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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Civil Services Commission - 03/15/1984 • CITY OF 1 �rPJyf._t� March 15, 1984 TO: THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION The following names represent the Eligibility List for the position of Fire Battalion Chief: Jed E. Aldridge Gary O. Tilley Larry A . Webb Dale E. Robertson Mike C. Evans Steven R. Svenvold John R. Evans Sam E. Grubbs I hereby certify that the list was legally prepared and represents the relative rating of the names appearing thereon. Amy E. Kato Secretary and Chief Examiner T. Richard Ried ^�Crhairman /� Donald Whitener Jo h A. Street 22040n AVE. SO, !KENT,WASHINGTON 98032 5895/ TELFPHON° (20531 812 3300 KENT CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING MINUTES March 15, 1984 The regular meeting was called to order by Chairman T. Richard Ried. Com- missioners Donald Whitener and Joseph Street, Chief Angelo, Chief Skewes and Assistant City Attorney Heavey were also present. Also in attendance from the Police Department was Captain Byerly and from the Fire Department: Assistant Chief LaBore, Battalion Chiefs Bond and Orndorff, Lieutenant Robertson, Fire- fighters Hertlein, Jennings, Nutter and Pessemier. M. Somerville was also present. Mr. Whitener moved, Mr. Street seconded, to approve the minutes of the February 26, 1984 meeting. Motion carried. Ms. Heavey referred to the memorandum from Mr. DiJuho in regard to the - amendments to Rule VII, Section 6, and Rule VIII, section) 9. Mr. Street moved to adopt the proposed amendments relating to qualifications for ranks of Police chief and Fire Chief, respectively. Mr. Whitener) seconded. Motion carried. Chief Angelo reported that the graduation exercise of the state academy, which includes three of Kent's recruits, will be held on Friday evening, March 23rd, at Kenmore. If anyone of the Commission is interested in attending, he asked that they contact him. The letter of February 21, 1984 from the secretary to Mr. Brennan, attorney for James Cleary, was read followed by a response dated march 7, 1984 from iW. Brennan. He requested setting a hearing date after April 19, 1984. Mr. Street moved, Mr. Whitener seconded, to accept the letters into the record. Motion carried. The date of Tuesday, April 24, 1984, at 3:00 p.m. was set for the hearing. Secretary will inform Mr. Brennan of the date. Mr. Street moved, Mr. Whitener seconded, to approve the eligibility list for the position of Fire Battalion Chief as follows: Jed E. Aldridge Gary O. Tilley Larry A. Webb Dale E. Robertson Mike C. Evans Steven R. Svenvold John R. Evans Sam E. Grubbs Motion carried. Prior to taking action on the Fire Lieutenant eligibility list, the Commission heard from Firefighter Nutter who expressed his concern on the lieutenant examination, particularly in areas which were not tested for organizational ability or individual maturity of the candidates. He stated that the ques- tionnaires which were sent to the applicants should be reviewed prior to accepting the results of the examination. Chief Angelo spoke that he does not claim to have any type of perfected process, but he said he did not know of anything that was done improperly. He further stated that with the number of candidates (20) and time constraints, the exam was not so different except for specifics of events from tests in the �ast. He stated that if the Commission has any problems, the department is ready to give another test, but he has no reason not to approve the eligibility list. In response to Commissioner Street, secretary stated that there were no written comments received , only a few verbal. Chief Angelo said I that the comments from the evaluators and responses to questionnaires are available for the • Commission's review. In response to the Chairman, Assistant Chief Lahore stated that it was possibly the tactics portion of the test which he received more comments and it was the most difficult part of the exam. He explained Kent Civil Service Commission Meeting Minutes - Page 2 March 15, 1984 • that the questionnaires were sent out to try to develop better tests in the future and also that the entire test was designed around job descriptions to cover all aspects of the position. When asked by the Chairman, Chief Angelo responded that there are two positions open. Firefighter Hertlein gave his opinion that the organizational and maturity levels were evaluated in the overall portions of the testing procedure. He said he hoped the Commission doesn't take one