San Antonio City Council Clashes with City Attorney Over Firefighters' Contract, Calls for Dismissal Surface
In an escalating dispute over the handling of labor negotiations in San Antonio, five City Council members are pushing back against City Attorney Andy Segovia, and now, calls for his dismissal are reverberating through City Hall's corridors. District 2 Councilman Jalen McKee-Rodriguez was one of the officials left out of briefings on the fire union's contract negotiations, according to a KENS 5 report.
The crux of the issue lies with the ongoing negotiations with the San Antonio Professional Fire Fighters Association, which are at a stalemate. The city is facing a $363 million difference between its proposed budget and the firefighters association's proposal, which includes pay hikes and the addition of a fourth shift—potentially adding 404 firefighters over five years. City Manager Erik Walsh stated that to fund this proposal, cuts of nearly $50 million would need to be made in next year's city budget, a dire conundrum for the city.
The City Council's request for an executive session to discuss these negotiations was denied by Segovia, citing confidentiality concerns. The skeptics, including Councilwoman Teri Castillo, argue Segovia is using his position to block the meeting and subsequently "denying our residents their voice with our city budget." The situation has escalated to the point where calls for Segovia's ouster are no longer in hushed tones. In a public display of dissatisfaction, Councilwoman Melissa Cabello Havrda declared a desire to see Segovia removed, alleging inconsistent legal advice.
Under the city charter, while City Council appoints the city manager, it is the manager who hires city personnel, including the city attorney. Therefore, the power to dismiss Segovia rests with Walsh, who has expressed "complete confidence in Andy Segovia and the entire city attorney's office," in a statement acquired by KENS 5.
As City Council prepares for an executive session on May 15 to discuss personnel matters concerning the city attorney, and a public briefing on May 16 regarding the firefighters association negotiations, tensions remain high. The ongoing stalemate has hinted at possible mediation, with outcomes still uncertain as the city grapples with its budgetary constraints and the demands of its firefighter's union.
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