Civil Service Commission

CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION REGULAR MEETING 15 VANDERBILT AVENUE – TEMPORARY LOCATION OF CITY HALL – THE COUNCIL ROOM TUESDAY AUGUST 20TH 2019 MINUTES PRESENT: MARK CACOZZA, CHAIRPERSON NURIT SONNENSCHEIN, COMMISSIONER DAVID SNYDER, COMMISSIONER Welcoming of newest Commissioner, David Snyder, who was nominated by Mayor Meg Kelly at the August 6 th City Council Meeting and voted unanimously in to finish retired Commissioner DelSettes term. CHAIRPERSON CACOZZA CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 9:31am and opened the public comment section. There being no one wishing to speak, Chair Cacozza closed the public comment section at 9:32am. Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the July 2019 regular meeting minutes as presented. Seconded by Chairperson Cacozza. Commissioner Snyder abstains from voting as he was not a Commissioner at the July 2019 meeting. Motion carries PUBLIC SAFETY Commissioner of Public Safety Peter Martin appeared before the Commission to discuss the proposal of a new position of a Public Safety Proposal Writer for a Traffic Study that would be part time and temporary. Commissioner Martin explained how this position would be reasonable for creating an RFP for the purposes of getting advice and professional engineering for a downtown parking lot, and how in the past the city had tried to get citizen volunteer groups and while appreciated and insightful, have always ended up with what was considered a ‘band aid’ fix. The Department of Public Safety with this position, intends to do further extensive research on the needs, while engaging all of the stakeholders, and that a top notch RFP is presented. This position would not be the consultant, rather, the researcher, writer and presenter of the RFP to City Council would be responsible for funding and hiring a consulting firm. The position is created with the intent that this will not exceed five months and will be up to, but not exceeding twenty hours of work per week, with a goal of being finished by the end of the year. This would be classified as a Non Competitive part time temporary position. Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the requested New Position Duty Statement of a Public Safety Proposal Writer – Traffic Study, Seconded by Commissioner Snyder. Motion carries unanimously. Commissioner Martin stayed to discuss the next item, which is the requested proposal of a second Assistant Police Chief position, which would be a full time and permanent position. Commissioner Martin started by explaining that historically there were three individuals who were in the Police Department to handle administrative duties of the Police Department. Currently, there is the one Police Chief, one Assistant Police Chief, and then the four Lieutenants who each have a different assignment/function. Commissioner Martin believes that the city would be better served by ‘going back to a structure of having three administrative roles in the Police Department, and in order to make it work most efficiently, proposes that the third be a second Assistant Police Chief so that the job duties of the two positions could be split, with investigations and administration under one, patrol falling under the second, but also with some flexibility of addressing the strengths of each individual and position.’ In the event that the Police Chief is unavailable to serve the city, the two Assistant Police Chiefs would share the role, but ultimately the final decision would be up to the Commissioner of Public Safety, whomever that may be. As the additional position was not originally budgeted for the 2019 year, currently there is no funding for the additional position, the funds would then have to be transferred, but Commissioner Martin felt confident that the department could find the funding for the position. The Civil Service Coordinator explained the process of creating a new or additional position is first to bring it before Civil Service for proper classification, and if approved, then take it before Council for the legislative funding approval, line creation if needed, and transfer of funds. Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the Requested Additional Classified Position of a second Assistant Police Chief. Seconded by Commissioner Snyder. Motion carries unanimously. Page 1 of 3 DPW Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the Request for Additional Classified Position(s) for a second DPW Coordinator position. Seconded by Commissioner Snyder. Motion carries unanimously. Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the following Non Competitive Class Appointment(s) en bloc. Seconded by Commissioner Snyder. Motion carries unanimously. Adam Gary Heavy Equipment Operator Effective 08/18/19 Thomas Brown Maintenance Mechanic Effective 08/18/19 Vincent Kenyon Motor Equipment Operator Effective 08/18/19 Chairperson Cacozza made a motion to approve the following Leave of Absence(s). Seconded by Commissioner Snyder. Motion carries unanimously. Ryan Veitch Maintenance Mechanic Effective 09/01/19 – 08/31/20 LIBRARY Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the following Request for Additional Classified Position(s) for a Senior Account Clerk position. Seconded by Commissioner Snyder. Motion carries unanimously. Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the following Non Competitive Class Appointment(s) en bloc. Seconded by Commissioner Snyder. Motion carries unanimously. Jennifer Chillrud Librarian I Effective 08/20/19 Carmen Vasquez Senior Account Clerk Effective 08/22/19 RECREATION Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the following Request for Additional Classified Position(s) for a third Program Coordinator. Seconded by Commissioner Snyder. Motion carries unanimously. Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the following Non Competitive Class Appointment(s) en bloc. Seconded by Commissioner Snyder. Motion carries unanimously. Matthew Jensen Camp Counselor Effective 06/25/19 – 08/30/19 Jacquelyn Danek Recreation Specialist Effective 08/05/19 – 08/21/19 Tony DeVizzio Recreation Specialist Effective 07/27/19 – 08/15/19 SCHOOL Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the New Position Duty Statement for one Telecom and Electrical Technician II. Seconded by Commissioner Snyder. Motion carries unanimously. (Previously tabled at July 2019 meeting). Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the following Labor Class Appointment(s) en bloc. Seconded by Commissioner Snyder. Motion carries unanimously. Shavar Perkins Cleaner Effective 06/28/19 – 08/30/19 Hunter Seymour Cleaner Effective 07/01/19 – 08/30/19 Elizbieta Obstarcyzk School Monitor Effective 09/03/19 Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the following Non Competitive Class Appointment(s) en bloc. Seconded by Commissioner Snyder. Motion carries unanimously. Curtis Colvin School Bus Driver Assistant Effective 07/12/19 – 07/12/20 Margaret Shultes School Bus Driver Assistant Effective 07/15/19 – 07/15/20 John Kovac School Bus Driver Effective 07/29/19 – 07/29/20 Dale Qojtowecz School Bus Driver Effective 07/11/19 – 07/11/20 Mackenzy Nutter Teacher Aide Effective 09/03/19 – 06/30/20 CIVIL SERVICE Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the Proposed Revisions to the Civil Service Coordinator Job Specification, as presented. Seconded by Chairperson Cacozza. Motion carries unanimously. Page 2 of 3 Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the Proposed Revisions to the Civil Service Clerk Job Specification, as modified. Seconded by Chairperson Cacozza. Motion carries unanimously. Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to approve the Resolution for Elio DelSettes Retirement. Seconded by Chairperson Cacozza. Motion carries unanimously. Acknowledge NYS Civil Service Commission approval for the 211 Waiver for Mark Leffler Extension 07/01/19 – 06/30/20. Establish Eligible List(s) Administrative Assistant #63-538 Administrative Assistant – Engineering #64-379 Assistant Police Chief #75-072 Community Development Planner #64-961 Department of Public Works Purchasing Coordinator #64-897 Police Chief #75-074 Police Sergeant #74-648 Principal Planner #72-025 Real Property Appraisal Technician #72-750 Real Property Appraisal Technician # Senior Planner #64-245 Transportation Routing Clerk #60-588 Transportation Safety and Training Coordinator #66-541 Appointment(s) from Eligible Lists Administrative Assistant #63-538 – Katie Farone Administrative Assistant – Engineering #64-379 – Kari Donohue Assistant City Clerk #64-896 – Amber McDonald Community Development Planner #64-961 – Lindsey Conners Department of Public Works Purchasing Coordinator #64-397 – Barbara Maughan DPW Coordinator #69-380 – Mary Castanza Principal Planner #72-025 – Susan Barden Real Property Appraisal Technician #72-750 – Margaret LoPresti Senior Planner #64-245 – Amanda Tucker Senior Typist #22-216 – Kathleen Coleman Exam Announcement(s) Animal Control/Parking Enforcement Officer #66-374 Engineering Technician #67-555 – Open Competitive (7 approved applicants) Deputy Registrar of Vital Statistics #66-365 – Open Competitive Parking Enforcement Officer #63-388 Police Lieutenant #74-654 – Promotional Senior Clerk #68-342 – Open Competitive Senior Engineering Technician #70-420 - Promotional (1 approved applicant) Senior Engineering Technician #60-348 (Open Competitive (3 approved applicants) Senior Typist #22-219 - Open Competitive (21 applicants approved) Senior Typist #70-219 (Promotional) (9 applicants approved) Utilities Clerk #69-383 Water Treatment Plant Operator Trainee #619 – Open Competitive (53 applicants approved) Vacancy Announcement(s) Police Department Records Management Clerk (Provisional) Commissioner Sonnenschein made a motion to close the August 2019 meeting. Seconded by Chairperson Cacozza. Motion carries unanimously. Meeting closed at 11:06am. Prepared by: Corissa Salvo, Civil Service Coordinator – Approved _____________ Page 3 of 3