Civil Service

Official Proceedings of the Battle Creek Civil Service Commission City Hall 10 N. Division Street City Commission Chambers – 3rd Floor Battle Creek, Michigan May 23, 2022 4:00 P.M. MEMBERS PRESENT: Commissioners Chris Dopp and Calvin Hardin MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: Victoria Houser, City Clerk: Nancy Mullett, Labor Relations Attorney: Michelle Hull, Human Resource Director: Mike Fleisher, Battalion Chief CALL TO ORDER: Chairperson Dopp called the meeting to order at 4:04 PM. OATH OF OFFICE: Clerk Houser swore in Commissioner Hardin. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 1. Chairperson Dopp noted the first order of business was to approve the April 25, 2022 Civil Service Commission minutes. Comm. Dopp, supported by Comm. Hardin, made a motion to approve the Civil Service Commission meeting minutes of April 25, 2022. All in favor, none opposed. Motion approved. PETITIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS 1. Neutral Member Applicant: John Joseph Schwarz: not able to attend 2. Neutral Member Applicant: Chris McCoy: Mr. McCoy, responding to questions from the Civil Service Commission, stated he feels that as a leader in the community, he has an obligation to serve, stating that as a member of the Civil Service Commission he would encourage more participation from marginalized communities in Battle Creek, which would result in more diverse hiring in the Battle Creek Fire Department. REPORTS: There were no reports. UNFINISHED BUSINESS: There was none. NEW BUSINESS: 1. Deliberation, and appointment, of Neutral Member of the Civil Service Commission a. John Joseph Schwarz b. Chris McCoy Comm. Hardin, supported by Comm. Dopp, made a motion to appoint Chris McCoy to serve as the Neutral member to the Civil Service Commission. All in favor, none opposed. Motion approved. 2. Oath of Office of Neutral Member of the Civil Service Commission Clerk Houser swore in Commissioner McCoy. 3. Authorizing the City Clerk to initiate the Fire Lieutenant Promotional Testing Process Comm. Hardin, supported by Comm. McCoy, made a motion to authorize the City Clerk to initiate the Fire Lieutenant Promotional Testing Process. All in favor, none opposed. Motion approved. 1 4. Authorizing the City Clerk to initiate the Fire Inspector (restated position) Promotional Testing Process, once the job description and negotiations have been completed. Comm. Hardin, supported by Comm. McCoy, made a motion authorize the City Clerk to initiate the Fire Inspector (restated position) Promotional Testing Process, once the job description and negotiations are completed. All in favor, none opposed. Motion approved. PUBLIC COMMENT: Nancy Mullett, Labor Relations Attorney, discussed the Civil Service Commission’s requirements to follow the Open Meetings Act (OMA), that as a decision making board, discussions and deliberations must be done in an open meeting, which has been publicly noticed. Attorney Mullett further explained that as the Civil Service Commission is comprised of only three members, discussions between only two of the members outside of a public meeting would be considered a violation of the OMA. Attorney Mullett stated the Neutral Member could have discussions with the public, but any undue influence from staff of the Battle Creek Fire Department would be considered a violation. Attorney Mullett also stated the Civil Service Commission could call a closed session, but this also would need to be noticed, and the Commission must come back to open session to make a determination. COMMISSION COMMENT: There were no additional comments. NEXT MEETING: June 27, 2022 at 4:00 PM. ADJOURNMENT: Chairperson Dopp adjourned the meeting at 4:23 PM. 2