03-A Civil Service Com 10-13-05
REGULAR MEETING
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
OCTOBER 13, 2005
The meeting was called to order by Chairman Philip Cecil @ 3 0' clock p.m. Commissioners
present were: Philip Cecil, Zenetta Fulbright and Sims Norment. Also present were: Larry
Schenk, City Attorney, Ronnie Grooms, Fire Chief, Bob Hundley Assistant Police Chief, Melba
Harris, Civil Service Director, Fire Drivers, Bob Rast and William McDowell
Fire Drivers, Bob Rast and William McDowell each appealed a question in the last Fire Engineer
Promotional exam. Bob Rast appealed question # 5 and William McDowell appealed question #
32. They each presented their appeals with Bob Rast presenting his first.
The Civil Service Commission went into closed session @ 3 :05 p.m. to discuss information
presented by the appellants.
The meeting was reconvened @ 3:10 p.m. A motion was made by Sims Norment that the
Commission accept as a correct answer for question # 5, A or B. The motion was second by
Zenetta Fulbright and the motion was approved unanimously.
A motion was made by Zenetta Fulbright that the Commission accept as a correct answer for
question # 32, A or C. The motion was second by Sims Norment.and the motion was approved
unanimously. .
The Commission directed the Civil Service Director to ensure required paperwork be revised to
reflect the decision of the Commission.
Larry Schenk, City Attorney provided information on recent legislation. He discussed SB 1421
which lifts the age for a beginning police officer to end on their 45th birthday. Since the City of
'Paris Civil Service Rules do not refer to a specific age limit, no rule change is required.
However, the Commission directed the Civil Service Director to ensure that the City is in
compliance with this law and that application forms, examination notices, etc. are revised to
meet these requirements.
SB 1421 also requires that applicants who are children, natural or adopted, of firefighters who
suffered a line of duty death, who pass the Civil Service exam, will be ranked at the top of the
eligibility list. Zenetta Fulbright made a motion to approve proposed amendment to rule 9.19 to
add a (b) section to comply with this law. The motion was second by Sims Norment and it was
unanimously approved.
Information was also presented on SB 1 050 related to extension of the probationary for beginning
positions in Police and Fire Departments. Sims Norment made a motion that the proposed rule
change 9.35 be approved to require an eighteen (18) month probationary period for Police and
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Fire Department employees who are required to attend a basic academy to comply with the
Texas Commission on Fire Protection or the Commission on Law Enforcement Officers
Standards and Education. The motion also included approval of proposed rule change 11.09
requiring that a score of 70 has to be attained in order to pass a fire promotional examination
and before seniority points can be added. The motion was second by Zenetta Fulbright and it
was approved unanimously.
Information was presented on SB863 which requires that military staff in remote locations be
allowed to take the promotional exam at a different location and time from the other applicants
and the test does not have to be identical. Zenetta Fulbright made a motion to approve proposed
amendment 11.08 to bring City Rules into compliance with this law. The motion was second by
Sims Norment and it was approved unanimously. Although this motion was approved, the
Commission directed the Civil Service Director to use the exact same questions; only order of
questions can be changed.
The meeting was adjourned.
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Melba P. Harris
Civil Service Director
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