person's statement as a matter of fact. When a person responds to a scene-ata real emergency, he said that the facts come much faster than the information during the tactics exam. Firefighter Jennings said he agreed with Hertlein and suggested the Commission look at the comments of all twenty persons. He said he shared some concerns about whether or not instructions were adequate to instruct all applicants as to what was to be evaluated in the tactical portion. Chief Angelo suggested two things: the Commission ask the secretary or others who might have been aware of happenings at the test and also review the questionnaires filled out by the evaluators. Mr. Street moved that a special meeting be held within the next ten days to review the questionnaires and make a decision whether to approve the list or order a new test. Mr. Whitener seconded. Motion carried. Chief Skewes suggested the Commission look at the exam materials before the test is given. Thursday, March 22, 1984, 7 :00 p.m. was set for the special meeting, location to be announced. Letters from Chief Skewes to Steven C. McVicar, dated January 26, 1984, and to James P. Koutsky and Dina M. Paganucci, both dated February 28, 1984, notifying them of their employment as probationary law enforcement officers was read. Mr. McVicar's starting date was January 30, 1984 and Koutsky and Paganucci both started on February 28, 1984. Mr. Street moved, Mr. Whitener • seconded, to accept the letters into the record. Motion carried. Mr. Street moved, Mr. Whitener seconded, to accept the ml mo from Chief Skewes to the Commission regarding police applicant, KentlCurry, and also the memo to Chief Skewes from Mr. Curry. Motion carried. d The memo from Firefighter Robert C. Pessemier, received March 8, 1984, was next on the agenda. Pessemier, given the floor, requested the Commission's consideration of credit of a 4-year college degree towards First Class Firefighter to Lieutenant. He noted that credit is allowed for Bates Vocational School classes whether the 2=year program is completed or not. Chief Angelo clarified that the reduction of time does not mean an early promotion, but eligibility to be a journeyman earlier based on skill, knowledge and experience that could be documented and related back to journeyman firefighter. He said it is not to serve as a speed-up process for either promotional test or appointment. Pessemier said there are some classes such as physics, chemistry and other science programs that could be related to firefighting and tasked that it be looked at on a case to case basis. Jennings supported Pessemier's statement. Chief Angelo stated that the JATC is organized so they can consider those classes and he firmly believes that those things to be valuable and why he considers them at the time of promotion. Firefighter Nutter commented that JATC should apply the same rule those same courses taken on a college level which are fire 'related and credit those in a like manner to Bates. Battalion Chief Orndorff spoke on his views that there should be coordination of the JATC program and Civil Service Commission and not to, make a decision today, but to look at it and set a plan to evaluate these programs. Chairman remarked that he would like to see a proposal from the JATC on their recom- mendations and also from the firefighters, with a copy to the Chief and obtain his recommendations. Mr. Street said he. thought it is mandatory with both departments who have concerns with Commission rules and regulations, they Kent Civil Service Commission Meeting Minutes - Page 3 March 15, 1984 should come with written suggestions so that they can be considered. The letter of March 13, 1984 from Firefighter Micheal R. Smith, informing of his resignation from the Fire Department effective April 9, 1984, was read. Mr. Whitener moved, Mr. Street seconded, to accept the letter into the record. Motion carried. Chief Angelo clarified for the Commission that Mr. Smith may be considered for reinstatement within two years with his approval and if there is a vacancy. (Rule XVI, Section 4. ) The memo dated March 13, 1984 to Officer Johnnie Fletcher from Chief Skewes was read. Mr. Whitener moved, Mr. Street seconded, to accept the memo into the record. Motion carried. Ms. Heavey clarified for Mr. Street that there is a question whether you can demand the same physical agility of interns if you do not demand the same physical agility for those on the job. Chief Skewes reported that he just signed a letter assigning Kathy Kullberg as a police officer. Chairman again announced the special meeting is scheduled for Thursday, March 22 at 7:00 p.m. The next regular meeting was set for Friday, April 27, 1984, 8:00 a.m. , in the Council Chambers. Mr. Street moved, Mr. Whitener seconded, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 9:15 a.m. Respectfully submitted, • Amy E. Kato Secretary and Chief Examiner Approved: T. Richard Ried Chairman VIVA • CITY OF ��� March 15, 1984 TO: THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION The following namesrepresent the Eligibility List for the position of Fire Lieutenant: Kenneth S. Weatherill Robert C. Pessemier (8-1-84) John M. Klopfenstein Daniel L. Hertlein Terry J. McCartin Michael H. DeHart Kevin R. Nee Jeffrey R. Drake (5-1-84) Troy W. Nutter Ernest R. Rideout Gene A. Grenstad • Bill L. Johnson Thomas P. Shepard Randy G. Anderson Jan E. Fell John T. King Kent J. Huntington Michael R. Ernst Robert J. Jennings Thomas W. Smith (8-1-84) I hereby certify that the list was legally prepared and represents the relative rating of the names appearing thereon.. Amy E. Kato Secretary and Chief Examiner T. R char Te Chairman � ��G�/� onald Whitener jeph A . Street 2204ro AVE, SO., / KENTMASHINGTON 98032-5835/ TELEPHONt (20(3) 817 3130 This special meeting of the Kent Civil Service Commission will come to order this 27th day of March, 1984 at 7:00 p.m. The purpose of this special meeting is to announce our decision relative to the concerns of Firefighters Nutter and • Jennings as expressed to the Commission at their regular meeting on March 15, 1984. Having taken into consideration the facts and exhibits presented to the Com- mission during a recent special meeting, the Commission wishes to make the following statements which have been taken into consideration during their deliberations: Rule IV. Section 1. "Complaints:" All complaints to the Commission by citizens or any members of the classified service shall be brought before the Commission in writing at a regular or special session. Complaints made to individual members of the Commission will not be considered. Rule VIII. Section 5. "Lieutenant" 1. Must have served satisfactorily as a Firefighter 1st Class with the Kent Fire Department for a period of twelve (12) months. 2. Must have a passing grade on an examination prepared and supervised by the Civil Service Commission. Rule IX. Section 1. "Approval" All examinations shall be approved by the Commission before the examination is held. Rule II. Section 2. "Powers and Duties" the Civil Service Commission shall : 5. Review results of all examinations held and accept or reject eligible lists, as submitted by the secretary and chief examiner. • We will consider the above as they apply to the case in point. Even though the complaints were not in writing, the Commission decided to consider them in the interest of fairness to all concerned. Regarding the next item: All applicants met the basic qualifications and re- ceived a passing grade. Next, the examination was authorized, and through its secretary and chief examiner, the Commission approved that examination. Relative to the Powers and Duties of the Commission, the Commission did review the results of the examination, the resultant list, and also the written comments of applicants. The Commission has broad powers in the examination of applicants, as well as broad discretion as to examination content and subject matter. Although a Civil Service examinee has the right to insist the Commission follow its own rules and regulations, those rules were followed concerning this exam. Certain applicants challenged the tactical portion of the examination. No evi- dence was presented as to the other portions of the exam. Page 2 Considering the above pertienent rules and regulations, the independent evaluations of the exam, and the Commission's own review, it is the decision • of this Commission that the Lieutenant examination is valid. It is therefore the further decision of this Commission that the Fire Department Lieutenant Eligibility List as submitted to the Commision by the secretary and chief examiner on March 25, 1984.is certified. We take this opportunity to express our appreciation for the sincere efforts of department personnel and administration to improve the testing process. DATED this 27th day of March, 1984. T. RICHARD RIED CHAIRMAN' KENT CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Cry ALD D. WHITENER, MEMBER KENT CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION ke-,6�1 4�i�) • S A. STREE , MEMBER NT CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION •