Civil Service Commission

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING 5:00 p.m., July 24, 2012 City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room Commissioners: City/Department Representatives: Toni Bachman, Chairman, Present Chaplain Northcut, City Council Liaison, Absent Bert Fleck, Present Trey Smith, City Attorney, Present Vacant Jeff Humphrey, Interim Chief of Police, Present Jim Campbell, Present John Cochran, Fire Chief, Present Phillip Lea, Present Tracey Cline-Pew, Human Resources, Present Doug Lewis, Assistant Fire Chief, Present Meeting Minutes Chairman Toni Bachman called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. The Commission reviewed the minutes of the June meeting. Bert Fleck made a motion that the minutes be approved. Jim Campbell seconded the motion. The minutes were approved. OLD BUSINESS Civil Service Commission • Toni Bachman announced that the Mayor had selected Garrie Kellum to fill Joe Morrow’s position on the Civil Service Commission. His appointment would be considered at the August City Council Meeting. Police • Jeff Humphrey stated that 17 police officers had taken the written promotional examinations. Of those 17 who took the test, 11 passed and will proceed to the next level. Jeff Humphrey advised that only one person had passed the Captain level of the promotional testing. Since there was only one candidate, Interim Chief Humphrey asked if the assessment testing could be waived for this individual. The Commission denied this request and agreed that this person should go through the entire process. • Promotional assessments were tentatively scheduled for August 9, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. at the Russellville Police Department in the upstairs conference room. Jim Campbell will be present during the morning assessments, and Toni Bachman will be present during the afternoon. • Promotional interviews were tentatively scheduled for Saturday, August 18, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. at the Russellville Police Department. All commissioners are available on that date. Bert Fleck noted that he prepared a new set of interview questions. A copy has been provided for the file. A score of 70% is needed to pass. Fire Department • None. NEW BUSINESS Fire Department • Chief Cochran reported that a Fire Captain recently resigned. This created an opening for a Captain, promotion to a Driver and the need for an entry-level firefighter. He stated that the current certified entry level list contains only one candidate. However, he would like to proceed with entry level testing as soon as possible and create a new certified list. This would mean that the person that remains on the current list would be blended into the new list based on his score. If this person takes the test again, his name may appear twice until the current list expires. Chief Cochran passed out materials from the Civil Service Commission’s original discussion regarding changing entry level and promotional testing to every two years. He stated that the initial idea was to change only the promotional testing to every two years, and that somehow the entry level testing had also been included. Chief Cochran asked that the Commission consider reversing its decision in regard to the entry level testing only. Bert Fleck discussed that the reason we went to two-year testing was to save time, materials, and cost to each department. At that time, the active list would take longer to go through and you would still have a good selection of candidates. Chief Cochran pointed out that there may be plenty of names on a certified list to cover a two- year period, however, the lower you went on the list the lower the qualifications of the candidates. Interim Chief Humphrey agreed and stated that it was his experience that a one year list worked best and was worth the extra effort. Assistant Fire Chief Lewis noted that there would be several retirements in the upcoming years and that the promotional list would be sufficient to cover them. However, in order to ensure that the fire department hired the most qualified entry level candidates a one-year promotional list was necessary. He pointed out that in the long run it would save the Fire Department time, effort, money and training. • Jim Campbell made a motion that the rules be changed so that entry level testing would take place on an annual basis. Bert Fleck seconded the motion. The motion unanimously passed. The first reading of the proposed change to Russellville Civil Service Commission Rules and Regulations, Chapter 2, Section III – Certified List: . . . Following the entry-level and promotional testing and examination process, the Commission shall prepare the certified lists. Entry level certified lists shall be in full force and effect for a period of one calendar year subsequent to the date of certification. Promotional certified lists shall be in full force and effect for the period of two calendar years subsequent to the date of certification. If upon the date of certification, a prior certified list is still effective, then the current certified list will incorporate the prior list with the appropriate ranking in accordance with Civil Service statutes in regard to promotion. All entry level certified lists and promotional certified lists shall expire one (1) year and two (2) years respectively after the date of certification regardless of the period of time such list may have existed as the sole certified list.  • Chief Cochran reviewed the Physical Ability Testing guidelines. He stated that the Fire Department conducts pre-employment testing that places each candidate into a Tier 1, Tier 2 or Tier 3 based on their physical fitness. The Fire Department will only appoint from the Tier 1 list, however, once the candidate becomes a firefighter they do not always maintain their fitness level. Chief Cochran proposed changing the sequence of the testing process to include the tier testing prior to the PAT testing. This would eliminate individuals before putting them through the stress of a PAT test, and the expense of further examinations. The Commission agreed. • Chief Cochran stated that he would like to conduct entry level testing in late September or early October and asked the Commissioners to look at tentative dates. Entry level PAT testing followed by Oral Interviews was tentatively scheduled for October 6, 2012. Chief Cochran will announce the testing on September 1st. Police Department • None Civil Service Commission • Toni Bachman acknowledged that it was time to elect new officers for the Commission. She said that the person next in line to go off the Commission usually becomes the Chairman. Bert Fleck would be the next in line. Bert Fleck stated that he would like to table this discussion for another meeting. He was inclined to keep Toni Bachman as Chairman of the Commission. The matter was tabled Bert Fleck made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Jim Campbell seconded the motion. The meeting was adjourned.