Civil Service

Official Proceedings of the Battle Creek Civil Service Commission Appeal Hearing City Hall 10 N. Division Street Commission Chambers Battle Creek, Michigan February 26, 2018 4:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Al Giguere, Tim Martinovich and Mike Roller MEMBERS ABSENT: None STAFF PRESENT: Jim Blocker, Police Chief; Nancy Mullett, Labor Attorney; Victoria Houser, City Clerk; Martin Erskine, Battalion Chief OTHERS PRESENT: CALL TO ORDER: Commissioner Martinovich called the meeting to order at 4:00 pm. ELECTION OF CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION CHAIRPERSON FOR 2018: Commissioner Roller nominated Commissioner Giguere to act as Civil Service Commission Chairperson. Commissioner Martinovich concurred with the nomination. Commissioner Giguere accepted the nomination to serve as Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission. APPROVAL OF MINUTES : Comm. Roller, supported by Comm. Martinovich, made a motion to approve the Civil Service Commission meeting minutes of November 27, 2017 and January 3, 2018. All yes, none opposed. Motion approved. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS: There were no petitions or communications. REPORTS: There were no reports. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: There was not any unfinished business. NEW BUSINESS 1. Consideration of Amendments to the Civil Service Rules i. Rule 2: Filling of Vacancies a. Battalion Chief b. Battalion Chief and Fire Captain ii. Changes to add a new Rule 5 regarding an Assessment Center iii. Rule 5: Filling of Vacancies for the Rank of (New Rule 5 added) a. Battalion Chief b. Battalion Chief and Fire Chief iv. Rule 5: Examinations (5) Identity of Examinees (Will be Rule 6 if new Rule 5 addition approved) v. Rule 6: Eligibility Lists (Will be Rule 7 if prior amendments approved) a. To add Fire Marshal, Fire Lieutenant and Fire Candidate vi. Changes to the Rule numbers 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10 to reflect amendments Chair Giguere noted Chief Schmaltz had completed a lot of research related to changing the promotional testing of Battalion Chief and Fire Captain candidates from written testing and oral interviews to an assessment center. Chair Giguere, noting Chief Schmaltz was on a leave of absence, requested Chief Blocker provide input on the amendments to the rules that are proposed on the agenda and the change of testing to an assessment center. Chief Blocker stated he is comfortable with the proposed rule amendments and that he is familiar with the use of assessment centers for the testing of promotional candidates. Chief Blocker stated an assessment center provides a third dimension to testing of the candidates, including leadership and operational skills, stating the Police Department has seen improved candidate quality with assessment center results. Chief Blocker also recognized the additional cost for an assessment center is worth expending for the results that are achieved. 1 Clerk Houser noted the additional costs for an assessment center were not significantly more than traditional testing. Chair Giguere stated he was pleased with the Assessment Center presentation and with Chief Schmaltz’ work evidencing an assessment center would lead to better promotions within the department. Chair Giguere stated he was supportive of the amendments to the Civil Service Rules to include an assessment center. Comm. Roller, noting he has had conversations with the union members he represents, stated they believe the current testing system works well and that it is not worth going forward with an assessment center. Comm. Roller stated he was not comfortable going forward with an assessment center as he was uncertain as to the future service of Chief Schmaltz. Chief Blocker expressed understanding of Comm. Roller, stating an assessment center would help to identify leadership skills, while providing an idea how the candidate will behave in the future. Chief Blocker stressed the assessment center provides a more realistic assessment of a candidate’s skills and ability to handle stress. Comm. Martinovich stated he was not in favor of changing to an assessment center, believing the current testing process works well and the timing was not appropriate. Battalion Chief Erskine, noting the current Battalion Chief staff are in favor of changing to an assessment center, requested the Commission allow an assessment center for Battalion Chief testing at this time, with consideration of changing to an assessment center for Fire Captains in the future. Chief Erskine stated his promotion from Captain to Battalion Chief provided the biggest difference in the necessary skills and capabilities, stating the written test did not appropriately test his skills. Chief Erskine stated an assessment center would better assess a candidate’s skills. Comm. Martinovich stated he was not opposed to an assessment center, stating the timing was not appropriate. Chief Blocker stated Empco has conducted numerous assessment centers, stating they are testing people for their future skills. Chief Blocker noted a candidate’s perspective changes when promoted, stating an assessment center tests the candidate’s capabilities. Chair Giguere expressed his support of moving to an assessment center for promotional testing. Chair Giguere expressed a preference to table several of the motions on the agenda until the future. Chair Giguere recommended all items be tabled except item 1. v. Rule 6: Eligibility Lists, on the agenda as proposed amended Rule #7, but to remain as Rule #6 as the other rules were not changing. Chair Giguere requested additional information from the City Clerk related to the proposed change to Rule # 6. Clerk Houser noted past eligibility lists have expired and new lists created when there are no vacancies to fill, stating it was not fiscally responsible to test candidates to create eligibility lists when there were not any expected promotions. Clerk Houser noted the proposed amendment was to add Fire Marshal, Fire Captain and Fire Lieutenant to Rule 6(2) Maintenance of Eligibility Lists to require the eligibility list only be established when a vacancy occurs. Chair Giguere, supported by Comm. Roller, made a motion to table the new business consideration of the Civil Service Rule amendments on the agenda, except the amendment to Rule #6 Eligibility Lists. All yes, none opposed. Motion approved. A motion was made by Comm. Martinovich, supported by Comm. Roller, to amend Rule #6 Eligibility Lists to add Fire Marshal, Fire Captain and Fire Lieutenant to only be established when a vacancy occurs. All yes, none opposed. Motion approved PUBLIC COMMENT: Chief Erskine questioned if the Commission would be authorizing the City Clerk to begin the Battalion Chief testing process, noting there was a 2 week sign up period, followed by a required 6 seek study period. Clerk Houser noted the Civil Service Commission planned to authorize the testing process for Battalion Chiefs be on the March 2018 agenda. 2 Chief Blocker stated his preference that the Battalion Chief testing process be initiated, confirming the testing would be with I/O Solutions. Chair Giguere, supported by Comm. Martinovich, made a motion to authorize the City Clerk to proceed with the Battalion Chief Testing. All yes, none opposed. Motion approved. COMMISSION COMMENT : There were not any Commission comments. ADJOURNMENT : Chair Giguere adjourned the meeting at 4:17 PM. 3