Civil Service

Official Proceedings of the Battle Creek Civil Service Commission City Hall 10 N. Division Street Via Zoom, Enterprise Video Conferencing Battle Creek, Michigan September 27, 2021 4:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Chris Dopp and Tim Martinovich, both attending remotely from the City of Battle Creek. MEMBERS ABSENT: Mike Roller, due to technical difficulties STAFF PRESENT: Clerk Victoria Houser, Fire Chief Brian Sturdivant, Battalion Chief Michelle Hughey, Human Resource Director Michelle Hull, Fire Fighter Jeremy Pratt CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Dopp called the meeting to order at 4:07 PM. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Chairperson Dopp noted the first order of business was to approve the August 25, 2021 Civil Service Commission minutes. Comm. Martinovich, supported by Comm. Dopp, made a motion to approve the Civil Service Commission meeting minutes of August 25, 2021. All in favor, none opposed. Motion approved. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS: There were no petitions or communications. REPORTS: There were no reports. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: There was none. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Certify the “2021 Fire Training Officer Eligibility List” Chairperson Dopp noted the first item was to certify the “2021 Fire Training Officer Eligibility List,” asking if there were any comments. Comm. Martinovich, supported by Comm. Dopp, made a motion to certify the “2021 Fire Training Officer Eligibility List.” All in favor, none opposed. Motion approved. 2. Certify the First Candidate on the Candidates “2021 Fire Training Officer Eligibility List” (Kevin Lohrke) Chairperson Dopp noted the next item was to certify the First Candidate, Kevin Lohrke, on the “2021 Fire Training Officer Eligibility List,” asking if there were any comments. Comm. Dopp, supported by Comm. Martinovich, made a motion to certify the First Candidate, Kevin Lohrke, on the “2021 Fire Training Officer Eligibility List.” All in favor, none opposed. Motion approved. 3. Certify the Second Candidate on the Candidates “2021 Fire Training Officer Eligibility List” (Shea Peters) Chairperson Dopp noted the next item was to certify the Second Candidate, Shea Peters, on the “2021 Fire Training Officer Eligibility List,” asking if there were any comments. 1  Comm. Dopp, supported by Comm. Martinovich, made a motion to certify the Second Candidate, Shea Peters, on the “2021 Fire Training Officer Eligibility List.” All in favor, none opposed. Motion approved. 4. Remove 4 candidates from the “2019 Entry Level Fire Fighter Eligibility List” as requested by the candidates (Dennis Barnum, Robert McCreary, Christian Major, Darian Luchies) Chairperson Dopp noted the next item was to remove four candidates, mentioned above, from the “2019 Entry Level Fire Fighter Eligibility List” as requested by the candidates, asking if there were any comments. Comm. Martinovich, supported by Comm. Dopp, made a motion to remove four candidates, Dennis Barnum, Robert McCreary, Christian Major, and Darian Luchies, from “2019 Entry Level Fire Fighter Eligibility List” as requested by the candidates. All in favor, none opposed. Motion approved. 5. Remove 2 candidates from the “2019 Entry Level Fire Fighter Eligibility List” due to non- responsiveness (Benjamin Warner and Connor Hollemans) Chairperson Dopp noted the next item on the agenda was to remove two candidates (Benjamin Warner and Connor Hollemans) from “2019 Entry Level Fire Fighter Eligibility List” due to non- responsiveness, asking if there were any comments. Comm. Dopp, supported by Comm. Martinovich, made a motion to remove two candidates (Benjamin Warner and Connor Hollemans) from the “2019 Entry Level Fire Fighter Eligibility List” due to non-responsiveness. All in favor, none opposed. Motion approved. 6. Discussion of Entry Level Fire Fighter Hiring Process Chief Sturdivant discussed the challenges working with the Entry Level Fire Fighter Eligibility List, and although he understands the Public Act requires the eligibility list be certified, asked why the candidates then need to be certified in blocks of five, stating this delays the hiring process. Chief Sturdivant stated the top candidates on the list were no longer interested in employment, as they had gained employment elsewhere during the 18 -20 months since the testing. Chief Sturdivant stated this has resulted in lost opportunities for better-qualified candidates. Chief Sturdivant stated he has requested Attorney Nancy Mullet to research the practices of other municipalities who have adopted Public Act 78. Michelle Hull, Human Resource Director, expressed similar difficulties in hiring from an eligibility list that is almost 2 years old, noting several candidates had taken positions with other fire agencies or are no longer interested in the fire service. Ms. Hull stated the long delay poses several challenges in the HR department. Chairperson Dopp expressed understanding, stating he appreciates staff’s due diligence in researching other municipalities’ practices. Chief Sturdivant stated it would be beneficial to be timelier in the hiring process so that the City does not lose opportunities to hire candidates at the top of the list, noting the research may not bring any different practices, but the research would help to better inform the process. Chief Sturdivant stated other fire departments put together a list in “real time” so that they could hire the candidates immediately after the list is established. Clerk Houser asked Chief Sturdivant if it would be beneficial to delay the entry level fire fighter testing process if there were no vacancies, so that a list not be created if there were no vacancies. 2  Chief Sturdivant stated he understood that the current established process should be followed, also stating he wanted to ensure the testing process did not interfere with the Clerk’s Office responsibilities with elections. Chairperson Dopp agreed it would be good to seek a more efficient process, noting it is difficult for all employers to find qualified employees in the last year. PUBLIC COMMENT: Jeremy Pratt, BCFD Fire Fighter, Local 335, noted Public Act 78, which provides the steps for the process, governs the entry level hiring process. Fire Fighter Pratt stated it is his understanding that the City does not have the ability at the local level to change the requirements. Fire Fighter Pratt agreed that in the past there was not a time when so many candidates were removed from the list, whether at their request due to other employment or non-responsiveness. Fire Fighter Pratt expressed his belief some candidates may have sought other employment because the City recently laid off some staff and the list was 22 months old. Fire Fighter Pratt stated that barring the elimination of Public Act 78, the Civil Service Commission was required to follow the process in the act when hiring, agreeing there may be ways to streamline the process. Fire Fighter Pratt stated Local 335 did not intend to see the process changed or the elimination of Public Act 78. COMMISSION COMMENT: There were no additional comments. NEXT MEETING: October 25, 2021 at 4:00 PM. ADJOURNMENT: Chairperson Dopp adjourned the meeting at 4:35 PM. 3