HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/22/2004 CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSI("kMINUTES '1
December 22,2004
2:00 p.m.
Carnegie Conference Room
Members Present: Tim Luce,John Blitsch,Lou Porter
Members Absent: Walter Reed(Ex-Officio)
Others Present: John Beckman,Nancy Eckert, Tim Shea,Ned Deberg, Cheryl Huddleston, Shelly Norris
Moved by Blitsch, seconded by Porter to approve the 12/22//04 Agenda as mailed. Motion carried.
Moved by Blitsch, seconded by Luce to approve the 11/17/04 Minutes as mailed. Motion carried.
I JNFINISHE D RI JSINE SS
The Civil Service List for Solid Waste Foreman— Waste Management Services was presented for certification.
The Human Resources Committee approved beginning the Civil Service process on 11/1/04. The Civil Service
Commission on 11/17/04 approved the job description and testing criteria. The position was posted internally as a
promotional in all City departments and one resume was received. Larry Smith, Keith Kearns and Shelly Norris
conducted an interview on 12/22/04. The Civil Service List contains one black male. Moved by Blitsch, seconded
by Porter:
We, the members of the Civil Service Commission, certify the following list of applicants, who are eligible based
upon the examination process as set forth by the Civil Service Commission for the appointment to the position of
Solid Waste Foreman for the City of Waterloo, Iowa Waste Management Services Department. List shall exhaust
upon appointment.
CERTIFIED LIST
Leo Dixon
Motion carried.
I Jpd ates
Clerk I — written test scheduled for 1/6/05. Possibility of up to ninety-five candidates taking test. Test worth
40% of total score with oral examination worth 60%. Will take top thirty scores plus ties for interview.
Present vacancy is in Police Department Records due to a retirement.
Clerk II — two vacancies in Clerk's Office due to resignations. Position approved by Human Resources
Committee on 9/20/04 and by Civil Service Commission on 10/14/04. The City received twenty-three resumes,
but only twelve typing verifications. Advertised more extensively and received another one hundred twenty-
three resumes. From this group, the City received forty-four additional typing verifications. Preliminary review
of resumes shows approximately thirty-eight candidates will meet qualifications and be invited to interview.
NEW BUSINESS
The job description and testing criteria for Police Lieutenant was presented for approval. There is no present
vacancy, but retirements are anticipated in the next couple years. Nothing has changed since the last testing.
Moved by Blitsch, seconded by Porter to approve the job description and testing criteria for Police Lieutenant.
Motion carried.
The job description and testing criteria for Fire Lieutenant was presented for approval. The current list has
expired and several retirements are anticipated in the next couple years. The list is also used for out-of-rank
assignments. Nothing has changed since the last testing except elimination of seniority points. The City and
Fire Rescue had intended on adding ne additional points for post-high schr ' education and course work, but
it proved to be a more difficult task-r i develop than we originally thought, s,.-ie idea was put on the shelf for
awhile. Moved by Blitsch, seconded by Porter to approve the job description and testing criteria for Fire
Lieutenant. Motion carried.
The job description and testing criteria for Fire Captain was presented for approval. The current list has expired
and retirements are anticipated in the next couple years. The list is also used for out-of-rank assignments. The
Medical Supervisor portion of the job description has been eliminated since the classification was made a
civilian position. Moved by Porter, seconded by Blitsch to approve the job description and testing criteria for
Fire Captain. Motion carried.
OTHER BUSINESS
There has been some discussion regarding layoffs that has filtered down to employees. Consequently, we have
received some inquiries regarding taking a voluntary layoff in place of the least senior employee in a job
classification. Discussed with former Human Resources Director Jim Rodemeyer and he said this was done
successfully several years ago. He advised to be sure both parties understand the ramifications and sign a letter
of agreement. The employees who inquired also wanted to know if they could take just a one-year layoff with
the option to return and displace the least senior employee. Rodemeyer stated this would be acceptable too, but
that would also need to be put into the signed letter of agreement.
The employees requested these questions be brought to the Civil Service Commission so they would not suffer
any negative ramifications if layoffs become an issue and they elect the voluntary layoff.
Commission members had a few questions:
1. Would this be a bargaining unit issue? It is an issue to the extent it is a layoff.
2. Can the voluntary layoff come back before official recall? This would be addressed in the
agreement, but the short answer is,yes.
3. Does the least senior employee in the classification get laid off if the employee who took the
voluntary layoff wants to come back? Yes.
4. Do both employees sign the agreement? Yes.
5. Does the employee who took the voluntary layoff receive unemployment? They might depending on
whether they obtain another job.
6. Does the employee who is involuntarily laid off receive unemployment? Yes, unless they obtain
another job.
7. Is the City looking at layoffs at this time? Maybe.
8. When was the last time anyone was laid off? An employee in Human Rights was laid off about six
months ago; an employee in MIS was laid off about four years ago; before that, 1991 when Manning
was Mayor and there were several layoffs, primarily in police and fire.
9. Is City looking at major layoffs? Unknown.
10. Do we need something documenting what happens if employee(s) request voluntary layoff?
Employees are just asking questions at this time.
11. Could a policy be developed and brought to a future meeting? Yes.
12. What happens to accumulated retirement benefits if an employee is laid off? Benefits won't
accumulate during the layoff, but will remain viable for when employee is recalled as long as they
don't choose to withdraw the accumulated monies.
With no further business before the Commission, moved by Porter, seconded by Blitsch to adjourn. Motion
carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk