HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/28/1980 Civil Service Commission
August 28 , 1980
Members Present : Eibey, Randall , Braun, Furgerson
Motion by Randall to approve the minutes of June 5 , 1980 Civil Service
Meeting. Seconded by Eibey. Motion carried.
Jim Rodemeyer, of Waterloo Personnel Department stated that he had spoken
with two attorneys representing the Iowa League of Municipalities at a
meeting in Des Moines concerning the civil rights action filed by Stephen
Schlosser in regard to age requirements in Waterloo ' s Police recruit-
ment . Rodemeyer stated that the attorneys said it was a cut and dried
law -- minimum of 18 years of age with no maximum age requirement .
Rodemeyer continued that the attorneys suggested that we contact Stephen
Schlosser to give him the opportunity to be tested as a police recruit .
Acting Police Chief Junior Grimm suggested that you must be 21 years of
age in order to obtain a gun permit , but later contacted the Black Hawk
County Sheriff and reported back that a special gun petwit would be
issued to a police recruit under 21 .
Rodemeyer stated that if Stephen Schlosser was not given an opportunity to
test for police recruit, the Civil Rights Commission could possibly
invalidate the certification list and possibly terminate anyone Waterloo
might hire from that list .
Discussion followed concerning any other applicants that were turned down
from the police recruitment test because of age .
Motion by Eibey to send letter to everyone that was turned down because
of age that applied in time and offer them an opportunity to come in
and take the recruitment exam for the Police Department . Also , a letter
be sent to all people that successfully completed the exam and explain
why the list cannot be certified at this time . Seconded by Randall .
Motion carried.
The City Clerk stated that his office and Personnel Office would work
together to set up another test and then suggested the Commission could
have a special meeting to officially set the date . He suggested that
a meeting could be held by telephone if necessary.
Motion by Randall to table the certification of the list for Police
recruits . Seconded by Eibey. Motion carried.
Personnel Office reported that for recruitment and selection of Fire
Chief, it was their suggestion that the Commission use the Iowa State
Fire Extension Service for approximately $50 . 00 .
Randall suggested that in both police and fire chief recruitment that
the application be part of the exam.
Personnel Department stated that the Code of Iowa states that the minimum
requirements for recruit is five years experience in a fire/police
department or three years in a department and two years of comparable
experience or education.
Discussion followed regarding the wording of the ad and the process
of testing for both police and fire chiefs .
Braun suggested that the ad for police and fire chiefs could be just
an explanation of minimum requirements , but the screening of the
applicant should follow a specific set of guidelines .
Rodemeyer suggested that a packet of information be sent to each
applicant in the same manner as the recruitment of police officers .
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Motion by Randall to authorize commencement of the recruitment process
for both police and fire chiefs . Seconded by Eibey. Motion carried.
Rodemeyer stated that he had received a copy of a sample police chiefs
test from I . P .M.A. (International Personnel Management Association) of
Washington, D. C. He continued that I .P .M.A. does the grading and the
cost factor is not excessive .
Fzrgerson suggested that Personnel not advertise nation-wide, but advertise
just in the state and some professional journals .
Braun suggested that the application be part of the testing procedure
and also have a complete resume.
Discussion followed in regard to the procedures of oral interviews for
police chief.
Rodemeyer suggested contacting Professor Holcomb for suggestions of
people available to act as interviewers .
Burger pointed out that it was the general concensus on the April 17 ,
1980 meeting, that local personnel people give the oral interviews to chiefs
and assistant chiefs .
Junior Grimm, Acting Police Chief, suggested bringing in a police chief ,
Professor Holcomb and the personnel director from John Deere .
Randall suggested that on the oral portion of the police chiefs inter-
views the Civil Service Commission be present for observation.
Motion by Randall to move in the direction outlined above . Seconded by
Eibey. Motion carried.
Under Fire Department evaluation procedures , Roger Mogle suggested that
any person going for the rank of division or assistant chief should be
evaluated by the three assistant chiefs and the training officer and
not by the other people of the same rank. This change is suggested
because of the fact that two persons could be evaulating each other
and be going for the same position.
Motion by Eibey that the above procedure on evaluation of the Fire
Department be adopted. Seconded by Randall . Motion carried.
Discussion followed concerning the Citizens ' Aide/Ombudsman letter
requesting all City employees be placed under Civil Service .
Braun stated that an ordinance must first be passed by the City Council
before the Civil Service can get on any request of the Citizens ' Aide/
Ombudsman.
Randall stated that if the Commission was expected to participate in
the employment of the entire City, then the Commission would need a
budget and a full time staff.
Motion by Randall to inform Mayor and Council that if the Commission is to
comply with what their understanding is of their responsibilities
that the Commission will require a full time staff and budget and
that the Commission request Mayor and Council to draft and adopt an
Ordinance authorizing the Commission to hire a staff and be established
in the budget .
The Clerk is to draft the above motion in the form of a letter addressed
to Mayor and Council to be signed by the Civil Service Commission.
Seconded by Eibey. Motion carried.
Braun stated the Commission was ready to discuss the promotional
procedures of the Waterloo Police Department .
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Discussion followed regarding what type of education and how much
education could qualify to replace time on a department for testing
for a higher rank.
It was the general concensus of the Commission, Police Association and
Acting Police Chief to have five years as a patrolman to test for
sergeant or four years as a patrolman and one year of education. The
Commission asked that the Association and Acting Chief come back with
recommendations on what type of education qualifies .
Discussion followed on the question of whether to consider senority
and the percentage weight to place on the oral and written portion of
the testing procedures .
Braun suggested that Bob Anton get the feeling of the Association on
the percentage ratings .
Discussion followed regarding rank skipping .
It was a general concensus that skipping rank should not be allowed except
through direction of the Civil Service Commission.
It was suggested that Anton take back the copy of the summary of the
minutes to the Association for their reaction with a report back next
month.
Motion by Randall to adjourn. Seconded by Eibey. Motion carried.
Larry P . Burger
Clerk, Civil Service
Commission