Civil Service Commission Minutes - 04/24/20081.
MINUTES OF THE FIREFIGHTERS AND POLICE OFFICERS'
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
April 24, 2008
Bob Monaghan, Chairman § Commission Members
Dr. Ernest Dover §
Dr. Floyd Thornton §
Julia Vasquez, First Assistant City Attorney §
Earl Foster, Fire Chief
§
David Collins, Fire Marshal
§
Dennis Bachman, Police Chief
§ City Staff
Jim Dockery, Assistant City Manager/
§
Chief Financial Officer
§
Tammy Guerra, Human Resources Generalist
§
Dave Goodrich, Human Resources
§
Linda Merrill, Recording Secretary
§
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chairman Monaghan called the meeting to order at 3:00 p.m.
2. APPROVAL OF MINUTES (MARCH 5, 2008)
Commissioner Dover moved that the minutes be approved, seconded by
Commissioner Thornton. The motion carried.
3. REVIEW AND APPROVE /DISAPPROVE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION RULE
REVISIONS RESULTING FROM THE ADDITION OF THE FIRE MARSHAL'S DIVISION TO CIVIL
SERVICE.
Commissioner Monaghan noted that in March, the Commission voted to approve
minimum eligibility requirements for the positions of Fire Investigator Trainee and
Assistant Fire Marshal.' It was required that those positions have two fire certifications
An applicant for fire investigator trainee or assistant fire marshal shall meet the following criteria in order to be
considered for an entry-level position:
RECEIVED IN
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE
Date l 164
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' -Minutes of the Civil Service Commission Meeting April 24, 2008 2
as well as a peace officer certification. However, after an extensive recruiting process,
there is now before the Commission a proposed revision to those requirements. He
asked Tammy Guerra to explain the recommended changes.
Ms. Guerra distributed to the Commission a list of advertising sources the Human
Resources Department used in its effort to recruit applicants for the Fire Investigator
Trainee position. After extensive advertising, the posting attracted 113 applicants. Of
those, only four met all the necessary criteria, and only one showed up to test. This
proposed rule change will broaden the applicant pool. Chairman Monaghan asked if
the one person who did show up was disqualified for another reason. Ms. Guerra
replied affirmatively.
Fire Chief Earl Foster remarked that Ms. Guerra did a good job in trying to get
applicants for the position. If the Commission revises the rules, the applicants would still
eventually have to hold all three certifications, but would not be required to have all
three at the time of hire. He does not like doing this, but he sees no reason to believe
that reposting the position would lead to more individuals to take the test.
Chairman Monaghan clarified that the Fire Investigator Trainee would have at
least one of the required certifications. Chief Foster replied affirmatively. If the
successful applicant held a basic peace officer certification, he /she would have 12
months to obtain the fire inspector and fire investigator certifications. However, if the
applicant possessed the fire inspector or fire investigator certification, he /she would
have 18 months to obtain the peace officer certification, to allow for sufficient time to
work with Vernon College's schedule of classes.
(1) Possess a certification as a peace officer as established by the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement
Officer Standards and Education at time of examination. Applicant possessing such credentials shall provide
evidence of certification on or before date of entrance examination;
(m) Possess a certification as a Fire Inspector (Basic) and a Fire Arson Investigator (Basic) as established by
the Texas Commission on Fire Protection, or shall become certified within one year of appointment.
Applicant possessing such credentials shall provide evidence of certification on or before date of entrance
examination;
2 An applicant for Fire Investigator Trainee or Assistant Fire Marshal shall meet the following criteria in order to be
considered for an entry-level position:
(a) An applicant for the position of Fire Investigator Trainee must possess at least one of the following
certifications prior to taking the Civil Service Entrance Examination: Texas Peace Officer certification (basic);
Texas Fire Inspector certification (basic), or Texas Fire Investigator certification (basic). Applicants
possessing such credentials shall provide evidence of certification on or before the date of the entrance
examination;
(b) An applicant for the position of Assistant Fire Marshal must possess all of the following certifications prior to
being appointed: Texas Peace Officer certification (basic); Texas Fire Inspector certification (basic); and
Texas Fire Investigator certification (basic). If an applicant does not possess all three certifications, he or
she will be appointed to the position of Fire Investigator Trainee until the certifications are obtained. [See
sections 143.023 (3) (n), (o), and (p)]; ... .
