THIS YEAR? >> FOR WHICH WOULD BE OCTOBER 1ST, 2025. YOU MAKE ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS? >> THANK YOU. NOW, PHIL SENDING
[8. Hearing for grievance filed by Constable Phil Sandlin, Harris County Precinct Eight.]
, PRECINCT DATE.>> GOOD AFTERNOON , AND THE CONSTABLE FOR HARRIS COUNTY PRECINCT I HAVE BEEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT APPROXIMATELY 34 YEARS. I'VE BEEN WITH HERE 32 BUT I'VE BEEN ELECTED CONSTABLE SINCE 2012 BUT I WAS APPOINTED IN 2011. PRIOR TO THAT I SERVED AS A CHIEF DEPUTY FOR CONSTABLE BILL BAILEY FOR APPROXIMATELY 10 YEARS. I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE SAME INCIDENT THAT HAS HAPPENED NOW HAPPEN WAY BACK THEN. AT ONE TIME, I DID MAKE MORE THAN CONSTABLE BILL BAILEY. AFTER HE DETERMINED THAT, HE LET ME KNOW , YOU MAKE MORE THAN I DO NOW.
[01:10:01]
THERE WAS SOME PHONE CALLS MADE AND THAT WAS FIXED. AT THE NEXT BUDGET CYCLE, THE ADJUSTMENT WAS MADE TO THE ELECTED CONSTABLES AND CONSTABLE BAILEY THEN MADE MORE THAT I DID, WHICH IS TRULY FAIR AND JUST IN MY OPINION. I WILL TELL YOU THAT YOU HAVE TWO HANDOUTS THAT I JUST SENT YOU. ONE OF THEM IS DATED FEBRUARY 19, 2024 AND I AM THE ONE THAT DRAFTED THIS. I WILL TELL YOU WHY DRAFTED IT BUT AFTER FINDING OUT MY ASSISTANT CHIEF DEPUTY WAS GOING TO MAKE $1539 MORE THAN I MADE AND ALSO MY CHIEF DEPUTY , THIS IS PRIOR TO THE PAY RAISE OF 1.9%. HE MAKES 18,000 -- 18,320 MORE DOLLARS THAN I MADE. I DRAFTED A LETTER AND ASKED THAT IT BE PUT ON COMMISSIONERS COURT TO DO A STUDY WHAT THAT STUDY, WHAT I WANTED WAS TO THEM TO LOOK AT IT AND ADJUST OUR SALARY ABOVE THE CHIEF DEPUTY. WE HAVE WORKED TOGETHER FOR YEARS. I CONTACTED HIM AND I SAID, I UNDERSTAND THAT COMMISSIONERS COURT HAS HANDED THE STUDY OFF TO YOU AS THE HR DIRECTOR. I WANT TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. I SAID, THIS IS WHAT I AM ASKING. AT LEAST A 50% RAISE. TO GET AS ABOVE OUR CHIEF DEPUTIES. NOWHERE ELSE IN LAW ENFORCEMENT DOES THE ASSISTANT CHIEF DEPUTY OR THE CHIEF DEPUTY MAKE MORE THAN THE CONSTABLE OR THE CHIEF OF POLICE IN WEBSTER, PASADENA. I IN THE AREA DOWN SOUTH. THAT IS WHAT WE WERE ASKING. ALSO, THE SECOND HANDOUT I GAVE YOU IS THE PAY SCALE. EVERY TIME I BRING A DEPUTY INTO HIGHER, I GO OVER THE PAY SCALE AND I HAND EACH ONE OF THEM, THAT IS PRIOR TO THE 9.2%. I HAND THEM TO EXPLAIN WHAT THEIR SALARY WILL BE. IF THEY STAY WITH THE COUNTY , LONGEVITY AND WHAT THAT WILL BE MOVING FORWARD. