Civil Service Commission Minutes - 02/14/2011'r Yv
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MINUTES OF THE FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS'
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
February 14, 2011
Present:
Penny Miller
Carol DuBray
Tammy Guerra, Civil Service Director
Julia Vasquez, First Asst. City Attorney
Dennis Bachman, Police Chief
Earl Foster, Fire Chief
Linda Merrill, Recording Secretary
Rick Cullar
Chris Foster
LeAnn Haldane
1. CALL TO ORDER
Commission Members
§ City Staff
§ RECEIVED wN
§ CITY CLERK'S �Flcr
§ _�
§ WFPD
BY: I ME:
The meeting was called to order at 10:00 a.m. by Commissioner Penny Miller.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (JANUARY 5, 2011)
The minutes were approved without correction.
3. APPEALS OF POLICE SERGEANT PROMOTIONAL EXAMINATIONS
Question 12. Appealed by Rick Cullar. He asserted that answers A and B were so similar
that both should be accepted. LeAnn Haldane countered that the correct answer was taken
verbatim from the book and should stand. Carol DuBray moved that the question and answer
stand. Seconded by Miller, the motion carried.
Question 34. Appealed by Officer Chris Foster. He asserted that the style of the question
was permissive (by the use of the phrase "can be "). Therefore, the answer he chose was as
acceptable as the answer deemed correct. He gave several examples to support his stance. Officer
Haldane said the answer is verbatim from the text and argued that it should stand. Officer Foster
acknowledged that it was verbatim, but reiterated the permissiveness of this sentence overrides
the verbatim argument.
Tammy Guerra asked, based upon his argument, how the other two possible answers are
excluded. Officer Foster replied that all possible answers should be deemed correct, but he was
only interested in proving his chosen answer. Officer Haldane said the other answers do not
- Civil Service Commission Minutes February 15, 2011 2
accomplish the reconstruction of a crime, but only parts or elements of the same. Officer Foster
stated that none of the answers are complete in reconstructing a crime.
Ms. DuBray questioned what if the particular crime did not cause bodily damage? Officer
Haldane stated that question would not relate directly to reconstructing a crime scene.
Ms. Guerra reminded the Commission that they have the option to toss the question
completely if they feel all the answers are reasonable. Otherwise, they can uphold the answer key
or accept other answers as correct. After discussion, Ms. DuBray moved that the question be
removed from the test. Seconded by Ms. Miller, the motion carried.
Ms. Miller stated that the Commission appreciates the background information provided
by Officer Foster. It is helpful to the Commission to have as much information as necessary to
understand the appeal.
Question 82. Appealed by Officer Haldane. The question asked for the most accurate
answer regarding email usage. The question omitted the phrase "if used well" that was in the
text. Throughout the study material, most of the text deals with email that is improperly used.
Officer Foster stated the question is not permissive; it asks for the answer that is most accurate,
and therefore the question and answer should stand. Commissioner DuBray moved that the
Question stand as written. Seconded by Chairperson Miller, the motion carried.
Ms. Miller then addressed members of the viewing public. She noted the Commission has
a vacancy, and urged anyone interested in serving to fill out an application through the City
Clerk's office.
4. REPORT FROM POLICE CHIEF
Police Chief Dennis Bachman stated the Department graduated eight officers last Friday,
and are only three officers short of being fully staffed.
5. REPORT FROM FIRE CHIEF
Fire Chief Earl Foster thanked the Commissioners for their service. The Fire Department
has nine vacancies, with a tenth vacancy to begin March 1. A Fire Academy will begin in May.
They have existing eligibility lists for FEO and Fire Lieutenant, but none for Captain or Battalion
Chief. At present, there are no current vacancies in those ranks, either.
6. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
Penny Miller, Commission Chair
H:\_legalTersonnel \Civil Service Commission\ Minutes \2011 \CSC.Minutes.2.14.1 Ldoc