R-01-07-26-14B2 - 7/26/2001 RESOLUTION NO. R-01-07-26-14132
WHEREAS, the City of Round Rock desires to retain professional
consulting services for the implementation of Civil Service for Fire
Department personnel, and
WHEREAS, Karger Key Barnes, & Springer, L.L. P. has submitted a
letter of agreement to provide said services, and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to enter into said letter of
agreement with Karger Key Barnes, & Springer, L.L. P. , Now Therefore
BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF ROUND ROCK, TEXAS,
That the Mayor is hereby authorized and directed to execute on
behalf of the City a letter of agreement with Karger Key Barnes, &
Springer, L.L. P. for the implementation of Civil Service for Fire
Department personnel, a copy of same being attached hereto and
incorporated herein for all purposes .
The City Council hereby finds and declares that written notice of
the date, hour, place and subject of the meeting at which this
Resolution was adopted was posted and that such meeting was open to the
public as required by law at all times during which this Resolution and
the subject matter hereof were discussed, considered and formally acted
upon, all as required by the Open Meetings Act, Chapter 551, Texas
Government Code, as amended, and the Act .
RESOLVED this 26th day of July
ROB A. STLUKA, JfV, Mayor
: City of Round Rock, Texas
MSTA.,
s
J ANNE LAND, City Secretary
0:\WPDOCS\RESOLUTI\R10726B2.WPD/SC
RECEIVED JUL-2 0 2001
KARGER KEY BARNES 8 SPRINGER, LLP THE REPRES ENTADTION
OF MANAGEMENT IN
MATTERS INVOLVING
LABOR, PERSONNEL
AND GOVERNMENTAL
DALLAS RELATIONS
JAMES C. K A R G E R (karger@Laborcounsel.net)
STEPHEN C. KEY (key@Laborcounsel.net) FORT WORTH
HERSHELL L. BARNES, JR. (barnes@Laborcounsel.net)
D A R R E N H A R R I N G TO N (hamngton@Laborcounsel.net) B E TT Y E S. SPRINGER (springer@Laborcounsel.net)
MICHAEL P. H U TC H E N S (hutchens@Laborcounsel.net) LU P H A M (pham@Laborcounsel.net)
MARK A. C O H E N (Cohen@Laborco(jnsel.net) JULIE B. ROSS (foss@Laborcounsel.net)
OF COUNSEL - IMMIGRATION JULIA M. VASOUEZ (vasquez@Laborcounsel.net)
July 25, 2001
Ms. Teresa Bledsoe VIA FAX NO.512.218.5493
Director of Human Resources and
Director of Civil Service
City of Round Rock
2221 E. Main Street
Round Rock, TX 78664
Re: Proposal for Providing Consulting Services
Dear Teresa:
In response to your e-mail of July 5, 2001, following is a description of the services that
Karger Key Barnes & Springer, L.L.P.,proposes to provide to the City of Round Rock in regard to
its implementation of Chapter 143 of the Texas Local Government Code. We will provide all legal
services and advice you or the City should require in regard to implementing civil service. This
would include,but is not limited to,reviewing and making recommendations for revisions to Local
Civil Service Rules, reviewing the classification recommendations to be submitted to the Civil
Service Commission,training Civil Service Commissioners on their duties and responsibilities and
providing advice to you on an as-needed basis as you work toward implementation of civil service.
We can continue to work with you and other members of the City's staff after implementation of
civil service,advising as to the legal requirements of testing,promotions,disciplinary actions,or any
other areas of concern.
We are prepared to provide these services on the schedule you have suggested, with all the
required items to be in place by no later than October 25, 2001. I plan to do this work myself. I
may, however, be assisted by other attorneys in my firm who frequently work under my direction
with other Chapter 143 cities. I have attached biographical sketches of those attorneys who may be
called upon to assist me in providing services to the City of Round Rock.
The City will provide for our review a draft of the Civil Service Rules and Regulations and
a copy of the classification system, which will be presented to the Commission.
We will provide services to the City on an hourly fee basis. My hourly rate is$200,and the
other attorneys who may work on the City's behalf are billed at $180 per hour. We itemize and bill
TANDY TOWER TWO,300 WEST THIRD STREET,SUITE 1700,FORT WORTH,TEXAS 76102 TELEPHONE(817)336-7500 FACSIMILE(817)336-7511
r
Ms. Teresa Bledsoe
July 25, 2001
Page 2
other costs, incurred on the City's behalf,separately. We invoice on a monthly basis,and our billing
period is generally from the 21 S`of the month to the 201'of the next month. If there is any change in
the scope of the services which the City should ask us to provide,we would discuss and agree on any
change in the above rates before beginning the work.
Karger Key Barnes & Springer, L.L.P. provides legal services to civil service cities
throughout Texas in an efficient and economical manner. We strive to provide that same level of
service to your City.
This is the complete agreement between the City of Round Rock and the law firm. If this
letter accurately describes the terms of our engagement,please sign and return the enclosed copy to
me.
Sincerely,
Bettye S. Springer J
On Behalf on Karger Key Barnes & Springer, LLP
sprin er(u,laborcounsel.net
Writer's Direct Dial (817) 336-7513
ACCEPTANCE BY CITY OF ROUND ROCK:
of Round ock hereby agrees to the above terms.
R A. Stluka Jr.
Mayor, City of Round Rock
Date: ,/ - ol�o -o l
4
817-336-7513
817-336-7511 fax
springer@laborcounsel.net Bettye S.Springer
AREAS OF Ms. Springer is certified as a specialist in labor and employment law by the Texas
EXPERIENCE Board of Legal Specialization. Springer practices exclusively in management
Management Labor and labor and employment law and represents employers in both the public and
Employment Law private sectors.