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS, I GET AN APPLICANT THAT SAYS, CONSTABLE, WHY DOES THE CHIEF DEPUTY MAKE MORE THAN YOU MAKE? THAT IS A GOOD QUESTION. I SAID WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. WHAT I WOULD ASK IS THAT TODAY, WOULD YOU LOOK AT THIS ISSUE THAT HAS COME TO HAND ? MY COLLEAGUES HAVE SAID IT AND I WAS THE CHIEF DEPUTY BACK WHEN 2060 WAS THE LAST TIME THE CONSTABLES HAD GOT A RAISE. I AM ALL FOR OUR STAFF CONTINUING , OUR CHIEF DEPUTY ALL THE WAY GETTING RAISES. I WILL TELL YOU THAT THE FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE AND THE DEPUTIES ORGANIZATION , I THINK JUST CAME TO COMMISSIONERS COURT ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL RAISE FOR THE RANK AND FILE WHICH WILL INCLUDE CHIEF DEPUTIES, DEPUTIES ALL THE WAY DOWN. IF WE DO NOT FIX THIS PROBLEM , IT IS GOING TO CONTINUE ON. WHAT I WOULD ASK THE BUDGET OFFICE TO DO IS AFTER A DECISION IS MADE, PLEASE PUT US IN THE REALM OF LOOKING AT OUR SALARIES MOVING FORWARD SO WE DO NOT COME BACK TO THE SAME ISSUE AGAIN. THAT IS ALL I HAVE TODAY, THANK YOU. ANY QUESTIONS?>> THANK YOU, SIR. ANY QUESTIONS, COMMITTEE?
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH. THAT IS THE LAST OF THE GRIEVANCES FROM
[9. Public Comments.]
THE CONSTABLES. NOW IT IS TIME FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS. TIFFANY.>> CHRISTOPHER JENKINS. >> GOOD AFTERNOON, COMMITTEE.
CONSTABLES, YOU GUYS DO TREMENDOUS WORK. ALTHOUGH THERE IS A LOT OF GOOD WORK BEING DONE IN 2022 I WENT THROUGH AN EVICTION PROCESS FOR THE THIRD TIME. WE HAD A TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER AND A PERMANENT INJUNCTION IN PRECINCT 5. THEY DID NOT BOTHER TO SHOW UP TO COURT. I ULTIMATELY WON THAT CASE. THIS IS MY THIRD TIME GOING THROUGH EVICTION BUT I WENT THROUGH THE WHOLE PROCESS. I SEE PEOPLE PUTTING IN -- THE LANDLORD WAS PUTTING IN A LEGAL DOCUMENT AND FAKE DOCUMENTS TO MESS WITH OUR DEMOCRACY. I JUST WANT TO GO BACK. 2019, I DID 150 CITIES IN MINISTRY. I OPERATED OVER 50 SMALL BUSINESSES AND NONPROFITS. WHEN THE CORONAVIRUS CAME , ALL THOSE ORGANIZATIONS THAT MR. JENKINS, DON'T DO ANYTHING WE WILL PAY YOUR BILLS BUT I HAD A SURPLUS
WITH CREDIT IN MY UTILITIES. >> YOUR TIME IS UP.
>> HAVE A COUPLE MORE SECONDS?
>> NO, SIR. THANK YOU. >> THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.
>> THAT IS ALL THE SPEAKERS. >> THANK YOU, TIFFANY. WE ARE DONE WITH THE GRIEVANCE HEARINGS. WITH THE SPEAKERS WE
[10. Votes and Recommendations of Salary Grievance Committee.]
[01:15:03]
CAN OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DELIBERATION DISCUSSION AMONG THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS. I JUST ASK YOU TO RAISE YOUR HAND AND STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD INSTEAD OF MY HAVING TO LOOK THROUGH MY NOTES HERE AND THEN WE GO ON.>> I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE HR PERSON. I NOTICED WITH PRECINCT 7, THEY DID NOT MAKE A GRIEVANCE. IF WE DECIDE TO INCREASE ALL OF THE GERBER ONES, THIS PRECINCT 7 GET AN
INCREASE? >> THE COUNTY ATTORNEY WILL CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG BUT I THINK THE CONSTABLE SHOULD HAVE REQUESTED A GRIEVANCE IN ORDER TO GET AN INCREASE.
