HomeMy WebLinkAboutBoards & Commissions - Civil Service Commission - 02/13/2024 11ZK ENT
WASHINGTON
Civil Service Commission Agenda
Commissioners: Charlie Mitchell, Pauline Thomas, Bruce Weissich
Special Meeting
February 13, 2024
5:30 p.m.
Centennial Center Room 105/107
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Item Description Action Speaker Time
1. Call to order Chair 1
2. Roll Call Chair 1
3. Memo from Holly Harvey-Smith RE: Revision YES Chair 10
to Request to Test Memo for the HR
Recruitment Manager/Chief Examiner
position
4. Adjournment Chair 1
Unless otherwise noted, the Civil Service Commission meets at 5:30 p.m. the 4th Wednesday
of each month at Centennial Building, Suite 105/107, 400 West Gowe St., Kent, WA 98032.
For additional information please contact Stephanie King at 253-856-5291.
Any person requiring a disability accommodation should contact the City Clerk's
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CITY OF KENT
HUMAN RESOURCES
Holly Harvey-Smith, Director
400 West Gowe
KENT Kent, WA 98032
WASHINGTON
Fax: 253-856-6270
PHONE: 253-856-5270
Memo
To: Civil Service Commissioners
From: Holly Harvey-Smith, Human Resources Director
Date: February 9, 2024
Re: Revision to Request to Test for Secretary/Chief Examiner
MOTION: I move to revise the competitive testing process for the Commission's
Secretary/Chief Examiner as recommended by the HR Director and direct that the
job posting be updated to reflect the same.
Background:
The position for the Recruiting Manager/Civil Service Examiner was posted Friday, February
2. At this time, we have not received the number of applications we would have expected
given the market, compensation, and type of role. With the assistance of Labor and Legal, I
have made changes to the length of the job description, without compromising on content, that
hopefully will send a better message regarding the scope.
With the support of PD, Legal and Admin, I request to put forward an adjustment to the current
recruitment process. I would like the Commission to consider the removal of the written test. I
believe the information we would retain from such an exam (a candidate's knowledge, skills,
abilities, and emotional intelligence) could be uncovered more successfully through in-person
interviews. I suspect having an 8-week recruitment process, complete with a written test, may
eliminate great candidates who are concerned about the preparation required leading up to the
exam. The newly proposed interview plan below is designed to ensure that the process
adequately captures the information we need to make a sound decision if we were to remove
the written test. I would also like to extend the review date to the 19th, to allow candidates the
opportunity to apply over the weekend, following the communication of the revised interview
process.
Revised Recruitment Process
The interview process will proceed in accordance with the Civil Service rules, with applications
accepted through Monday, February 19ti,
• Up to five (5) candidates, rather than seven (7), will be invited to an oral board interview
with the HR Director and other members of leadership, with representation from Legal,
Police, Finance, and HR. This interview process would then be weighted at 100% and
requires a passing score of 70% to proceed forward.
• An eligibility list will be established for those who pass the oral board interview.
• The Commission, in cooperation with the HR Director, will conduct second interviews
with up to the top five (5) candidates listed on the eligibility list.
• The finalist selected for appointment, by the Commission and with guidance from the HR
Director, must successfully complete a reference check, background check, and obtain
Criminal Justice Information Systems (CJIS) clearance. These processes are pass/fail.
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