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Minority Recruitment Committee Meeting August 7, 1999 Page 2 interviews are over, the Committee comes to a consensus on who the best applicant is, and we make the person a job offer contingent upon two things. One, the person has to be able to pass a drug screen, and be able to pass a physical exam. If the applicant passes both of those, the Committee gives a start date and they go to work. Mr. Anderson said the Texas Workforce Commission might not be able to provide enough applicants, and if this happens, the City runs an advertisement in the Paris News for applicants. Those applicants can come to City Hall to get an application, fill it out and return it, then the above procedures are followed. Mr. Anderson advised that it has been the practice of the City to require at least a high school diploma or a GED, but that has been modified this past year to state - high school diploma, GED, or equivalent experience as determined by the City. Mr. Anderson explained that the City does not view that as lowering the standard, but someone might say technically the City has lowered the standard, but he does not view it that way, because the feeling is this other experience would demonstrate that they are qualified to do the work. Tommy Haynes, Civil Service Director for the City of Paris, spoke to the Committee explaining that the Police Department and Fire Department are governed by the Civil Service Law. Mr. Haynes further explained in order to be able to get on the eligibility list for either the Fire or Police Department, you have to pass the entrance exam, and the eligibility list is taken from the test based on a person's score. Mr. Haynes said that on occasion there will be a veteran of the military to apply, and they are allowed, if they have served enough time and received an honorable discharge, then that would be added to their score. The veteran would have to present proof of that prior to the time of taking the test. Mr. Haynes said from the eligibility list, the Fire Chief or Police Chief would ask for the top three names from the list, which he would furnish to them. Mr. Haynes advised that there are two ways in which this can be done. If they need to hire someone in a hurry, they take all the eligible people who have passed the test and give them a physical assessment test. Mr. Haynes said this would generally reduce the field a little because not everyone is in physical shape to pass the physical test. The top three are given to the Police