HomeMy WebLinkAbout1298th CSC Meeting (July 18, 2012)1298" REGULAR MEETING OF THE
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
The 1298" Regular Meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on Wednesday,
July 18, 2012. The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m.
Members Present: Harry C. Tatigian, Chairman
Charlotte S. Mahoney
Brian Meakin
Also Present:
David Dobiesz, Senior Fire Equipment Robert F. Biga, Human Resources Director
Mechanic Gretchen Guisbert, Secretary III
Shadd A. Whitehead, Fire Chief
Upon a motion by Ms. Mahoney, seconded by Mr. Meakin and unanimously adopted, it was
12-71 RESOLVED, that the minutes of the 1297'" Regular Meeting held
Wednesday, June 13, 2012, be approved as submitted.
Upon a motion by Ms. Mahoney, seconded by Mr. Meakin and unanimously adopted, it was
12-72 RESOLVED, That having reviewed the memorandum of June 26,
2012, from Robert Martin, Personnel Analyst I, to Robert F. Biga, Human
Resources Director, regarding the passing point for the written test for Accountant
II (951 o.c.), the Civil Service Commission does hereby affirm the administrative
approval of the passing point of 70% out of a maximum raw score of 100 in the
written test, or a raw score of 70.
Upon a motion by Ms. Mahoney, seconded by Mr. Meakin and unanimously adopted, it was
12-73 RESOLVED, That the Civil Service Commission does hereby affirm
the administrative approval of the eligible list for Accountant 11 (951 o.c.).
The Commission received and filed the following:
a. Status of Temporary Employees Report for June 2012.
b. Non -Resident Report as of July 1, 2012.
C. Current Open -Competitive and Promotional Eligible Lists as of July 1, 2012.
d. Affirmative Action Report for June 2012.
e. Removal of names from active eligible list report for the month of June 2012.
I. Gallagher Benefit Services, Inc., analysis dated June 2012, entitled
"Supreme Court Rules Healthcare Reform Constitutional."
g. Council Resolutions from the meeting of July 2, 2012 with minutes to be
approved July 18, 2012:
#266-12, appointing Kathleen E. McIntyre, to the Zoning Board of Appeals
for a three-year term expiring July 12, 2015.
Page 2 1298" Regular Meeting July 16, 2012
#267-12, reappointing Robert Sills, to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a
three-year term expiring July 12, 2015.
h. Expiring eligible lists for the month of August 2012 - None.
Chairman Tatigian asked Mr. Biga to summarize the changes for the proposed qualifications
and parts of examination and weights for the Police Service Aide open -competitive
examination. Mr. Biga explained that rather than having the Interviews being conducted by an
outside panel, the recommendation is to have a Chiefs Interview panel, which is an inside
interview panel. Mr. Biga indicated he wanted to have a representative from the Civil Service
Department staff in attendance at the Chiefs Interview panel. This would ensure that
applicable federal and state laws are being followed.
Mr. Biga further explained that the Civil Service Department staff would group everyone taking
the written test in blocks of 15. The top 15 would be invited to interview first. The individuals
would be ranked and an eligible list would be established. If additional candidates are needed,
the next 15 people who passed the test would be interviewed and processed. Mr. Biga stated
there could potentially be multiple eligible lists from the same exam.
Ms. Mahoney inquired if someone withdrew as the process is occurring, then they would not
be included. Mr. Biga slated they would not be considered and the Department would just
continue the examination process.
Mr. Meakin slated he was surprised that a representative from the Livonia Police Officers
Association (LPDA) was not present at the meeting. Mr. Biga stated the Police Service Aide
(PSA) classification was not represented in the LPOA bargaining unit, but is an entry level
classification for the Police Department.
Ms. Mahoney echoed Mr. Meakin's concern. She assumed that someone from LPDA would
be present at the meeting to help the Commission understand what their issues are as this
moved forward.
Upon a motion by Ms. Mahoney, seconded by Mr. Meakin and unanimously adopted, it was
12-74 RESOLVED, That having reviewed the letter of June 19, 2012, from
Curtis Caid, Police Chief, requesting an open -competitive examination for Police
Service Aide and proposed qualifications and parts of examination and weights,
the Civil Service Commission does hereby approve the following qualifications and
parts of examination and weights:
QUALIFICATIONS
By the closing date of this announcement, applicants must:
1. Be a citizen of the United States or resident alien with the right to work in
the United States; and
2. Be at least eighteen (18) years old; and
3. Have a high school diploma or a valid equivalency certificate, and
Page 1298u Regular Meeting July 18, 2012
4. Possess and maintain a valid drivers license; and
5. Be free from any physical defects, chronic diseases, organic diseases,
organic or functional conditions, or mental and emotional instabilities
which may tend to impair the efficient performance of duties or which
might endanger the lives of others or the individual employee; and
6. Possess an MCOLES, United States Army or Marines Physical Fitness
Test certificate, illustrating successful completion, dated within the
preceding twelve (12) months of the closing date of this announcement.
