Civil Service Commission

City Hall Meeting Minutes 601 4th Avenue E Olympia, WA 98501 Civil Service Commission Contact: Tami Micheau 360.753.8343 Tuesday, November 17, 2015 8:30 AM Room 112 1. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 8:39 a.m. 1.A ROLL CALL Commissioner Soule arrived at 8:50 a.m. Present: 3 - Commissioner Reiko Callner, Commissioner Oscar Soule, and Chair Linda Villegas Bremer STAFF PRESENT Rich Allen, Police Sergeant Steve Nelson, Deputy Police Chief Greg Wright, Deputy Fire Chief Amy Cleveland, Chief Examiner/Secretary Tami Micheau, Human Resources OTHERS PRESENT Michael Holman, Applicant APPROVAL OF AGENDA Since Commissioner Soule indicated he would arrive late, Chair Villegas-Bremer suggested moving items 3C and 3D before items 3A and 3B. The agenda was approved as amended. APPROVAL OF MINUTES 2.A 15-1094 Approval of September 15, 2015 Civil Service Commission Meeting Minutes The minutes were approved as amended. Aye: 2 - Commissioner Callner and Chair Villegas Bremer Excused: 1 - Commissioner Soule City of Olympia Page 1 Civil Service Commission Meeting Minutes November 17, 2015 3. BUSINESS ITEMS 3.A 15-1095 Removal of Names from Entry Level Police Officer Register Ms. Cleveland reported six candidates were removed from the Entry Level Police Officer register because they did not pass the background investigation. All candidates have been notified in writing and one candidate has appealed. The report was received. Please note; this item occurred third under Business Items, after 3D. 3.B 15-1097 Appeal of Removal from Entry Level Police Officer Register The recording was stopped at 9:00 a.m. and the applicant was advised of the appeal process. The recording started again at 9:48 a.m. Chair Villegas-Bremer departed and requested the meeting continue in her absence with Commissioner Callner to facilitate. Commissioner Callner stated the Commission did come to a conclusion and asked the Chief Examiner to write a letter saying the Commission upheld the decision made by the Police Department and the Chief Examiner. The appeal was denied and the original decision was upheld. Please note; this item occurred fourth under Business Items, after 3A. 3.C 15-1098 Approval of Entry Level Police Officer Register Ms. Micheau reported 79 candidates were invited to the Phase 1 testing, 28 candidates participated in the phase 1 testing, and five passed. Those five candidates were invited to oral interviews, and three successfully passed the oral interviews. Interviews were held on October 26, 2015, and the interview panel consisted of OPD Officer Jeffrey Davis, OPD Lieutenant Paul Lower and Intercity Transit Supervisor Joy Gerchak. Three candidates are on the register for approval with final ranking scores between 86.15%-96.16%. The register was approved. Please note; this item occurred first under Business Items. Aye: 2 - Commissioner Callner and Chair Villegas Bremer Excused: 1 - Commissioner Soule 3.D 15-1099 Approval of Advanced Entry Police Officer Register Ms. Micheau reported Advanced Entry Police Candidates are accepted on a continuous basis. There were 13 candidates processed through Phase 1 and interviews. One candidate passed all tests and was placed on the Advanced Entry Police Officer Register with a final ranking score of 70.50%. Interviews were held October 26, 2015, and the interview panel consisted of OPD Officer Jeffrey Davis, City of Olympia Page 2 Civil Service Commission Meeting Minutes November 17, 2015 OPD Lieutenant Paul Lower and Intercity Transit Supervisor Joy Gerchak. The register was approved. Please note; this item occurred second under Business Items, after 3C. Aye: 2 - Commissioner Callner and Chair Villegas Bremer Abstained: 1 - Commissioner Soule 3.E 15-1100 Civil Service Rule VI, Certification and Probationary Period Rule Change Ms. Cleveland reported the fire department has requested lengthening the existing probation period for firefighters from one year to fifteen months. Assistant Chief Mike Buchanan requested this change because of the length and complexity of the firefighter training, noting that new firefighters spend twelve weeks away from the department at the academy. Twelve months is usually not long enough for new firefighters to complete all the necessary training. However, some firefighters come to the City with experience and move through the process quickly. Because of this, the proposed language includes extending probation to a fifteen month period with the option of ending at twelve months at the fire chief’s discretion. Ms. Cleveland noted fire department management, the union, and human resources staff are in agreement with the discretionary shortened probationary period. Commissioner Soule asked if a firefighter could finish in less than twelve months. Deputy Chief Wright explained that the academy lasts twelve weeks at the beginning of probation, but the fire department needs the full twelve months for the internal training process. Commissioner Soule moved, seconded by Commissioner Callner, to approve the rule change. The motion carried by the following vote: Aye: 2 - Commissioner Callner and Commissioner Soule Excused: 1 - Chair Villegas Bremer 15-1210 Discussion of Diversity and Screening Processes Commissioner Callner noted there are issues she would like to discuss at the next Civil Service meeting. One is the effort the police department makes to achieve diversity in their hires. Also, what the police department does to assure they do not hire people with anger management issues or psychological infirmities that would place them or the public at risk in service as a police officer. The Commission requested Ms. Cleveland schedule appropriate time and space for this discussion. The discussion was completed. 4. REPORTS Fire Department Update: Deputy Chief Wright reported three vendors presented City of Olympia Page 3 Civil Service Commission Meeting Minutes November 17, 2015 proposals for the promotional testing process at the fire department last week. After a lengthy discussion with approximately 12 employees in attendance, Public Safety Testing was chosen as the consultant. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 10:18 a.m. City of Olympia Page 4