04-B Civil Service Commission Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION JULY 26, 2006 The meeting was called to order by Chairman Philip Cecil @ 3:01 p.m. Commissioners present were: Philip Cecil, Zenetta Fulbright and Sims Norment. Also present were Assistant City Attorney, John Lestock, Fire Chief, Ronnie Grooms, Police Chief, Karl Louis and Melba Harris, Civil Service Director. Karl Louis presented information to support his request that preference be given to entry level police officer applicants who pass the competitive entry police officer exam and hold current basic certification or are eligible fo\ basic certification (certifiable) from the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement Officer Standards and Education (TCLEOSE). He stated that the cost to train a police officer and the training time would be cut in half for those persons selected who already have or are eligible for basic certification. He stated that although those persons with certification would be given preference; those people who did not have certification would continue to be considered. He also informed the Commission that the screening process to select a police officer would continue to otherwise be the same which includes a criminal background check, polygraph, oral interview and psychological test. Chief Louis also provided that he had received an interpretation of the Civil Service Local Government Code from Employment Law Attorney, Betty Lynn and Attorney, John West that this is allowed under the law if a rule is adopted by the local Civil Service Commission. A motion was made by Sims Norment and second by Zenetta Fulbright to approve a rule change to give preference to TCLEOSE certified or certifiable applicants who pass the entry police officer exam. The motion was approved unanimously. Ronnie Grooms also provided information to support his request that preference be given be to entry firefighter applicants who pass the competitive entry level firefighter examination and hold current basic certification or are certifiable from the Texas Commission on Fire Protection (TCFP) and current certification as Emergency Medical Technician (EMT -1 Basic). Chief Grooms also provided information related to the decrease in cost if we hired certified or certifiable firefighters. He also included information on what other fire departments are doing in considering applicants for the entry level firefighter position. A motion was made by Sims Norment and second by Zenetta Fulbright to approve a rule change to give preference to FCFP certified or certifiable applicants who pass the entry firefighter exam and the motion was approved unanimously. Melba Harris was instructed to have the attorney (Betty Lynn) draft the rule changes for the signatures of the Commissioners. The meeting was adjourned. lfjt!/!farrf ~ Civil Service Director r"