7. Possess normal hearing, normal color vision, and normal visual functions
and acuity in accordance with the Civil Service Commission approved
visual acuity standard adopted as attached.
By the closing date of the announcement, each applicant must submit a
written statement from a physician, optometrist, or ophthalmologist giving
the applicant's visual acuity in each eye corrected and uncorrected. (Eye
examination must be within the preceding six (6) months of the closing
date of this announcement.)
NOTE: Applicants are required to submit original degrees/transcripts, MCOLES Certification
and Visual Acuity Statement by the closing date of this announcement.
PARTS OF EXAMINATION AND WEIGHTS
Written Test -50% Interview -50%
NOTE: Qualified applicants with the highest passing scores on the Written Test will be invited
to the Interview part of examination in groups of fifteen (15). Applicants must pass both the
Written Test and Interview parts of the examination in order to be placed on the eligible list.
NOTE: At the time of appointment, applicants are required to pass a background investigation
by the police department, a psychological evaluation conducted by a City authorized
psychologist and a complete pre-employment medical examination including drug testing
conducted by a physician authorized by the City of Livonia.
Upon a motion by Mr. Meakin, seconded by Ms. Mahoney and unanimously adopted, it was
12-75 RESOLVED, That having reviewed a letter of July 12, 2012, from
Caryn Duffany, Senior Police Officer, as approved for submission by Curtis Caid,
Police Chief, requesting a waiver of the residency requirement, the Civil Service
Commission does hereby grant a request for a waiver of the residency
requirement for Ms. Duffany until further notice.
Mr. Biga explained that the request for a promotional examination for Fire Equipment
Mechanic Supervisor has the same qualifications requiring the candidate to have certification
as an Emergency Vehicle Technician in at least eight (8) areas but he wanted to identify who
issued the certifications. That is the only change in the qualifications.
Shadd A. Whitehead, Fire Chief, was present and explained that the certifications are specific
to emergency vehicles and there are different categories, such as law enforcement, crash/fire
Page 1298u Regular Meeting July18, 2D12
rescue, airport firefighting equipment, ambulances and fire apparatus. In this field and for the
individual qualified for this position, the Department is looking for that person to have
certification in at least eight (8) categories within the fire apparatus and ambulance
certifications.
Ms. Mahoney inquired if they had to obtain it within each category and Chief Whitehead
explained that as the individual comes in as a Fire Equipment Mechanic for the Fire
Department, the individual begins the process of getting enrolled in the schools. There is an
educational program for every certification and there are several vehicle components such as
electrical components, pump components, aerial devices, and so on. There are classes to be
taken and then an individual needs to test out to receive the certification. The tests are held
regionally in different parts of the United States. Chief Whitehead confirmed with Dave
Dobiesz, Fire Equipment Mechanic, that the licensure period for these certifications was five
(5) years. Mr. Dobiesz explained that after that, an individual can recertify and the test to
recertify has half as many questions on the test.
Ms. Mahoney stated the expectation is that when a person is hired they have at least eight (8)
certifications under their belt already. Chief Whitehead confirmed that was correct. Mr. Biga
explained that this was a promotional examination from within so as an employee, they are
given the educational opportunity and they test for those certifications as an employee. Ms.
Mahoney thanked them for clarifying.
Mr. Tatigian inquired if the City paid for the classes and Chief Whitehead stated that his
department pays for the certifications. Employees hire in the City with their state of Michigan
licensures and they go through the process of getting accreditations. Ms. Mahoney asked if
the employee has to go out of state to take the test and Mr. Dobiesz explained that so far the
tests have all been administered in the state of Michigan. Mr. Dobiesz further explained that
one can only take two (2) tests in each test period. Ms. Mahoney asked if once a person is a
supervisor they continued to take the certification tests and Mr. Dobiesz said they absolutely
do.
Upon a motion by Ms. Mahoney, seconded by Mr. Meakin and unanimously adopted, it was
12-76 RESOLVED, That having reviewed the letter of July 16, 2012, from
Shadd A. Whitehead, Fire Chief, and memorandum of July 17, 2012, from
Derrick L. Washington, Personnel Analyst II, to Robert F. Biga, Human
Resources Director, requesting a promotional examination for Fire Equipment
Mechanic Supervisor and proposed qualifications and parts of examination and
weights, the Civil Service Commission does hereby approve the following
qualifications and parts of examination and weights:
QUALIFICATIONS
This examination is open only to employees of the City of Livonia who, by the closing date of
this announcement, are:
Employed currently in the Livonia Fire Department; and
Have an Associate degree from a college or vocational school in a related
field; and
Pages 1298u Regular Meeting July 18, 2012
3. Have at least two (2) years of full-time paid experience as a Senior Fire
Equipment Mechanic; and
4. Have Emergency Vehicle Technician Commission Certification as an
emergency vehicle technician in at least eight (8) areas.
