Civil Service Commission Minutes - 03/20/2007is
MINUTES OF THE FIREFIGHTERS' AND POLICE OFFICERS'
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
March 20, 2007
Present:
Bob Monaghan, Chairman § Commission Members
Dr. Ernest Dover §
Dr. Floyd Thornton §
David Winney, Human Resources Director §
Julia Vasquez, First Assistant City Attorney §
Linda Merrill, Recording Secretary §
Derek Jones § Wichita Falls Fire Department
Joe Morris §
1. Call to Order
Chairman Monaghan called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.
2. Approval of Minutes (November 17, 2006)
Commissioner Thornton moved, seconded by Commissioner Dover, that the minutes of
the meeting of November 17, 2006, be approved. The motion carried.
3. Consider Appeal by Firefighter Derek Jones of Question 55 from the Civil
Service Fire Equipment Operator Promotion Examination Administered on February
28, 2007, Pursuant to §143.034 Of The TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE And Related
Civil Service Commission Rules.
Derek Jones addressed the Commission. He noted that, through his studies, he could not
determine a correct answer to Question 55. He noted that it contained the word "conductive,"
when in actuality the word should have been "non- conductive," which he confirmed when he
look it up in the textbook.
Chairman Monaghan noted that Mr. Jones' appeal was timely filed, on March 2, 2007.
He then noted the Commission had three options: (1) sustain the answer key, leaving the
question and answer as listed; (2) overrule the answer key and designate which answers are
acceptable and which are not; or (3) eliminate the test question altogether, in which case the
Minutes of the Civil Service Commission Meeting November 17, 2006 2
Civil Service Director would disregard both the question and answer while grading the
promotion examination for all eligible candidates.
Commissioner Dover moved that the question be eliminated. Commissioner Thornton
seconded the motion. The motion carried unanimously.
Julia Vasquez noted that Goad & Associates, the test preparer, needs to be notified that
the question had been eliminated. David Winney noted he would send an email out today to that
effect.
Chairman Monaghan suggested to his fellow Commissioners that the Civil Service
Director could delete questions using his own judgment (and perhaps with counsel from the City
Attorney), if those questions were wrong due to a clear -cut, obvious typographical error. That
would eliminate the need to grade the test more than once, as well as the need for an appeal of
the question to the Commission under those circumstances. The Commission agreed to this
process for the future.
4. Adjourn
Commissioner Dover moved, seconded by Commissioner Thornton, that the meeting be
adjourned. The motion carried, and the meeting adjourned at 4:07 p.m.
Bob Monaghan,