>> CONSTABLE IS ASKING IF YOU CAN SPEAK. COUNTY ATTORNEY.
>> THE RULES THAT WERE ADOPTED BY THE COMMITTEE AT THE TIME THAT THE CONSTABLES COULD SPEAK. SO YOU CAN AMEND THE
RULES . >> YES, YOU CAN. MR. HALFORD.
>> GOOD AFTERNOON. >> I LIKE TO KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE
TO SAY. THANK YOU, SIR. >> I SPOKE WITH CONSTABLE WALKER, WHO DID GRIEVE. SHE SENT IN HER GRIEVANCE BUT APPARENTLY THE COUNTY JUDGES EMAIL ADDRESS THAT SHE HAD DID NOT GO THROUGH. SHE DID GRIEVE AND WANTED TO BE A PART OF THIS PROCESS. SHE IS ALSO RETIRING IN DECEMBER AS WELL AFTER A 40 YEAR PLUS LAW ENFORCEMENT CAREER. SHE DID GRIEVE. I DO NOT KNOW WHY SHE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE PROCESS. I COULD GET HER ON THE PHONE. SHE DID THE PAPERWORK THAT WAS TOLD , I SPOKE TO HER STAFF YESTERDAY, AND THEY DID SAY THAT APPARENTLY IT BOUNCED BACK OR SOMETHING HAPPENED BUT SHE
DID GRIEVE. >> I JUST NEED CLARITY ON THAT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ALL CORRECT AND WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH
CONSTABLE WALKER. >> ADMINISTRATOR RAMIREZ, WE ARE WORKING ON THAT. SINCE THE COMMITTEE IS IN DISCUSSION YOU CAN CONTINUE THE DISCUSSION FOR 20 MINUTES AND DO A ONE-TIME EXTENSION IF THE COMMITTEE CHOOSES TO BUT WE ARE FIGURING
OUT WHAT HAPPENED . >> THANK YOU.
>> THEY ARE DOING THE RESEARCH ON IT, THANK YOU. OTHER DISCUSSION ITEMS , DELIBERATION , IDEAS? YES, SIR. JUST ONE AT A TIME SO WE CAN TAKE THE RECORD. MR. HALFORD.
>> THESE FOLKS SUPERVISE 5 TO 700 PEOPLE, THAT IS WHAT I HEARD. AND THEY HAVE NOT HAD AN INCREASE SENSE '16. IF THEY WERE IN PRIVATE INDUSTRY THEY WOULD BE MAKING DOUBLE WHAT THEY ARE ASKING FOR RUNNING A MIDSIZE CORPORATION. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO MAKE THE MOTION. IS IS A PROPER TIME TO MAKE THE
MOTION? >> COUNTY ATTORNEY, DO WE FINISH THE DISCUSSION BEFORE WE START MAKING MOTIONS ? AND THEN WHEN EVERYONE IS DONE, WE CAN START?
>> THE COMMITTEE IS DONE WITH DISCUSSION AND YOU CAN MAKE A
MOTION >> EXCELLENT. OTHER COMMENTS ? OTHER DISCUSSION? YES SIR, MR. MENTZ.
>> THAT IS WHY I ASK ABOUT THE SALARY. THEY ACTUALLY HAVE SLIGHTLY DIFFERENT NUMBERS. I THINK WE SHOULD GO WITH ONE NUMBER FOR ALL THE CONSTABLES AS OPPOSED TO THE SMALL DIFFERENCES THAT SOME OF THEM HAVE. THE QUESTION I WOULD HAVE IS WHAT WE WANT TO GO UP TO WHAT THE CHIEF DEPUTY OF THE SHERIFF MAKES AT THE 185 182. THAT IS AN OPTION THAT I THINK WE SHOULD LOOK AT AS A POSSIBILITY. IF NOT, I WOULD JUST SAY EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE THE SAME SALARY.
>> IT IS NOT CONSISTENT. OKAY .
>> MICROPHONE TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HEAR YOU?
