Some context
Proposition A supported civil service, which is a system that standardizes the department’s internal hiring and disciplinary processes, keeping them free from political influence, according to previous Community Impact reporting.
Collective bargaining, which gives firefighters the opportunity to negotiate benefits, pay and working conditions with the city, was Proposition B.
Both propositions passed with more than 65% of the vote.
“We won the election, which is huge,” said Brad Moore, president of the Leander Professional Firefighters Association. “We’re just completely ecstatic and, at the time, humbled by the outpouring of support from our community.”
The update
After both propositions passed, Moore said the association and city went right to work.
“We need to hire firefighters,” he said. “In order to do that, civil service needs to be implemented.”
During a June meeting, Leander City Council established a Firefighters’ Civil Service Commission and approved the appointment of its commissioners.
The commission is made up of three commissioners who serve staggered three-year terms, Moore said, with the term of one member expiring each year. The commission’s first meeting was also in June.
Moore said the association is preparing to submit an official letter to begin the implementation process for collective bargaining. The letter will go to the city manager, and once it's submitted, the city and the association need to reach an agreement within 60 days.
Through the collective bargaining process, Moore said the association would like to raise the age limit Leander has for firefighters.
Currently, Leander does not allow applicants to be over age 36. To put that into perspective, Moore said in Round Rock the age limit is 40, and in Georgetown, it’s 45.
The age limit is just one requirement the department is working on changing, and others will be set into motion once the process begins.
What to expect
Both civil service and collective bargaining have to be implemented no later than 30 days after fiscal year 2024-25 begins, or by Oct. 30.
“We’re making sure everything is how we want it—the city and the association,” Moore said.
Once the letter is submitted and an agreement has been reached, Moore said it would go to council for approval. While a specific timeline on this particular process is not yet available, Moore said he hopes it can happen “sooner rather than later.”
“With having civil service and having that collective bargaining piece, we’re really looking forward to making Leander that place that people want to go work,” he said. “It’s exciting to see what the future holds moving forward.”
Key dates
- May 4: Propositions A and B approved in special election
- June 20: Firefighters’ Civil Service Commission established and commissioners appointed
- Summer: Association prepares to submit official letter, sparking the implementation process
- Oct. 30: Deadline for civil service and collective bargaining to be implemented
