Meet & Confer is a permissive process allowed and prescribed by Texas Local Government Code Chapter 142. The process provides an opportunity to supersede, modify, and improve upon the statutory requirements of Civil Service law.
The City entered into Meet & Confer agreements with Police Benevolent Association of Georgetown (Association) in 2016 and again in 2019. That agreement is set to expire on September 30, 2024. The City and Association identified a need to update agreement language in order to enhance recruitment and retention efforts. The City and Association agreed upon a set agenda and discussions started in late July and concluded in August. The revised agreement includes the following provisions that are beneficial to all parties:
- Compensation & Recruitment:
- Creates new pay plan based on department tenure, including more aggressive starting pay and progression of pay through early years of employment that should be helpful in recruitment and retention. This is set to be implemented in January of 2023.
- Enhanced lateral entry program that targets hiring experienced officers from other agencies.
- Gave City more flexibility in setting probationary periods as part of overall review of hiring and selection process.
- Funding for all pay items were included in the FY23 budget
The term of the agreement is unchanged, ending in September of 2024. Per Chapter 142, this agreement is enforceable once the Association conducts a ratification election of the Police Officers and the City Council ratifies the agreement by majority vote. Per President Matthew Robey, the Association completed their ratification election in early September and a majority of the police officers who would be covered by the agreement favored ratification. Council ratification is the final step to the approval process.