>> IT IS CREASING IT TO 185 DEPENDING ON THE POPULATION SIZE AND THEN WHEN YOU LOOK AT PRIOR HISTORY FROM 2016 TO CURRENT , THAT IS WAY OVER THE 17.5 THEY ARE REQUESTING.
>> THANK YOU. >> IF YOU REMEMBER THE SHERIFF
[01:20:04]
WAS GETTING 20 SOMETHING PERCENT HIGHER THAN HIS DEPUTY A FEW YEARS BACK. THEY BROUGHT HIM UP OVER THE YEARS TO GET CLOSER TO WHAT THE SHERIFF IS.>> IF YOU TAKE THE DIFFERENCE OF THE NINE YEARS -- IF YOU KEPT IT CONSISTENT BECAUSE PAID DISPARITY BETWEEN THE SHERIFF THE CONSTABLE AND THE CHIEF DEPUTY WAS AROUND 3 TO 4% IN
2016. >> IF YOU CALCULATE THAT THAT 33 IS COMPARABLE TO WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR. IF THEY WERE TO KEEP THAT DISPARITY BETWEEN THE TWO OVER THOSE NINE YEARS, THAT IS CONSISTENT WITH WHAT THEY'RE ASKING FOR.
>> MR. EATON. >> I AM ALL FOR KEEPING IT CONSISTENT BETWEEN THE CONSTABLE OFFICES. I THINK THAT IS A GOOD POINT. I DON'T HAVE A BIGGER POINT HERE BUT I DID DO SOME OF THE MATH, THEY ARE ASKING FOR A 17.5% DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEMSELVES AND CHIEF ONE, ACCORDING TO THIS CONSTABLE SALARY SCALE. I ALSO LOOKED AT THE PERCENTAGE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHIEF ONE AND THE NEXT POSITION DOWN FROM THAT. THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN CHIEF ONE AND ASSISTANT CHIEF ONE IS 12.4% . AND THE DIFFERENCE FROM ASSISTANT CHIEF ONE TO THE NEXT HIGHEST PAID POSITION, CAPTAIN SR, I'M ASSUMING IT IS SR. IS 14.9%. 17.5% SEEMS PRETTY SIGNIFICANT TO ME. THAT WOULD BE A BIGGER PERCENTAGE INCREASE THAN THE TWO LEVELS BELOW THAT, IF THAT MAKES SENSE.
>> ANYTHING ELSE? >> TO THAT TAKE INTO ACCOUNT THE NUMBER OF YEARS BUT THEY HAVE BEEN INVOLVED?
] >> GOOD QUESTION. I AM USING ONE OF THE FIGURES THAT WAS PASSED OUT.
>> I CALCULATED BASED ON NINE YEARS THEY DID NOT GET IT. BUT 17.5% IS COMPARABLE . IT IS AN INCREASE FROM THEIR CURRENT SALARY OF 133 TO 17 IS COMPARABLE. PATIENT HAD A AN
INCREASE OF 3 TO 4% EVERY YEAR. >> I THINK THAT MAKES SENSE GIVEN THAT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT IS GOING TO TAKE ANOTHER ONE OF THESE COMMITTEES TO GET ANOTHER INCREASE IN A COUPLE OF YEARS, RIGHT? I THINK IF WE WERE TO GO TO 70.5% OVER THE COURSE OF THE NEXT COUPLE YEARS, YOU KNOW, THAT GAP WILL SHRINK AGAIN.
MAKES SENSE TO ME. >> YES, MR. MENTZ .
>> YOU WENT THROUGH THE SCHEDULE FROM 2016 AND CALCULATED EACH YEAR AND THEN SAID IF YOU APPLIED THE SAME INCREASE TO THEIR SALARY, IT WOULD BE THE 17.5%? OKAY, THANK
>> GLENN HALFORD. IF WE WANT TO KEEP COMPETENT AND EXPERIENCED PEOPLE INTERESTED IN THESE ROLES AND HAVE THEM RUN FOR OFFICE , THEY ARE ELECTED OFFICIALS, YOU HAVE TO MAKE SURE THAT THEIR VALUE IS JUST LIKE THE PRIVATE MARKET. THESE
FOLKS HAVE A HARD JOB. >> THANK YOU, SIR. ANY OTHER COMMENTS OR DISCUSSION OR DELIBERATION FROM THE
COMMITTEE? >> YES, I HAVE ONE MORE FOR
>> MS. MILLS. >> WHEN YOU DO YOUR BUDGET WHEN IT IS RELATING TO COMPENSATION, INCLUDE THE ELECTED OFFICIALS.
