Civil Service Commission Minutes - 11/12/201901
MINUTES OF THE FIRE FIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS'
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
NOVEMBER 12, 2019
Present:
Jim Heiman
§ Commission Members
Laura Fidelie
§
John Buckley
§
Christi Klyn, Civil Service Director
§
Julia Vasquez, First Assistant City Attorney
§
Manuel Borrego, Police Chief
§ City Administration -
Guy Gilmore, Deputy Chief
§
R. W. Smith, Deputy Chief
§
Ken Prillaman, Fire Chief
§
Donald Hughes, Assistant Fire Chief
§
Brian Lester, HR Supervisor
§
Linda Merrill, Recording Secretary
§
Timothy "Kyle" Thomas, FEO § Wichita Falls Fire Department
1. Call to Order
Chairman Heiman called the meeting to order at 2:01 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes (3/29/19)
Ms. Fidelie moved for approval of the minutes. Seconded by Mr. Buckley, the motion
carried 3-0.
3. Review Appeals of the WFFD Battalion Chief Exam administered on October 29,
2019.
a. Question 34 — Source Chapter 9, Page 189, Answer Key B
The Heat Stress Index indicates the apparent temperature of the atmosphere when the
actual air temperature is affected by the relative humidity in the air. An apparent
temperature. of 130 degrees (F) is considered an extreme danger and heat stroke is
considered imminent. According to FEMA Publication FA- 114/July 1992, you should
add to the actual apparent temperature (1) degrees (F) when protective clothing
is worn and add (2) degrees (F) when in direct sunlight.
A. (1) 20 (2) 20
B. (1) 10 (2) 40
C. (1) 20 (2) 10
D. (1) 5 (2) 30
The app6llant of Question 34 was not present at the meeting. Chairman Heiman observed
that the correct answer [(1) 10 (2) 10] is not provided by the answer key. Mr. Buckley moved
Civil Service Commission Minutes November 12, 2019 2
that the Question be removed from the examination. Seconded by Ms. Fidelie, the motion carried
3-0.
4. Review Appeals of the WFFD Lieutenant Exam administered on October 30, 2019.
a. Question 72 - Source Chapter 8, Page 167, Answer Key B
In studying learning characteristics, researchers have created four general categories of
students based on a student's age. If a student was born in 1963, the student would be
group. -
A. Traditionalists
B. Baby Boomers
C. Gen Xers
D. Dot coms, Millenniums, or Nexters
FEO Kyle Thomas appealed Question 72, and addressed the Commission. He noted the
source material shows persons born between 1946 and 1984 are classified as baby boomers,
while those born between 1961 and 1980 are classified as Gen Xers. The year 1963 falls within
both of those categories. He therefore asked that both B., Baby Boomers, and C., Gen Xers, be
accepted as correct answers.
Ms. Fidelie moved to accept both Answers B. and C. as correct responses to Question 72.
Seconded by Mr. Buckley, the motion carried 3-0.
5. Report from Fire Chief
Chief Prillaman said he has been Fire Chief for about four months. He is thrilled to be a
part of the Wichita Falls family, and inherited an outstanding organization. The Department is'
short eight firefighters. The last Fire Academy consisted of 17 applicants, two of which are
Vernon College students. (One applicant had dropped out of the process prior to the start of the
Academy.) Six graduated in October and went on to a four -week Mini -Academy to learn the
City's policies, practices and procedures. They have now been assigned to their duty stations,
two to each battalion.
Another Fire Academy will begin on December 3, with a March 27 graduation. They
would still be one member short, as there is one pending resignation. This does not account for
those who do not complete the Academy, or other as -yet -unknown resignations or retirements.
6. Report from Police Chief
Chief Borrego thanked the Commissioners for their time and effort. The Department's
recent Academy graduated 15 members, but the Department is still six members short. Fifty--
three showed up for the last testing, which is an extremely low number, but out of which they
were fortunate to get good candidates. Another Academy will begin January 6.
There will be another issue for the Commission to address early in the new year. Under a
now -lapsed Meet and Confer agreement, the Department had been able to have multiple
applicant testing lists at one time. Under this agreement, if there were not enough on the existing
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Civil Service Commission Minutes November 12. 2019
list, the Department could hire off another list. Without such an agreement in place, the current
eligibility list must be exhausted before another test could be given. That agreement lapsed in
2018. They will Meet and Confer with the City Manager to discuss the possibility of entering
into a new agreement with the Association, which would then be brought before the
Commission.
7. Adjourn
Ms. Fidelie moved to adjourn the meeting at 2:12 p.m. Seconded by Mr. Buckley, the
motion carried 3-0.
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Peter Heiman,446nan
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