Civil Service Commission Minutes - 07/26/2021 MINUTES OF THE FIRE FIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS'
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
JULY 26,2021
Present:
Jim Heiman, Chair § Commission Members
Laura Fidelie §
John Buckley §
Christi Klyn, Civil Service Director §
Julia Vasquez, First Assistant City Attorney §
Guy Gilmore, Deputy Police Chief § City Administration/Staff
Donald Hughes, Deputy Fire Chief §
Brian Lester,Human Resources Supervisor §
Holly Morgan, HR/EBT Specialist §
Linda Merrill, Recording Secretary §
Kyle Thomas, Lieutenant § Wichita Falls Fire Department
Andrew Borchardt, Firefighter §
Adam Brinkman, Firefighter §
Kevin Morgan, Firefighter §
Jeremiah Stevens, Firefighter §
Mason Winkles §
Nolan Clark §
1. Call to Order
Chairman Heiman called the meeting to order at 11:01 a.m.
2. Approval of Minutes (6/3/21)
Laura Fidelie moved for approval. Seconded by John Buckley, the motion carried 3-0.
3. Review Appeals of the Fire Equipment Operator Exam Administered July 7, 2021.
Question 21. This appeal was withdrawn by appellant Firefighter Jeremiah Stevens.
Question 77. Source Wichita Falls Fire Rescue, General Orders, February 1, 2021,
Acronyms/Glossary,Page 4, Answer Key D
A"high-rise pack"contains which of the following:
A. Two 50' sections of 2-1/2" hose sections with a 1-1/8" smooth bore
nozzle attached.
B. Three 50' sections of 3" hose sections with 1-1/4" smooth bore nozzle
attached.
C. Three 50' sections of 2-1/2" hose sections with an automatic fog nozzle
attached.
D. Three 50' sections of 2-1/2" hose sections with 1-1/8" smooth bore
nozzle attached.
Civil Service Commission Minutes July 26,2021 2
Firefighter Jeremiah Stevens appealed this question, asking that it be thrown out. He
asserted that the glossary gives an incorrect definition of high-rise packs carried on Wichita Falls
units. However, there is a correct definition provided under the General Order 702.
Commissioner Fidelie moved that the answer key be upheld. Commissioner Heiman
noted that the glossary is also from that same general order. Commissioner Buckley moved to
throw out the question. Seconded by Commissioner Fidelie, the motion carried 3-0.
Firefighter Adam Brinkman asked to speak on this appeal. He noted the question itself
references the glossary, which gives a specific definition. The definition does not state how the
pack will be carried on a Wichita Falls apparatus. He would like the question to be upheld.
General Order 702 does not contain the definition of a high-rise pack. Commissioner Heiman
noted the question does not ask for the definition,but rather, the contents of a high-rise pack.
Firefighter Kevin Morgan asked the Commission if the question specifically referred to
page 4 or to the glossary. Commissioner Heiman said it did not.
Commissioner Buckley said he wished to amend his motion. Deputy City Attorney Julia
Vasquez said the Commission would need to withdraw the prior decision on the record, and
make a new motion. Commissioner Fidelie moved to withdraw the previous motion to throw out
Question 77. Commissioner Buckley seconded the motion, which carried 3-0.
Commissioner Fidelie then moved to accept both answers C and D to Ouestion 77.
Seconded by Commissioner Buckley, the motion carried 3-0.
Question 97. Source Wichita Falls Fire Rescue, General Orders, February 1, 2021,
General Order 701.00, SCBA— Scott 4.5, 8 (A) (1),Answer Key D
Prior to refilling a SCBA cylinder, embers must perform a brief inspection to include
verification that current hydrostatic date is within which of the following?
A. 4 years
B. 2 years
C. 5 years
D. 3 years
Firefighter Jeremiah Stevens appealed Question 97. He believes both Answers C. and D.
should be accepted, as both answers are provided in Section 701. Commissioner Fidelie said it
reads as less than five years, rather than five years. She moved that the answer key be upheld.
Kevin Morgan noted there are two different time periods in the general orders because
the time periods refer to different processes. He urged the answer key be held.
Seconded by Commissioner Buckley,the motion to uphold the answer key carried 3-0.
Civil Service Commission Minutes July 26,2021 3
5. Report from Fire Chief
Deputy Chief Donald Hughes reported on behalf of Chief Prillaman. The Fire
Department is currently short six members. An Academy is underway; he brought two of the
recruits with him today. He introduced recruits Clark and Winkles. They are actually already
certified firefighters, and the Department is working toward getting them assigned to stations.
The Department will most likely reinstate some precautions to guard against the rising number of
cases of Covid 19.
6. Report from Police Chief
Deputy Chief Guy Gilmore reported on behalf of Chief Manuel Borrego. The 74th Police
Academy, started April 19, has 11 recruits. One recruit was a lateral transfer, and he will be
starting on patrol this weekend.
The Academy is in week 15 of a 26-week program. Graduation is October 15; they will
enter the FTO program for three months thereafter. It will be mid-January before these officers
have boots on the ground.
The Department was informed of one resignation this morning, and now has four
vacancies. Once they get to vacancy 5, they will get with Christi Klyn and begin the process for
another Academy. From beginning to end, it is a 14-month process. The Department loses an
average of 11 officers per year, so there will be even more vacancies by the time another
Academy is started.
7. Adjourn
The meeting adjourned at 11:20 a.m.
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im Peter Heiman, Chairman