Civil Service Commission

CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS THURSDAY JANUARY 25TH, 2018 MINUTES PRESENT: ELIO DELSETTE, CHAIRPERSON ROBERT MAINS, COMMISSIONER MARK CACOZZA, COMMISSIONER CHAIRPERSON DELSETTE CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 9:31am. Chairperson DelSette made a motion to adopt the December 2018 meeting minutes as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. Chairperson DelSette opened the public speaking session at 9:31am. There being no one wishing to speak, Chairperson DelSette closed the public speaking session at 9:32am. SCHOOL After a discussion with Representatives of the School District (Hillary Brewer, Paul Aloy and Timothy Hilker) Commissioner Mains made a motion to approve Account Clerk job specification as amended. Seconded by Commissioner Cacozza. Ayes all. Following the completion of discussion with the School Districts representatives, Commissioner Mains requested the Agenda be modified to move up the discussion of a Proposal dated January 16th 2018 made by the Mayor’s Office, since the Mayor and Deputy Mayor were present. Chairperson DelSette opposed the request, indicating his strong preference that the discussion take place as scheduled at the end of the Agenda. Commissioner Mains made a motion to modify the Agenda which Commissioner Cacozza seconded. The motion passed. Commissioner Mains and Commissioner Cacozza in favor; Chairperson DelSette opposed. City Attorney DeLeonardis then entered the conference room. At the Chairs request, the Coordinator read the Mayor’s Proposal which included two options designated A and B, and provided a draft of a Resolution that the Mayor’s Office suggested the Commission adopt if Option A was found acceptable by the Commission. A copy of the Proposal including the draft Resolution is appended to these Minutes as Exhibit 1. Chair DelSette posed numerous questions regarding the two options and was upset about the propriety of the Mayors Offices in first disclosing the Proposal in a meeting with the Coordinator on January 2nd 2018 and not directly with the Commissioners. Chair DelSette further related that if Option 2 was pursued an amendment to the City Charter was required followed by public referendum to confirm the change in Civil Service administration. The Chair related that implementing Option 1 may be in violation of Section 22 of the NYS Civil Service Law and that before the Commission adopted the Resolution accompanying the Proposal it would seek the opinion of the NYS Civil Service Commission as to whether it was appropriate to do so. The Chair related that some 5 or 6 years prior, the City Council discussed Option 2 and did not choose to move forward with transferring administration of Civil Service to the County of Saratoga. Commissioner Mains raised the issue of whether the Commissions independence would be preserved if day to day supervision of the Commission’s staff was delegated to the Human Resource Director as proposed in Option 1, since she was under the direct control and supervision of the Mayor. The City Attorney responded that all statutory duties and responsibilities would remain with the Commission and the day to day supervision of its personnel would devolve to the Human Resource Director, who would serve a dual role as she had performed in her prior position with the City of Albany. Chairperson DelSette then asked “Who has the power to make the changes proposed in Option 1?” The City Attorney replied “Your Commission”, by adopting the suggested Resolution, adding that if the operational framework proposed did not work well, then the Commission could rescind the Resolution and go back to the current mode of operation. Commissioner Mains asked if this was the way the City of Albany operated. The Mayor and City Attorney were not certain but would inquire further. Commissioner Cacozza inquired why the Mayor’s Office felt a need to make these proposals and were there specific concerns about current performance of the Commission. The City Attorney replied. “You can improve efficiency without saying you’re inefficient”. The Mayor declined the Chairpersons offer to personally address the Commission. The Commission took no action on the matter and directed the Coordinator to solicit the input and guidance of the NYS Civil Service Department before further considering the proposal. The Commission resumed its Agenda and returned to complete items concerning the School District. Page 1 of 3 Commissioner Cacozza made a motion to approve the following Non Competitive Class Appointment(s). Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. Sharon Brynczka Keyboard Specialist effective 12/20/17 – 12/20/18 Donna Thomas Licensed Practical Nurse effective 01/02/18 – 01/02/19 Sarah Ryan Registered Professional Nurse effective 12/01/17 – 15/01/18 Jody Seitz Registered Professional Nurse effective 01/17/18 – 01/17/19 Teacher Aide effective 01/17/18 – 01/17/19 Marianne Lynett School Bus Assistant effective 12/08/17 Cynthia Moczydlowsky Teacher Aide effective 01/19/18 – 01/25/18 Commissioner Cacozza made a motion to approve the following Labor Class Appointment(s). Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. Janel Fritz Food Service Cashier effective 01/26/18 Elizabeth Oehler School Monitor effective 01/26/18 Cynthia Moczydlowsky School Monitor effective 01/19/18 – 01/25/18 Jody Seitz School Monitor effective 01/17/18 – 01/17/19 CITY CENTER Commissioner Cacozza made a motion to approve the following Non Competitive Class Appointment(s). Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. Shelby King Operations Manger effective 01/01/18 DPW Commissioner Mains made a motion to approve the following Non Competitive Class Appointment(s). Seconded by Commissioner Cacozza. Ayes all. Jared Delaney Working Supervisor effective 12/04/17 Commissioner Cacozza made a motion to approve the following Labor Class Appointment(s). Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. Damien Andress Laborer effective 15/04/17 Angela Thomas Laborer effective 01/02/18 Austin Willard Laborer effective 12/04/17 FINANCE Commissioner Cacozza made a motion to approve the following Competitive Class Appointment(s). Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. Kameron Klippel Payroll Administrator effective 01/01/18 Laura Townsend Provisional City Tax Revenue Supervisor effective 01/08/18 HOUSING AUTHORITY Commissioner Mains made a motion to approve the review and revision of the Modernization Coordinator (Competitive) job specification. Seconded by Commissioner Cacozza. Ayes all. MAYOR Commissioner Mains made a motion to approve the following Exempt Class Appointment(s). Seconded by Commissioner Cacozza. Ayes all. Lisa Shields Deputy Mayor effective 01/01/18 – 12/31/19 PUBLIC SAFETY Commissioner Cacozza made a motion to approve the review and revision of the Special Prosecutor job specification. Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. Commissioner Mains made a motion to approve the following Competitive Class Appointment(s). Seconded by Commissioner Cacozza. Ayes all. William Marshall Provisional Public Safety Dispatcher effective 01/13/18 Paul Swiers Provisional Public Safety Dispatcher effective 01/14/18 Page 2 of 3 RECREATION Commissioner Mains made a motion to approve the following Reclassification. Seconded by Commissioner Cacozza. Ayes all. Recreation Accounts Specialist Commissioner Mains made a motion to approve the New Position Duties Statement for the following titles. Seconded by Commissioner Cacozza. Ayes all. Recreation Assistant Recreation Leader Recreation Specialist CIVIL SERVICE Commissioner Cacozza made a motion to table the following Exempt Class Position reviews until the February 21st 2018 meeting, as requested supporting documentation had not been submitted to Civil Service. Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. Deputy Commissioner of Public Works Deputy Commissioner of Public Safety Commissioner Mains made a motion to approve nine (9) applications for the Secretary to the Office of Planning and Economic Development Examination #62-650. Seconded by Commissioner Cacozza. Ayes all. Commissioner Cacozza made a motion to approve five (5) applications for Head School Grounds Monitor Examination #61-476. Seconded by Commissioner Mains. Ayes all. Commissioner Mains made a motion to establish the following Eligible Lists. Seconded by Commissioner Cacozza. Ayes all. Animal Control/Parking Enforcement Officer #67-809 Engineering Technician #67-89 Housing Authority Assistant #67-939 HVAC Plumber Technician #68-712 Parking Enforcement Officer #64-613 Senior Engineering Technician #76-569 Chairperson DelSette adjourned the meeting at 11:32am. Approved: March 29th, 2018 Respectfully submitted by: Corissa Salvo Civil Service Coordinator Page 3 of 3