IT IS NOT FAIR THAT THEIR SALARY IS STAGNANT WHEN EVERYBODY ELSE GETS A PAY RAISE EVERY OTHER YEAR , CONSIDER THE
ELECTED OFFICIALS. >> THANK YOU. ANYTHING ELSE?
>> DO WE HAVE AN ANSWER ON CONSTABLE WALKER?
>> WE RECOMMEND THE COMMITTEE GO AHEAD AND TAKE ACTION ON THE
[01:25:03]
GRIEVANCES THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY DISCUSSING AND THEN AFTER THAT WE RECOMMENDED BREAKING FOR LUNCH AND HAVE EVERYONE STAY AND WE COME BACK AND HAVE MORE INFORMATION ONTHAT. >> WE DID SAY LUNCH AT 12:30.
ARE WE DONE WITH THE DISCUSSION? ANY OTHER DELIBERATIONS? ANYTHING ELSE FOR THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS? WE ARE GOING TO GO DOWN THE LIST. WHAT WE WILL DO IS I'M GOING TO ASK FOR A MOTION. LET ME MAKE SURE I GET TO MY CHEAT SHEET HERE. DO WE HAVE A MOTION AND IT WILL BE AYE AND YOUR NAME MOVED TO RECOMMEND THAT CONSTABLE AND THEIR NAME RECEIVE AN INCREASE TO THE AMOUNT. THIS WOULD BE FOR THE FIRST HEARING, WHICH WAS FOR CONSTABLE ALAN ROSEN . DO YOU HAVE SOMEONE TO MAKE THAT MOTION? MR. MENTZ.
>> MY NAME IS WAYNE MENTZ, I RECOMMEND THAT WE INCREASE ALAN ROSEN'S COMPENSATION TWO 178 509, EVEN.
>> DO I HAVE A SECOND? IT WOULD BE AYE AND YOUR NAME , MOVED TO
SECOND THE MOTION. >> I, JANINE MILLS, SECOND THE
MOTION. >> WE GO WITH A ROLL CALL VOTE AND I WILL CALL YOUR NAME AND WE WILL ASK FOR YOUR VOTE. MS.
>> MR. BAUER. MS. HICKERSON . >> AYE. IT
>> THAT IS A UNANIMOUS VOTE. WE HAVE A FORM DESIGN OR DO WE DO IT NOW BEFORE WE GO ONTO THE NEXT ONE?
>> YES, FOR AFTER EACH GRIEVANCE.
>> WE WILL GET THE FORM FOR YOU TO SIGN.
IF YOU CAN HAND IT TO THAT LADY OVER THERE. THANK YOU. NEXT ONE IS CONSTABLE JERRY GARCIA. DO WE HAVE A MOTION? THANK YOU,
MR. MENTZ . >> I, WAYNE MENTZ, MAKE A MOTION THAT JERRY GARCIA SELLECK BE INCREASED TO
$170,509. >> YOU HAVE A SECOND?
>> I, MS. MILLS SECOND EPIDEMIC
>> ALL IN FAVOR. MOREL . >> AYE
>> MCGEE . >> JONES . BAUER. HICKERSON.
THANK YOU, IT IS A UNANIMOUS VOTE. WE WILL GET THAT SIGNATURE GOING.
[01:31:00]
NEXT CALLED STILLMAN -- CONSTABLE SHERMAN EAGLETON .>> I WAYNE MENTZ RECOMMEND WE INCREASE MARK HERMAN SALARY.
>> A SECOND? >> I, JANINE MILLS, SECOND.
