Civil Service Commission Minutes - 12/07/2017MINUTES OF THE FIRE FIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS'
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
DECEMBER 7, 2017
Present:
Penny Miller, Chair
§ Commission Members
Jim Heiman
§
Christi Klyn, Civil Service Director
§
Julia Vasquez, First Assistant City Attorney
§
Manuel Borrego, Police Chief
§ City Administration
Jon Reese, Fire Chief
§
Alissa Penney, HR Coordinator
§
Linda Merrill, Recording Secretary
§
Guy Gilmore
§
Jason Leavelle
§
R. W. Smith
§
Michael Poirot
§
Henry Saenz
§
Paul Newton
§
Kody McBride
§
Absent:
Laura Fidelie
§ Commission Member
1. Call to Order
Commissioner Miller called the meeting to order at 9:00 a.m.
2. Approval of Minutes (4/27/16 and 10/25/17)
Jim Heiman moved for approved of the April 27, 2016 minutes. Seconded by Ms. Miller,
the motion carried 2-0. Mr. Heiman then moved for approval of the October 25 2017 minutes
Ms. Miller seconded the motion, which carried 2-0.
3. Review Appeals of the Sergeant Exam Administered on November 14, 2017
Commissioner Miller noted there was one appeal to consider for the sergeant's exam
administered November 14, 2017. She called for the appellant to address the Commission, but no
one responded.
Question 31, Source page 75; Answer Key: B
Civil Service Commission Minutes December 7, 2017
The advantage of using the same structure for both electronic and paper filing is
A. It reduces the use of paper, saving valuable file space.
B. You only have to learn one system.
C. In your absence, subordinates will know your system.
D. Both A and B are correct answers.
Commissioner Miller asked if anyone wished to address the Commission regarding either
side of this appeal. No one came forward.
Commissioner Heiman said the question sought a singular answer, and is verbatim from
the book. The Commission historically votes in favor of those answers that are verbatim from the
source material. Commissioner Miller noted the sentence at the end of the paragraph (paper
duplicates of electronic copies are not required to be maintained) infers the reduction of the use
of paper, but it is not explicitly stated.
Upon realizing this was his appeal, Kody McBride addressed the Commission. He agreed
that the sentence referred to by Commissioner Miller did infer that Answer D was correct,
accepting both A and B as correct answers.
Commissioner Miller sought confirmation that Commissioner Heiman was making a
motion to accept the answer key. Commissioner Heiman affirmed. She seconded the motion.
Jason Leavelle stated that he appealed this question on the last exam, and prevailed. The
Commission agreed to accept two correct answers, due to the that sentence which infers that both
A and B could be correct answers.
Commissioner Miller then asked Commissioner Heiman if he wanted his motion to stand
in light of this additional information. Commissioner Heiman withdrew his existing motion for
further deliberation.
Commissioner Miller said she was inclined to delete the question; otherwise, she would
support the answer key as the question is seeking a single answer.
Commissioner Heiman said the options include throwing out the question, accepting the
answer key, or accepting more than one answer. He would be agreeable to throwing out the
question.
Commissioner Miller turned to Christi Klyn for her input. Ms. Klyn said the Commission
can take either option, adding that it did accept both answers to this question in the last appeal.
Julia Vasquez said the Commission is not bound to rule the same way, even if it is the same
question. Commissioner Miller asked how long ago the last test was appealed. Ms. Klyn said it
was about a year ago.
Commissioner Heiman moved to accept the answer key, as it is verbatim from the source
material. Seconded by Commissioner Miller, the motion carried 2-0.
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Civil Service Commission Minutes December 7, 2017
4. Report from Police Chief
Chief Borrego said they are in process of completing a civil service hiring process. There
are 14 people eligible on the list. The Department will have 11 vacancies by the end of January.
5. Report from Fire Chief
Chief Reese said the Fire Department recently graduated a class. The Department has one
vacancy and anticipate two to three more in early 2018. He anticipates testing in April or May
2018 and hope to get on a regular cycle of testing, so that future firefighters will know when they
will need to test.
6. Adjourn
Ms. Klyn noted this was Commissioner Miller's last meeting. Commissioner Miller
agreed, stating that she is termed out. She appreciated learning about more about the police and
fire departments. Chief Reese noted that this recent Commission is the most consistent and
fairest of his entire career. She thanked him, noting that she had enjoyed serving.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:13 a.m.
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