Civil Service Commission

CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING 5:00 p.m., December 16, 2014 2nd Floor Conference Room, Russellville City Hall Commissioners: City/Department Representatives: Toni Bachman, Chairman, Present Freddie Harris, City Council Liaison, Absent 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, Absent 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. Bert Fleck seconded the motion and the minutes were unanimously approved. OLD BUSINESS Civil Service Commission  None. Police  Chief Humphrey requested that the Commission set tentative dates for entry level testing. He stated that the current list expired in February. The Police Academy begins on May 3, 2015 so testing in February would facilitate the time needed for background checks, etc. Two Saturdays are needed for testing. Tentative entry level test dates were set for February 14, 2015 and February 21, 2015. Chief Humphrey stated that the RPD currently has one opening, but may have more as the testing dates near.  Chief Humphrey asked the Commission to set tentative dates for promotional testing (Sergeant and Lieutenant) for May 2015. He pointed out that he needed to provide at least 90-days advance notice to allow candidates to study. There are currently no candidates on the Sergeant promotional list. Chief Humphrey requested that the written test be given on a Saturday with assessments and interviews to follow during that week. The written test was tentatively set for May 2, 2015. Fire Department  None. NEW BUSINESS Civil Service Commission  None. Police Department  Chief Humphrey informed the Commission that he had done a comparison of the Russellville Police Department with thirteen cities in regard to salary and benefits. He stated that Russellville was in the bottom one-third. He advised that the City Council had promised to address this in the future. Fire Department  Chief Cochran advised the Commission that he had sent conditional letters of employment to the second, fourth and fifth candidates on the current entry-level list. Once all candidates meet the conditions of employment a final letter will be sent. One of the applicants is a certified firefighter in Missouri. It is likely that his certifications are reciprocal so that there will be no need to send him to the academy.  Chief Cochran stated that he expects several retirements in 2015. Of the candidates interviewed, no one questioned the salary. Chief Cochran explained that he lowered the entry level starting salary in order to ensure that the City Council approved his Step and Grade proposal in 2012. The Civil Service Commission meeting adjourned at 5:45 p.m.