>> ALL IN FAVOR TREADMILLS. MOREL. HALFORD, MCGEE . NEWTON . JONES. BAUER. HICKERSON. THANK YOU, IT IS A UNANIMOUS VOTE. WE WILL GET THAT SIGNATURE GOING. CAN WE GO AHEAD AND JUST GO THROUGH THEM? COUNSEL IS TELLING ME KNOW.
DO I HAVE A MOTION FOR CONSTABLE MARK HERMAN?
>> I, WAYNE MENTZ, YOU HAVE A MOTION TO INCREASE SALARY TO
>> I, JANINE MILLS, SECOND PER
>> ALL IN FAVOR. MILLS, MINTZ , HELFER, MCGEE , NEWTON , JONES , BAUER , HICKERSON. IT IS A UNANIMOUS VOTE.
DO WE HAVE EMOTIONAL ATTACHMENT A MOTION FOR CONSTABLE TED HEAP
[01:35:02]
>> I MAKE A MOTION TO INCREASE TED HEAP SALARY TO 178,509 .
>> YOU HAVE A SECOND? >> I, JANINE MILLS SECOND END.
>> ALL IN FAVOR TREADMILLS. MOREL. MENTZ . HALFORD MCGEE NEWTON. JONES . BAUER . HICKERSON. UNANIMOUSLY APPROVED.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR CONSTABLE SILVIA TREVINO?
>> I, WAYNE MENTZ, MAKE A MOTION TO INCREASE THE SALARY OF SILVIA TREVINO TO A SALARY OF 178,509.
>> SECOND? >> I, JANINE MILLS, SECOND NP
>> ALL IN FAVOR. MILLS. MOREL MENTZ. HALFORD MCGEE . NEWTON.
JONES. JONES. BAUER. HICKERSON. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY. WE WILL GET THE PAPERWORK.
DO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR CONSTABLE PHIL SANDLIN PER
>> I, WAYNE MENTZ, MAKE A MOTION TO INCREASE PHIL
SANDLIN'S SALARY TO 178,509. >> SECOND?
>> I, JANINE MILLS, SECOND ED >> ALL IN FAVOR. MILLS. MOREL.
MENTZ HALFORD. MCGEE. NEWTON JONES. BAUER. HICKERSON. MOTION PASSES UNANIMOUSLY. THAT IS A LAST WE HAVE FOR RIGHT NOW UNTIL WE FIGURE OUT THE OTHER ISSUE.
>> UPON FURTHER REVIEW THE AGREEMENTS WAS SUBMITTED WITHIN THE REQUIRED TIMEFRAME BUT WAS SENT TO THE WRONG EMAIL ADDRESS. THE COMMITTEE CAN TAKE IT UP TODAY UNDER AGENDA ITEM 10 THE CLERK'S OFFICE IS CURRENTLY PREPARING COPIES OF THE GRIEVANCE TO DISTRIBUTE FOR CONSIDERATION.
>> GREAT. DO YOU RECOMMEND WE BREAK FOR LUNCH AND COME BACK
TO GIVE YOU THE TIME ? >> THAT WOULD PROBABLY BE OUR RECOMMENDATION FOR DURING LUNCH WE WOULD ALSO ADVISE THE COMMITTEE TO KEEP IN MIND THAT WE ARE SUBJECT TO THE OPEN
[01:40:01]
MEETINGS ACT. IT IS CRUCIAL THAT YOU DO NOT DISCUSS ANY BUSINESSES OR THE GRIEVANCES WITH EACH OTHER BECAUSE THAT WOULD BE A VIOLATION OF STATE LAW. KEEP IT FRIENDLY AND UNRELATED TO THE BUSINESS THAT YOU ARE UNDERTAKING TODAY.>> GREAT. WE WILL TAKE -- AS SOON AS THIS LAST ONE IS SIGNED FOR NOW, WE WILL TAKE A BREAK AND GO UP TO GET LUNCH. AGAIN, WE WILL BE TALK ABOUT OTHER THINGS. WE WILL TALK ABOUT THE ASTROS OR TEXANS OR SOMETHING. AND THEN WE WILL COME BACK IN .
