Civil Service Commission

CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS MUNICIPAL CIViL SERVICE COMMISSION SARATOGA SPRINGS, NEW YORK 12866 REGULAR MEETING City council chambers Monday, April 30, 2012 MINUTES PRESENT: elio delsette, chairperson robert mains, commissioner Kimberly Galvin, Commissioner CHAIRPERSON DELSETTE CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 5:15pm Chairperson DelSette opened the public speaking session at 5:16pm There being no one wishing to speak, Chairperson DelSette closed the public speaking session at 5:17pm. Chairperson DelSette made a motion to approve the March 29, 2012 minutes. Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. PUBLIC SAFETY: Deputy Commissioner Eileen Finneran requested that the Commission consider the approval of a transfer to the position of Public Safety Dispatcher. Deputy Commissioner Finneran asked for consideration of the transfer requested due to the four vacancies currently in the department; stated that there was funding for the position and that the remaining positions would be filled from the eligible list once the list is established. Deputy Commissioner Finneran also informed the Commission that the Police Department is in the process of conducting the background check and a polygraph has been scheduled. Commissioner Galvin stated that transfers have come to the Commission before, however, due to the fact that the examination process has not been completed, and that there is funding for the position, she would consider this request. Commissioner Mains made a motion to approve a transfer to the position of Public Safety Dispatcher after the completion of the background check and polygraph. Seconded by Commissioner Galvin. Ayes all. Mayor/Urban Heritage: Johnnie Roberts, Program and Visitor Center Assistant, addressed the Commission regarding the on-going issues within the Visitor Center and the classification of her position. Ms. Roberts reminded the Commission that they had met a month earlier (March) to hear testimony regarding the duties/responsibilities of the position and would reconvene this month to make a determination. Ms. Roberts read the letter submitted by the Deputy Mayor and asked the Commission if they took into consideration what was implied or what was fact. Ms. Roberts stated that she has submitted documentation of facts; “my work, my ethics, my intelligence, my computer skills” were used to accomplish tasks directed by the Deputy Mayor. She was instructed by the Deputy Mayor to accomplish certain tasks then left on her own to complete the task(s). Ms. Roberts informed the Commission that the Management Plan, the legislature establishing the Visitor Center and the $600,000.00 grant monies states that there must be a director. The position has been vacant for four years and during that time she has taken on more and more responsibilities. Ms. Roberts stated that she likes her job and would not have come this route if the Deputy Mayor had acknowledged her concerns a year ago. Commissioner Galvin asked Ms. Roberts what duties she felt was outside of the job specification. Commissioner Galvin stated that the letter from the appointing authority presented a solution and did not debate whether the work was out of title. Chairperson DelSette requested that Ms. Roberts and the Deputy Mayor meet to discuss a solution which may include a revision of the job specification. The Deputy Mayor’s letter is a solution. The appointing authority suggests what duties they would like to be assigned to positions and the Commission establishes the job specification, however, the Commission cannot direct the appointing authority to fill a position. Chairperson DelSette informed those present that the Civil Service Commission is responsible to make sure that the job specifications are accurate. The job specifications are legal documents which should be a true reflection of the duties/responsibilities of the position. Chairperson DelSette recommended that the Deputy Mayor and Ms. Roberts try to come to an agreement on the operations of the Visitor Center. Chairperson DelSette instructed the secretary to head a desk audit of the Visitor Center positions; the Human Resources Administrator would work in conjunction with the secretary. Chairperson DelSette asked if anyone objected to a desk audit; no one responded. Commissioner Galvin made a motion that is was the opinion of the Commission that the clarifying correspondence received from the appointing authority renders the potential concerns raised at our last meeting moot. Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. LIBRARY: Commissioner Galvin made a motion to confirm the Labor Class appointment of Carrie Meerwarth to the position of Library Shelver effective April 3, 3012. Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. Commissioner Mains made a motion to confirm the Non-Competitive appointment of Catherine Sowa to the position of Library Clerk part time effective April 18, 2012. Seconded by Commissioner Galvin. Ayes all PUBLIC WORKS: Commissioner Galvin made a motion to revise the Laborer job specification as requested by the Commissioner by adding “equipment” to the sentence in the Distinguished Features of the Class to read “……uses hand and power tools/equipment to perform the work…..” Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. Commissioner Mains made a motion to confirm the temporary seasonal appointment of Stephanie Zabala to the position of Laborer effective April 16 2012 up to and including July 16, 2012. Seconded by Commissioner Galvin. Ayes all. Commissioner Galvin made a motion to confirm the following Labor Class appointments for the operations of the Carousel effective May 1, 2012 up to and including October 31, 2012. Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. Robert Barile Thomas Boehlert Dawn Britt Galen Britt Samantha Cross Rebecca Kam Connie McIntosh Jill Perkins Stephanie Samascott Ted Waite Rose Zacek Stephanie Zabala RECREATION: Commissioner Mains made a motion to confirm the Non-Competitive appointment of Jeffrey Geller to the position of Sports Program Coordinator effective April 9, 2012. Seconded by Commissioner Galvin. Ayes all. SCHOOL DISTRICT: Review new position classification form was tabled – paper work was not submitted Commissioner Galvin made a motion to confirm the following Labor Class appointments. Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. Diane Christensen School Monitor effective 04-26-12 Julia Guetti School Monitor effective 04-12-12 Renee Lail School Monitor effective 04-12-12 Toni Montuori School Monitor effective 05-08-12 Jason Raymond School Monitor effective 05/08/12 Cindy Spencer School Monitor effective 04-27-12 Commissioner Mains made a motion to confirm the following Non-Competitive appointments. Seconded by Commissioner Galvin. Ayes all. Laurie Brand Teacher Aide effective 04-12-12 Adriana Carson Keyboard Specialist part time effective 04-06-12 Siobhan Dahl Teacher Aide effective 04-12-12 Julia Guetti Teacher Aide effective 04-12-12 Clerk part time effective 04-12-12 June Havens Keyboard Specialist part time effective 04-12-12 Christopher Massey Custodian part time effective 04-27-12 Nisha Merchant Clerk part time effective 04-02-12 Toni Montuori Clerk part time effective 05-08-12 Jason Raymond Teacher Aide effective 05-08-12 Cindy Spencer Teacher Aide effective 04-27-12 CIVIL SERVICE : The examination announcement for the Communication Clerk was duly advertised indicating that “full-time paid” experience was necessary in order to be approved for the examination; there is no indication that part time employment would be taken into consideration. The acceptance of part time employment, without properly advertising such, could be construed as falsely advertising the examination. The Civil Service Commission is bound by the New York State Civil Service Laws, and the City of Saratoga Springs Municipal Civil Service Rules and Regulations which states that the minimum qualification must be clearly stated on the examination announcement. Commissioner Mains made a motion to deny the acceptance of the part time employment in place of the advertised full time paid experience for the Communication Clerk examination. Seconded by Commissioner Galvin. Ayes all. Chairperson DelSette made a motion to establish an alternate test date of May 12, 2012 for the Firefighter candidate returning from active Military Duty. Seconded by Commissioner Galvin. Ayes all. CIVIL SERVICE: Commissioner Galvin made a motion that in accordance with NYS Civil Service Law Section 55a (1), the City of Saratoga Springs Municipal Civil Service Commission has not designated positions classified by the New York State Department of Civil Service as a training and experience examination process as 55a, therefore, the request for 55a consideration to the position of Librarian I be denied. Seconded by Chairperson DelSette. Ayes all. The Commission discussed the review submitted by the New York State Department of Civil Service. The Commission stated that the technical review results were as to be expected due to the lack of personnel within the office. The secretary was instructed to schedule a meeting with the Finance Commission in preparation of a request for an additional full time person effective January 1, 2013. APPROVE APPLICATIONS for the following examinations: Automotive Service Manager #61-866` approved – 1 disapproved - 0 Community Relations Coordinator #67-096 approved – 1 disapproved - 4 Public Safety Dispatcher #67-559 approved – 73 disapproved - 8 Senior Library Clerk #71-035 approved – 6 disapproved - 0 Water Treatment Plant Maintenance Supervisor #60-289 approved – 2 disapproved - 1 ESTABLISH ELIGIBLE LISTS for the following examinations: Clerk #10-312 established April 30, 2012 up to April 30, 2015 Firefighter #66-461 established April 30, 2012 up to April 30, 2016 School Bus Driver Cleaner #10-712 established April 30, 2012 up to April 30, 2013 EXTEND ELIGIBLE LIST for the following exam: Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics #60-711 Extended for additional 6 months expired November 24, 2012 Chairperson DelSette adjourned the meeting at 6:30pm. The next Civil Service Commission meeting is scheduled for May 30, 2012. Approved: May 30, 2012 Respectfully submitted by:___________________________________ Patsy Berrigan, Secretary