Civil Service Commission Minutes - 02/26/2004MINUTES OF THE MEETING
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
February 26, 2004
1. Introductory paragraph:
CITY CLERK'S OFFICE ,,I
Date on- I q - opt
BY Time 1 G
Today's meeting is a scheduled meeting in the appeal hearings of
Police Sergeant Promotional Examination By Police Officers David
Ferguson, Brett Hart and Joseph Puddu. Attendance is as follows:
Commission Present
Ben Filer, Chair
Dr. James Harris, Commission Member
Jan Stricklin, Director of Civil Service
Commission Absent
Bob Monaghan, Commission Member
Commission Staff
Julia Vasquez,
Senior Asst City Attorney
Call to Order:
Staff Liaison
Lupe Esquibel
Item #1- The meeting of the Wichita Falls Fire Fighters and
Police Officers Civil Service Commission was called to order by
Commission Chair Ben Filer at 3:30 p.m.
Item #2- Mr. Filer made a motion to approve the minutes of
February 5, 2004, meeting. Dr. Harris seconded the motion and
the motion passed.
Item #3- Mr. Filer stated the Commission was ready to hear Item
#3, Appeal Hearings of Police Sergeant Promotional Examination by
Police Officers David Ferguson, Brett Hart and Joseph Puddu.
Mrs. Stricklin explained that fifty -three (53) police officer
took this examination and 26 police officers passed. Mrs.
Stricklin then passed out copies of the Police Sergeant
Eligibility Roster to the commission members and explained that a
revision had been made to this roster. Officer Charlie Eipper
had been shown as having ten seniority points when he only had
nine seniority points, this change did not effect the eligibility
roster in any other way.
Mrs. Stricklin then read into record Police Officer David
Ferguson's appeal to test questions #20 and #52. Mrs. Stricklin
passed out copies of test question #20 and the corresponding
information from the source material in question and stated that
the test question was verbatim. Officer Ferguson then partially
read from Article 38.22 and stated that the mark of the person is
what he questions. He also stated that the Article this test
question came from is not specified thus the answer could be from
two different articles. After a brief discussion Dr. Harris
stated that the test question is verbatim and correct and made a
motion to leave the test question in place. Mr. Filer seconded
the motion and motion passed. The Commission then suggested that
the Article number be included in this test question for
clarification.
Mrs. Stricklin then passed out copies of test question #52 and
the corresponding information from the source material. Mrs.
Stricklin explained where she attained the answers and stated
that this test question was verbatim. Officer Ferguson stated
that the answer was incorrect because an employee cannot be
forced to get help. Mr. Filer stated that he did not read in the
source material where an employee can be forced to seek help, but
can refer an employee to seek help. Dr. Harris stated that the
question is clear in the wording. After a brief discussion, Mr.
Filer sustained to accept this test question as is, Dr. Harris
seconded the motion and the motion passed.
Mrs. Stricklin read into record Police Officer Brett Hart's
appeal to test questions #66 and #99. Mrs. Stricklin passed out
copies of test question #66 and the corresponding information
from the source material. Mrs. Stricklin explained that she had
only asked for an organic chemical and where she located the
information. Officer Hart stated that in his opinion this test
question was not clearly worded and if Mrs. Stricklin had used
the word only in front of the words an organic substance then the
test question would have been more clearly stated. Mrs.
Stricklin stated that this test question had a higher difficulty
level and that she wrote it verbatim, indicating it was an
organic susbstance. Dr. Harris stated that the test question may
be unclear but it did say it was a strictly organic substance.
After a brief discussion, Mr. Filer made a motion to sustain the
question, Dr. Harris seconded the motion and the motion passed.
Mrs. Stricklin then passed out copies of test question #99 and
the corresponding information from the source material. Mrs.
Stricklin stated that when she develops test questions she gives
them to the police majors for their review and approval or not.
She then explained where she located the answers and Officer Hart
then stated that there were no wrong answers to this test
question to select from. Officer Zimpel then asked to speak and
stated that this test question was a good one because it
addresses what not to review but what is learned from the
student. Officer Hart then stated he is questioning the test
question because all the answers are part of the five steps of
teaching and that the answers are located on two different pages
of the source material. Mr. Filer stated that three answers are
verbatim and one answer is implied. Dr. Harris agreed and that
there may be some gray area of implication but felt this test
question was a good one. After a brief discussion Mr. Filer
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sustained that this test question was a good one, Dr. Harris
seconded the motion and the motion passed.
Mrs. Stricklin read into record Police Officer Joseph Puddu's
appeal to test questions #33 and #66. Mrs. Stricklin then asked
Officer Puddu to come to the table to address the Commission.
Officer Puddu then stated that he wished to withdraw his appeals
on test questions #33 and #66. The Commission accepted his
withdrawal.
Item #4- Mr. Filer asked if there was any old business. Mrs.
Strickin explained that in the February 5, 2004, meeting the
Commission had ordered to request medical evaluations on Police
Officer Scott Higgins. Letters were mailed out and five doctors
responded and the first three letters received back are the
doctors who were asked to conduct the evaluations. Mrs.
Stricklin stated that the evaluations are scheduled for mid to
late March. She stated that Dr. Halliday and Dr. McCarty both
declined, that Dr. Sundrashen and Dr. Talbert were the last two
letters received back and that Dr. Bolin, Dr. Workman and Dr.
Huff, Jr. will be conducting the evaluations.
Item #5- Mr. Filer asked if there was any other business to
properly come before the Commission. Mrs. Stricklin stated that
she is still recruiting for police trainees, testing to take
place in Lawton, Oklahoma on February 21St, in Bedford, Texas on
February 28th, and in Wichita Falls on March 6th and March 13th.
That she will continue to conduct recruiting and tests until all
the vacancies are filled.
Dr. Harris then asked if any word had been received from Dr.
Harvey Martin concerning his letter about evaluating Officer
Scott Higgins. Mrs. Stricklin stated that Dr. Martin's office
had not set any dates as of yet but when his office calls that
offer will be declined since three other doctors are already
scheduled to conduct the evaluations.
Since there was no other business Mr. Filer made a motion to
adjourn and Dr. Harris seconded the motion and the motion passed.
The meeting adjourned at 4:15 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Ja Stric in
D ector of Civil Service
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