04-B Civil Service Commission Minutes
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.
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Civil Service Director
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