45 MINUTES OKAY? 45 MINUTES . IS THAT OKAY? GO AHEAD,
CONSTABLE HERMAN. >> ON BEHALF OF ALL EIGHT CONSTABLES, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH . IT IS MY VOTE TO HAVE YOU ALL APPEAR FOR ALL GRIEVANCE COMMITTEES, MATTERS IN HARRIS COUNTY. I KNOW LISTENING TO ALL OF THIS STUFF AND LISTENING TO ALL THE DIFFERENT THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON, I JUST THANK YOU. YOU MADE US FEEL A VALUABLE. YOU MADE US FEEL IMPORTANT AND YOU MADE US FEEL THE WORK THAT WE DO IS MEANINGFUL. I CANNOT THANK YOU ENOUGH. ON BEHALF OF ALL OF US, WE APPRECIATE YOU VERY, VERY MUCH. GOD BLESS EACH OF YOU AND
YOUR FAMILIES. >> WE WILL TAKE A RECESS UNTIL 1:20 AND WE
>>> IT IS 1:20 AND WE ARE BACK RIGHT ON TIME MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT WE HAVE THE FORMAL WRITTEN GRIEVANCE FROM CONSTABLE WALKER. IF WE CAN GET THAT SHARED WITH THE COMMITTEE MEMBERS SO THEY CAN FAMILIARIZE THEMSELVES WITH THAT. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT THE GRIEVANCE LETTER DOES NOT INCLUDE AN ACTUAL SALARY THAT SHE IS REQUESTING. ONCE YOU HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO LOOK AT THE LETTER , WE CAN TALK ABOUT ANY POSSIBLE MOTIONS THAT THE COMMITTEE MAY WANT TO MAKE.
EVERYBODY HAS THE LETTER? IT IS SHORT AND TO THE POINT. DO WE
HAVE A MOTION? >> I WANT TO ADD THAT CONSTABLE
WALKER DECLINED TO SPEAK. >> OKAY.
>> I, WAYNE MENTZ, MAKE A MOTION TO INCREASE MAY
WALKER'S SALARY TO 178,509 . >> I, JANINE MILLS, SECOND IN ALL IN FAVOR. MILLS. MOREL. MENTZ . HALFORD. MCGEE. NEWTON
>> JONES. BAUER. HICKERSON. WE HAVE A UNANIMOUS APPROVAL OF HIGHER SALARY FOR CONSTABLE WALKER. WE HAVE THE PAPERWORK BE PASSED DOWN TO EVERYBODY FOR SIGNATURE. WE WILL HAVE TO GET ALL OF THOSE SIGNATURES BEFORE WE CAN ADJOURN THE MEETING. I THINK THE ONLY OTHER THING I'M GOING TO ASK IS MAKE SURE WE LEAVE ALL THE PAPERS BEHIND. PLEASE, THAT WILL BE VERY HELPFUL FOR US. ONCE WE ADJOURN, ALSO, THE GENTLEMAN IN THE BLUE COAT ON THE TOP ROW OVER THERE BECAUSE THE PARKING VALIDATION STICKERS. IF ANYBODY NEEDS THE METRO CARD, THE METRO PASS, THEY ALSO HAVE THEM UP THERE. I REALLY WANT TO THANK YOUR VERY EFFICIENT YET THOUGHTFUL CONVERSATIONS AND DELIBERATIONS. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME WE HAVE DONE THIS IN MANY, MANY YEARS, IF EVER, IN HARRIS COUNTY. IT IS AMAZING TO HAVE YOU COME IN AND BE PART OF THE CIVIC LIFE OF THE COUNTY .
WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. WE JUST WAIT FOR THE LAST SIGNATURES.
DO WE NEED TO HAVE A MOTION TO ADJOURN OR DO WE JUST ADJOURN?
[01:45:04]
OKAY. LAST SIGNATURE IS ON THE PAPER. SEEING NO MORE BUSINESS, WE ARE ADJOURNED. THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH.