Civil Service Commission Minutes - 10/25/2017MINUTES OF THE FIRE FIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS'
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
October 25, 2017
Present:
Penny Miller, Chair § Commission Members
Laura Fidelie §
Jim Heiman §
Christi Klyn, Civil Service Director
§
Julia Vasquez, First Assistant City Attorney
§
Manuel Borrego, Police Chief
§
Jon Reese, Fire Chief
§
Donald Hughes, Assistant Fire Chief
§ City Administration
Alissa Penney, HR Coordinator
§
Linda Merrill, Recording Secretary
§
Wichita Falls Fire Department Attendees:
Brian Love
Braiden Obermier
Jason Culley
Brenton Sullivan
Todd Mudd
Charles Briscoe
Steve Vaughn
Dakota Schweiger
Matthew Childs
Lance Raub
Craig Kerr
Mason Veigl
Jake Abernathy
John Martischnig
Stephen Lancaster
Jared Burchett
Brandon Wright
1. Call to Order
Commissioner Miller called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m.
2. Review Appeals of the October 11, 2017 Fire Equipment Operator Exam
Question 40. Source General Order Section 1-9 (F), See Also Section 1-5 (F) for
Friction Loss, Answer Key D
What is the engine pressure, when pumping through 600' of 2 ''/z" hose to a standpipe
connection, through the standpipe to the fifth floor of a building where 150" of 1 3/4" attack hose
is connected and flowing at 180 gallons per minute?
A. 154 PSI
B. 194 PSI
C. 328 PSI
D. 236 PSI
Appealed by Brian Love. Brian Love informed the Commission that withdrew his appeal.
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Question 49. Source Chapter 6, Page 191, Answer Key B
When using the aerial apparatus for rescue, the best rescue approach is made from
A. Above
B. Upwind
C. Below
D. Downwind
Appellant not present. Jason Culley addressed the Commission stating that the question
seeks to find the best rescue approach, and is taken verbatim from the source material. The
appellant's appeal addresses maneuvering, rather than rescue, and those are two different
situations. He urged the Commission to accept the question/answer as is.
Brian Love agreed with Jason Culley; the question is verbatim from the source material
and the appeal refers to a different situation.
Commissioner Fidelie moved that the answer key be sustained Seconded by
Commissioner Heiman, the motion carried
Question 98. Source Chapter 17, Page 384, Answer Key D.
According to the International Building Code, construction consists of
noncombustible materials characterized by the use of steel, iron, concrete, or masonry structural
elements.
A. Type IV
B. Type III
C. Type II
D. Type I
Appellant not present. Commissioner Fidelie stated the question is verbatim from the
source material, and moved that the answer key be sustained Seconded by Commissioner
Heiman, the motion carried.
3. Report from Fire Chief
Chief Reese thanked the Commissioners for their attendance at today's meeting. The Fire
Department has 11 vacancies, but there are 11 recruit firefighters (present at today's meeting)
going through the last portion of field training, and will hopefully go to work for the City as full-
time probationary fire fighters this Saturday.
This was the first blended Academy with Vernon Academy, and another Academy was
started in August with 25 students, none of which are City of Wichita Falls students.
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Civil Service Commission Minutes October 25, 2017 3
He anticipates retirements around January. The Department will look at testing in mid -
May 2018 for the next Academy.
4. Report from Police Chief
Chief Borrego thanked the commissioners for serving on this important board. The Police
Department graduated an Academy in August. They over -hired, but one trainee recently
resigned, leaving the Department with 10 vacancies. They are in the process of taking
applications for an upcoming Academy that he hopes to have in early 2018.
Eighty-nine applicants took the test. That low number concerned him, but the process has
improved over the years so there may be less applicants, but they are of better quality. Out of
those 89 applicants, following the civil service testing, physical fitness, ergometrics, and
background testing, there are still 18 in the process, and that is a large number. They still have to
go through the Chiefs interview, psychological, medical, and polygraph testing, but he is
confident the vacancies will be filled.
He is anticipating two additional retirements in early 2018, and those are included in the
10 vacancies. One of those retirees is sergeant, so a sergeant's promotional exam has been posted
for November 14.
Commissioner Heiman asked what percentage of probationary employees resign. Chief
Borrego said usually two drop out during the Academy, and one in the FTO program. They try to
over -hire, as they look for that to happen. Commissioner Heiman said when it comes to reality,
both departments face tough jobs day-to-day.
5. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 10:12 a.m.
Penny Miller, Chair
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