Exemption of city management positions from civil service
Milwaukee
Summary
The board permanently exempted six part-time aldermanic office assistant positions from civil service, letting council members choose their own fill-in staff, and re-exempted the administration's top lobbyist position. These decisions shape which city jobs are outside merit-based hiring.
At a glance
- Total mentions
- 3
- Last 30 days
- 2
Discussed at 2 meetings in the last 60 days; most recently Oct 13, 2026.
Impact analysis
These pay-range positions (2CN part-time, 2OX) remain outside standard civil service hiring processes.
Council members wanting trusted office staff, and the mayor's legislative agenda team.
Employees on probation remain terminable without appeal rights, which critics say leaves room for unfair dismissals.
Mentions & discussions (3)
FINANCE & PERSONNEL COMMITTEE — October 13, 2026
Alderwoman Moore pressed DER on the move from six-month to twelve-month probation and raised the case of an employee terminated just before her probation ended with no prior discipline. DER explained documentation requirements and compliance oversight but acknowledged gaps in employee education about rights.
BOARD OF CITY SERVICE COMMISSIONERS — October 6, 2026
Two leadership roles — Deputy City Attorney and DPW Administrative Services Director — were re-exempted from standard civil service hiring rules because they serve as policy advisors to department heads.
BOARD OF CITY SERVICE COMMISSIONERS — July 21, 2026
The board permanently exempted six part-time aldermanic office assistant positions from civil service, letting council members choose their own fill-in staff, and re-exempted the administration's top lobbyist position. These decisions shape which city jobs are outside merit-based hiring.
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