PARTS OF EXAMINATION AND WEIGHTS
Written -80% Departmental Rating -20%'
`In the event there is only one (1) qualified applicant for this position, the Parts of Examination
and Weights will be 100% Departmental Rating.
Mr. Biga presented the request for an open -competitive examination for Police Officer and
explained that we had an open -competitive examination for Police Officer in process and we
closed it in June because the Department said they wanted to concentrate on hiring Police
Service Aides. Atter the examination was terminated, the Chief thought maybe they should
have that exam in process but he requested to interview the top ten (10) candidates instead of
the top fifteen (15). That is the major difference in this examination vs. the previous
examination.
Mr. Biga explained that we are utilizing EMPCO, Inc., for written tests. EMPCO has
established a hiring consortium in the state. EMPCO, Inc. administers the same written test for
all participating communities. The candidates indicate in which Departments they are
interested. We ask for the top names on the list who are interested in employment with the
City of Livonia. The Civil Service Department staff then contacts the individuals to make sure
they are still interested and if so, submit a formal application. Individuals submitting completed
applications are invited to the interview. The Chiefs interview is the next step in the
examination. This will be the first time the City will use an in-house interview for Police
Officers, which is meant to expedite the process.
Upon a motion by Mr. Meakin, seconded by Ms. Mahoney and unanimously adopted, it was
12-77 RESOLVED, That having reviewed the letter of July 16, 2012, from
Curtis Caid, Police Chief, requesting an open -competitive examination for Police
Officer and proposed qualifications and parts of examination and weights, the Civil
Service Commission does hereby approve the following qualifications and parts of
examination and weights:
QUALIFICATIONS
By the closing date of the announcement, an applicant must:
1. Be a citizen of the United States or resident alien with the right to work in
the United States.
2. Be at least 21 years of age.
3. Have been awarded an Associate Degree in Law Enforcement or Police
Administration or a Bachelor Degree in any non -Criminal Justice discipline.
Page 1298u Regular Meeting July 18, 2012
4. Possess normal hearing, normal color vision, and normal visual functions
and acuity in accordance with the Civil Service Commission approved
visual acuity standard as attached.
5. Be one of the following:
a. A Certified Michigan Police Officer; OR
b. Certifiable as a Police Officer in the Stale of Michigan, subject to
verification or re -verification by a Michigan Commission on Law
Enforcement Standards (MCOLES) approved training academy; OR
C. Be currently enrolled in an MCOLES approved training academy and
certifiable by date of hire.
6. Be free from any physical defects, chronic diseases, organic diseases,
organic or functional conditions, or mental and emotional instabilities which
may tend to impair the efficient performance of duties or which might
endanger the lives of others or the individual employee; and have received
an MCOLES physical fitness certificate within twelve (12) months from the
closing date of the announcement; and meet all other physical
requirements as determined by the Civil Service Commission and a
physician appointed by the City.
7. Possess and maintain a valid motor vehicle operators or chauffeur's license
and have an acceptable driving record.
PARTS OF EXAMINATION AND WEIGHTS
Written Test — 50% Chiefs Interview Panel — 50%'
Psychological Evaluation — Pass/Fail
Background Investigation — Pass/Fail
'NOTE: The 10 candidates with the highest passing scores on the EMPCO written test will
be invited to continue to the interview portion of the examination process. Once
that band has been exhausted, the next 10 candidates will be invited to complete
the interview process
NOTE: Candidates are required to submit original degrees/transcripts and MCOLES
Certifications at the time of interview.
The results at each step in the application process will determine eligibility for continuation on
to subsequent steps. The process will include EMPCO application, EMPCO written
examination, City of Livonia application, Chiefs interview panel, personal history questionnaire,
background investigation, psychological evaluation and pre-employment physical. Applicants
must pass each part of the examination process in order to be placed on the eligibility list.
Page] 1298" Regular Meeting July 18, 2812
Upon a mofion by Ms. Mahoney, seconded by Mr. Meakin and unanimously adopted, it was
RESOLVED, that the meeting be adjourned at 5:55 p.m.
Gretchen Guisbert, Secretary III
Harry C. Tatigian, Chairman
Brian Meakin, Commissioner
Charlotte S. Mahoney, Commissioner