Civil Service Commission

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING 5:00 p.m., November 26, 2013 City Hall 2nd Floor Conference Room Commissioners: City/Department Representatives: Toni Bachman, Chairman, Present Freddie Harris, City Council Liaison, Present Bert Fleck, Present Trey Smith, City Attorney, Present Garrie Kellam, Present Jeff Humphrey, Police Chief, Present Jim Campbell, Present John Cochran, Fire Chief, Present Phillip Lea, Present Tracey Cline-Pew, Human Resources, Present Meeting Minutes Chairman Toni Bachman called the meeting to order at 5:00 p.m. The Commission reviewed the minutes of the October meeting. Jim Campbell made a motion that the minutes be approved. Garrie Kellam seconded the motion and the minutes were approved. OLD BUSINESS Civil Service Commission • None. Police • Chief Humphrey advised the commission that the position of Assistant Chief had been removed from the City's budget and would not be funded. The Police Department would continue to operate with three Captains. • Chief Humphrey asked that the promotional testing be moved from January 2014 to March in order to allow those interested in testing to have plenty of time to prepare. Testing dates were set as follows: Written Test 8:00 a.m., March 1, 2014 RPD Conference Room Assessment Panel 1:00 p.m., March 6, 2014 RPD Conference Room The study materials previously discussed will remain the same. Promotional testing will be for the positions of Captain and Lieutenant. Chief Humphrey did not know how many candidates might sign up for testing. Many had to weigh the benefit since hourly employees often make more money than exempt, salaried employees due to overtime pay. Bert Fleck suggested promoting the positions as "lower risk" since they are administrative positions. Fire Department • Chief Cochran reported that the former Assistant Chief had requested and received a demotion to Captain. Chris Vick, a Firefighter/Driver had accepted the position of Training Officer. After a  lengthy discussion with the Mayor it was decided that in the Chief's absence, an acting Battalion Chief would act as Assistant Chief rather than staffing the Assistant Chief position. NEW BUSINESS Civil Service Commission • None. Fire Department • Chief Cochran advised that Joshua Pitts had been promoted to Firefighter/Driver. In addition, Brandon Graham, number three on the certified list, had been offered an entry-level firefighter position. He is scheduled to report to work on December 2, 2013. • Chief Cochran explained that they had interviewed the top six applicants. Hiring Mr. Graham moved the applicants on the current list up one place on the certified list. • Chief Cochran stated that he had not updated the reading list for promotional testing. Once revised, it will require commission approval. Chief Cochran prefers to give candidates up to three months to study and prepare for promotional testing. He stated that he would try and have the list ready for the commission's approval in January or February. Police Department • None. At 5:45 p.m. Garrie Kellam made a motion that the meeting be adjourned. Jim Campbell seconded the motion and the meeting was adjourned.