'-Minutes of the Civil Service Commission Meeting April 24, 2008 3
Chairman Monaghan observed that it would be fair to say if someone were hired
without the required certifications, the Fire Chief would have responsibility for outlining a
training program and routinely monitoring that person's progress. Chief Foster told the
Commission that Fire Marshal David Collins is a certified instructor and would provide
the training.
Chief Foster added that, if the successful applicant went through the required
training and failed to obtain the necessary certifications within the time allowed under
the rules, he would want the flexibility to give them a longer period of time in order to do
so, should they warrant such extension.
Chairman Monaghan stated the Department is taking a bit of a calculated risk in
hiring someone without all the necessary certifications, in that they may expend this
time on an individual who does not ultimately earn those certifications. On the other
hand, it could also turn out that an applicant with all the necessary criteria may not be
able to adequately perform the job.
Commissioner Thornton observed that it would be helpful to determine why only
one of the four fully qualified applicants showed up the day of the test. Commissioner
Dover and Chairman Monaghan echoed those sentiments. Ms. Guerra informed the
Commission that she is gathering information from the point of application, including
how applicants found out about the job (to determine the most effective methods of
advertising), why they are looking at Wichita Falls, and finally, why they would decline a
position with the City of Wichita Falls.
Julia Vasquez informed the Commission that other changes were suggested for
Section 143.023. One must be at least 21 years of age to hold a peace officer
certification; therefore, 21 is recommended to be established as the minimum age for
the positions of Fire Investigator and Assistant Fire Marshal.
There is also a housecleaning measure to be taken under Subsection 5, Cause
for Rejection, requiring applicant to meet minimum standards for certification not only
through the Texas Commission on Fire Protection and the Texas Department of State
Health Services, but also through the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer
Standards and Education.
Chairman Monaghan asked if the Fire Marshal will not be tied up in the process
of training the applicant; Chief Foster admitted that would be the case. Chief Foster said
he could see one benefit to amending this rule. If the successful applicant already has
one or both of the required fire certifications, he /she can perform inspections and
participate in investigations while also going through the police academy.
' - Minutes of the Civil Service Commission Meeting April 24, 2008 4
Commissioner Thornton moved that the Commission accept the amendments to
Section 143.023, subsections 3 and 5, as presented. Seconded by Commissioner
Dover, the motion carried.
4. ACTION ON ELECTION OF A CHAIRMAN AND VICE - CHAIRMAN PURSUANT TO
CHAPTER 143.006 -2(E) OF THE TEXAS LOCAL GOVERNMENT CODE.
Ms. Vasquez noted that the Commission holds meeting ad hoc, and not on a
regularly scheduled basis. However, the Code requires that the Commission hold
elections every January for the offices of Chairman and Vice - Chairman. Chairman
Monaghan asked if there was any problem due to the fact the Commission has not held
such elections, to which Ms. Vasquez replied no.
Commissioner Dover moved, seconded by Commissioner Thornton, that Bob
Monaghan continue to serve in the capacity of Chairman until next January. The motion
unanimously carried.
Commissioner Thornton then moved that Commissioner Dover be elected to
serve in the capacity of Vice - Chairman for this election year. Seconded by Chairman
Monaghan, the motion unanimously carried.
5. EXECUTIVE SESSION. CONSIDER APPOINTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
DIRECTOR, AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 551.074 OF THE TEXAS GOVERNMENT CODE.
6. ACTION ON APPOINTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE DIRECTOR.
Chairman Monaghan moved that the Commission, without the need for an
executive session, appoint Tammy Guerra as the Civil Service Director. Seconded by
Commissioner Dover, the motion unanimously carried.
7. REPORT FROM FIRE CHIEF
Chief Foster said the Department currently has three vacancies, with another
driver due to retire in May. The City will soon offer an Academy for certified firefighters.
This effort was done 18 months ago, and is a successful way to fill vacancies between
full -scale Academies.
8. REPORT FROM POLICE CHIEF
Police Chief Dennis Bachman stated the Academy is doing very well, with above -
average scores being reported. He was happy to report that if this trend continues, this
could well be a record - breaker. The Department has six vacant positions.
`,Minutes of the Civil Service Commission Meeting April 24, 2008 5
9. ADJOURN
The meeting adjourned at 3:10 p.m.
Y
Bob Monaghan, �hairVjn
Dr. Ernest Dover, Commssioner
C�J�41W aee:�2�
Dr. Floyd ornton, Commissioner