02 City Council Min 10-10-05 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Regular City Council Meeting October 10, 2005 Page 7 .on one end of the street but not on the other end. He asked Tony to make police aware of the truck situation on Neagle.Street so they can issue tickets. Council Member Wilkerson said there are no through truck signs on Hearn Street, but one is posted on First and Hearn. She said they are coming up 4th to Washington and trying to turn to get back around. She said these trucks had dug a hole and skimmed the fire hydrant. Council Member Wilkerson further stated there was a problem with the sign because it does not tell truckers where to go. Council Member Ray said we need to make sure that we do not get the new map sign outside the no through truck sign. . 9. . Discuss the hiring procedures for Civil Service employees pursuant to Chapter 143 of the Local Government code (The Civil Service Act). Tony Williams said the problem of losing police officers, firefighters and key employees to the metroplex is not something that is unique for Paris, Texas. He said this is a global problem. It is hard for small communities to keep well trained, skilled individuals and try to compete with that tax base that is much bigger than the small community. We as the staff, need to recruit smarter by advertising in places that the metroplex isn't concentrating on. There are some things \ve have to do to be more effective. In the last year \ve have been \vorking on being more efficient, by reducing our organization to a smaller size government. This next year we need to concentrate on being more effective, being smarter and being better managers. Tony said that with the civil service process, it is difficult to get applicants from the start to the finish. We have conducted five tests this year in the police department. \Ve have approximately twenty- five applicants sign up for each test; ho\vever, we do not test that many because they do not all show up for the test. From the number that pass the test, we go through all of the procedures as required by state law to qualify applicants who are eligible to be hired. This includes psychological, drug screening and physical assessment. In November, we will be conducting another test. We are going to start advertising more in Southeast Oklahoma and the areas surrounding Paris. Mayor Fendley asked Tony to clarify the number of vacancies in the police department. Tony infonned Council we have five vacancies, in addition to the four on military leave. We have to hold the positions for those who are on military leave. We have three in the academy, who will be utilized upon certification. Council Member Wilson wanted to know the number of patrol officers budgeted for 2004-2005. Tony said we have 41 patrol officers in the community. Council Member Wilson wanted to know why we did not fill those slots at the time the slots came open. Council Member Wilson said there was no exam given from October 28, 2004 and March 2~, 2004, but we had four vacancies at all . " T I