Civil Service Commission

CITY OF STERLING HEIGHTS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION, ACT 78 MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF AUGUST 16, 2017 The regular meeting of the Civil Service Commission, Act 78, was held in City Council Chambers, City Hall, 40555 Utica Road, Sterling Heights, Michigan. 1. Call to Order. The meeting was called to order at 2:04 p.m. by Chairwoman Terri Jarema. 2. Roll Call. Present: Chair Terri Jarema and Commissioner Jerry Griesbeck Absent: Commissioner Irv Droste (excused) Also present: Melanie D. Ryska, City Clerk; Don DeNault, City Attorney; Chris Martin, Fire Chief; Sergeant Dave Ormachea; Kate Baldwin, Human Resources and Benefits Manager 3. Approval of Agenda. Moved by Griesbeck, supported by Jarema, to approve the agenda as presented. Yes: Griesbeck, Jarema Absent: Droste The motion carried. 4. Approval of minutes of regular meeting of April 26, 2017. Moved by Griesbeck, supported by Jarema, to approve the minutes of the August 1, 2017 meeting as presented. Yes: Griesbeck, Jarema Absent: Droste The motion carried. 5. Appeal of Firefighter applicant Jeffrey Good. Clerk Ryska informed the Commission that a letter was sent to Mr. Good on July 28, 2017 advising him that he did not pass the character background investigation and he was removed from the 2017 Firefighter Eligibility List. Mr. Good submitted his intent to appeal the decision on August 4, 2017. Civil Service Commission, Act 78 Meeting of August 1, 2017 Page 2 Sergeant Dave Ormachea outlined his oral interview and background investigation, noting that he found numerous red flags that lead to his recommendation of denial. Sergeant Ormachea stated that the oral interview process is an applicant’s last opportunity to answer all questions and disclose all information. Sergeant Ormachea indicated that Mr. Good’s interview took approximately one hour and twenty minutes, longer than most oral interviews. He noted that that Mr. Good failed to list all fire departments that he worked for, or applied to. On his application, he listed only four departments and during the interview he stated he probably applied to more than seven. Mr. Good failed his psychological evaluation for Redford and failed his background investigation for Warren in March 2016 for not listing all previous employers on his application. Mr. Good also indicated on his application that he resigned from Auburn Hills, and during his oral interview he stated he received a termination letter. Mr. Good failed to pay his outstanding bill to Kalamazoo Valley Community College and therefore was unable to provide transcripts. Sergeant Ormachea also discovered that Mr. Good failed to list all tickets he received and noted that Mr. Good could only say he received six or seven tickets some years ago. Sergeant Ormachea stated that Mr. Good showed a lack attention to detail during the application process. Sergeant Ormachea outlined his discussions with four of Mr. Good’s previous employers and stated that three gave unfavorable reviews and one gave a neutral review. Birmingham Police Department indicated that Mr. Good was responsible for an on duty vehicle accident. The accident report showed that Mr. Good was at fault and he was given a hazardous action of an improper turn. Birmingham indicated that due to the accident and other issues, it was in Mr. Good’s best interest to resign. Based on these findings, Sergeant Ormachea stated that he could not recommend that Mr. Good be considered for employment to the Sterling Heights Fire Department. Mr. Good was given an opportunity to address the Commission. Mr. Good distributed a copy of his resume to the Commission and began by stating that he failed the Warren background investigation because he did not disclose his employment in college. He further stated that he worked in Auburn Hills for nine months, he was part-time, he left to take a full-time opportunity and Auburn Hills deemed that a termination. Mr. Good stated that he was shocked that he received negative reviews from his former employers when he was never written up in a Fire Department. He stated he was asked to return to Waterford on a SAFER grant, but refused because he had a stable job in Birmingham and he indicated that he was given positive reviews by Birmingham. Mr. Civil Service Commission, Act 78 Meeting of August 1, 2017 Page 3 Good stated that he was fired from Birmingham because of the accident, but that the accident was a mistake and his entire career shouldn’t be marred because of a mistake. Mr. Good stated he received letters of recommendation from his Battalion Chief and Captain in Westland and insisted that he did not get negative feedback from Westland. Mr. Good stated that he also was given positive reviews by a current Sterling Heights Firefighter. Mr. Good indicated that he felt he would be a good candidate for the City of Sterling Heights, that he would work hard and not be a problem. Chair Jarema asked for clarification on a statement that Mr. Good made in his appeal letter. Mr. Good wrote Fire Chief Martin would “hire me if an appeal is made.” He clarified that he meant if his appeal was upheld, Chief Martin would hire him. Chief Martin stated he told Mr. Good if the Commission overturned his failed background, he would hire him. Chief Martin expressed his gratitude for having the Sterling Heights Police Department available to do background investigations for the firefighter candidates. He stated that he reviews hundreds of applications and when he sees that an applicant has a recommendation from a current employee, he reaches out and asks about the candidate. In Mr. Good’s case, Brad Bachor gave a favorable review, stating that he has known him for many years. Chief Martin indicated that there were some red flags in Mr. Good’s application, notably, the resignation from Birmingham after only one incident. Generally, when new hires have a number of issues within the first year of employment and things don’t seem to be working out, new hires are given the opportunity to resign rather than be terminated. Chief Martin contacted Birmingham to inquire about Mr. Good’s termination and the Assistant Chief refused to discuss the reasons for the termination. Chief Martin stated that despite Mr. Good claiming that he was never written up, there must be something in his Birmingham personnel file that was not disclosed during this application process. Fire departments typically do not terminate for minor accidents without additional offenses. Chief Martin stated that he trusts the Police Department’s background investigation and does not believe Mr. Good has been completely honest during this application process. Commissioner Griesbeck stated that he is a retired command officer for the Sterling Heights Police Department. Police and Fire tend to operate in the same way in that they work with new hires to improve performance and resolve any issues before it gets to a point of termination. A number of other good departments declined to hire Mr. Good due to the same red flags as discussed at this meeting. New hires are a $1 million investment for the City. In this case, there are too many red flags to make that investment. Civil Service Commission, Act 78 Meeting of August 1, 2017 Page 4 Moved by Griesbeck, supported by Jarema, to deny the appeal of Jeffrey Good. Yes: Griesbeck, Jarema Absent: Droste The motion carried. 6. Communications from Citizens. There were no communications from citizens. 7. New Business. There was no new business. 8. Adjourn. Moved by Griesbeck, supported by Jarema, to adjourn the meeting. Yes: Griesbeck, Jarema Absent: Droste The motion carried. The meeting adjourned at 2:53 p.m. _____________________________ Melanie D. Ryska, City Clerk