EDUCATION
J.D. DePaul College of Ms. Springer's practice has included:
Law, 1978,M.P.A. in
Public Administration, . Training managers and supervisors on effective employment practices.
University of Kansas, 1971
B.A. in Government, . Counseling clients on preventing employee claims and litigation.
American University,
Washington,D.C. . Investigating employee complaints.
MEMBERSHIPS
Fort Worth Human Advising clients on all employment related federal and state laws
Resource Management (FLSA, FMLA,ADA,Title VII,E.O. 11246...)
Association-Vice President,
Texas Municipal Human
Resources Association, Representing cities in civil service arbitrations.
Texas City Attorneys
Association,National Negotiating collective bargaining agreements and advising about
Public Employer Labor contract interpretation.
Relations Association
PUBLICATIONS • Litigating complex employment law issues, including constitutional
"Sexual Harassment: claims.
Practical Guidelines for Ms. Springer represents:
Preventing Sexual 0Cities and counties across the State of Texas
Harassment in Your • Private sector clients, including:
Company," "Avoiding the -manufacturing
Nightmare" for the Risk -mining
and Benefits Journal, and -health care
"Nine Years Later: An -retail service
Unwelcome Return to the
Fair Labor Standards Act"
KARGER KEY BARNES &SPRINGER, LLP
300 West Third, Suite 1700,Fort Worth,Texas 76102
817-336-7505 Julia Maria Vasquez
817-336-7511 fax Ms. Vasquez practices exclusively in management labor and employment law
vasquez@laborcounsel.net and represents employers in both the public and private sectors.
AREAS OF
EXPERIENCE Ms. Vasquez'practice emphasizes all aspects of labor and employment law,and
Management Labor and has included:
Employment Law . Representing employers in employment discrimination matters,
Federal Criminal Law wrongful discharge claims, wage and hour issues, sexual harassment
EDUCATION investigations, arbitration proceedings in union and non-union
J.D.University of workplaces,and NLRB proceedings.
Tennessee, 1989
B.A. Baylor University, . Drafting employment policies, employee manuals, and employee
1986 handbooks for private and public sector employers.
Licensed in Texas,
Tennessee,and South • Training managers and supervisors on effective employment practices.
Carolina
MEMBERSHIPS • Drafting, implementing and managing the Family and Medical Leave
American Bar Association Program for a major private sector employer in Tarrant County.
American Bar Association,
Labor and Employment
Section Negotiating collective bargaining agreements, including drafting
American Bar Association, contract language and advising management regarding contract
Litigation Section interpretation and compliance.
Tarrant County Bar
Association 0Representing management in over thirty labor arbitrations.
Tarrant County Bar
Association,Labor and & Representing Cities in proceedings before the Civil Service Commission
Employment Section, and in Civil Service arbitrations.
Special Projects Committee
Tarrant County Women's • Litigating complex employment issues.
Bar Association
Committee Member, • Representing the United States Government in Special and General
American Bar Association, Courts-Martial while on active duty in the Air Force.
National Labor Relations
Board Practice and KARGER KEY BARNES & SPRINGER, LLP
Procedures 300 West Third, Suite 1700, Fort Worth,Texas 76102
MARTHA M. ROSE
817-336-7517
817-336-7511 fax
rose@laborcounsel.net
Areas of Experience: Management Labor and Employment Law
Education: University of Texas School of Law, 1988
Texas A&M University,BBA,Accounting, Cum Laude, 1977
Memberships: Lubbock Human Resource Management Association
Fort Worth Human Resource Management Association
Ms. Rose practices exclusively in management labor and employment law.
Rose practiced employment law for several years as In House Counsel for Plains Cotton Cooperative Association.
She was then the Director of Human Resources for Covenant Health System in Lubbock, Texas, with employment
law as her area of expertise. Covenant has 3 hospitals and 32 clinics, with approximately 6,500 employees. Ms.
Rose also served as County Attorney in Lamb County from 1989 to 1993. During that time she handled all felony
and misdemeanor litigation on behalf of the County.
Ms. Rose's practice includes: Training managers and supervisors on various employment law issues.
• Investigating employee complaints; including sexual harassment complaints.
Advising and monitoring compliance with federal and state employment laws.
(ADA,FMLA,Title VII,FLSA);Auditing Human Resource systems.
Representing clients in Unemployment hearings and EEOC hearings and mediations.
• Drafting effective employee handbooks and policy and procedures manuals.
• Counseling managers and supervisors concerning involuntary terminations and the prevention of related
employee claims and litigation.
• Courtroom defense of employment-related claims.
Ms. Rose represents:
Private sector clients, including:
health care
manufacturing
• retail service
DATE: July 20, 2001, 2001
SUBJECT: City Council Meeting—July 26, 2001
ITEM: * 14.B.2. Consider a resolution authorizing the Mayor to execute a letter of
agreement with Karger Key Barnes & Springer, L.L.P.for the
implementation of Civil Service for Fire Department personnel.
Resource: Teresa Bledsoe, Human Resources Director
History: On May 5, the citizens of Round Rock voted in a Civil Service for the
Round Rock Fire Department. While Civil Service is governed by Section
143, there is much work involved in writing rules, guidelines, developing a
communications strategy and implementing the changes that will take
effect as a result. Most critical is assisting the commission in developing
rules, which compile with the law and training commission staff and other
relevant individuals.
Funding:
Cost: $15,000—$20,000
Source of Funds: General Operating Budget
Outside Resources: Karger Key Barnes & Springer
Impact/Benefit: Ensures legal compliance.
Public Comment: N/A
Sponsor: N/A