HomeMy WebLinkAbout05/12/1994 CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
May 12 , 1994
4:00 p.m.
Second Floor Conference Room
Members present : Dave Juon, Bonetta Culp
Others present : Roger Shook, Frank Magsamen, Paul Huting ,
Chief Koehrsen, Dean Fagerlind , Bob Boeck, Tom
Powers, Jeff Freshwater, Sang-Ki Han, Jim
Rodemeyer, Cora Turner, Cheryl Huddleston
Before the meeting began, it was announced that all official action
taken at this meeting would be done conditionally since Dave Juon' s
term on the Commission had expired and no appointment or
reappointment had been made .
The Agenda for May 12 , 1994 and the Minutes from March 29 , 1994
were approved as mailed , with the order of the agenda items changed
to discuss Item B under New Business first .
Veteran's Points For Promotional Examinations
.Jim Rodmeyer gave a brief history of this issue which was brought
before the Civil Service Commission in the late 1980 ' s . At that
time , after considerable research by the City Attorney' s Office , it,
was decided that the Iowa Code was being interpreted correctly in
that veteran' s points were only awarded on open examinations . When
the issue was brought up again, Assistant City Attorney Han issued
an opinion that the Iowa Code is being interpreted incorrectly and
that veteran' s points should be awarded for promotional
examinations , also . It is important that this be resolved as soon
as possible since we are in the middle of the Civil Service process
for two fire department promotionals .
Research completed by the Personnel Department showed Cedar Rapids
is the only large city that awards veteran' s points for promotional
examinations . An opinion by the Legislative Research Bureau also
indicates veteran' s points should be awarded for promotionals . Tom
Powers has spoken with Lynn Walden from the Iowa Attorney General ' s
Office and that conversation indicated that veteran' s points should
he awarded . He has also spoken with Senator Lind who would be
willing to request an Attorney General ' s opinion on the issue .
Cora Turner has spoken to Regg Sipfle who handles Civil Service
testing for the City of Des Moines and he said this issue came up
17-18 years ago and research indicated that veteran' s points are
awarded only for open examinations .
Dave Juon feels there are several questions - ( 1 ) Should the points
be awarded for promotional examinations ; ( 2 ) What are the
ramifications of changing the present system that has been in use
for several years ; ( 3 ) At what point in the process should be
points be awarded .
Jim Rodemeyer said if the system is changed , he recommends the
Commission not make it retroactive because of the severe
ramifications that could result with a retroactive decision.
Move by Juon, seconded by Culp to table action on the matter of
veteran' s preference points pending additional research by the City
Attorney' s Office and Personnel Department . Motion carried .
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Police Officer Recruit
One hundred eighteen ( 118 ) out of two hundred sixteen ( 216 ) took
the first written test on April 19 , 1994 . This group included
nineteen ( 19 ) white females and fourteen ( 14 ) black males/females .
The physical ability and SRA examinations are scheduled for May 18 ,
1994 . The Personnel Department has requested the Commission review
and consider increasing the number of candidates to proceed in the
testing process for Police Officer Recruit from the top fifty ( 50 )
to the top seventy-five ( 75 ) . Increasing the number will give a
significantly better pool of minority and females candidates .
Moved by Culp, seconded by Juon to increase the number of
candidates to proceed in the testing process for Police Office
Recruit from the top fifty to the top seventy-five . Motion
carried. A list should be ready for certification in June .
Golf Course Maintenance II - Parks & Forestry
There is a vacancy due to a resignation. The position was posted
internally and five ( 5 ) Golf Course Maintenance I employees
submitted resumes . Candidates were interviewed by a panel composed
by Bill Bachman, Dean Fagerlind , and Cheryl Huddleston on April 28 ,
1994 . Only two ( 2 ) of the five ( 5 ) candidates passed the oral
interview. Moved by Culp, seconded by Juon :
We, the members of the Civil Service Commission, certify the
following list of applicant( s ) , who are eligible based upon the
examination process as set forth by the Civil Service Commission
For the appointment to the position of Golf Course Maintenance II
for the City of Waterloo , Iowa. Appointment( s ) shall be made from
this list for the next two years (May 12 , 1994 - May 11 , 1996 ) .
CERTIFIED LIST
Scott Destival
Joseph Dinnebier
Motion carried.
Fire Captain - Waterloo Fire Rescue
The position was posted as a promotional at all Fire Stations . Ten
( 10 ) employees submitted resumes. The promotional panel evaluation
was held on May 5 , 1994 and the written examination was
administered by Lyle Alberts on May 10 , 1994 . The results of this
examination are still being compiled. The veteran' s points issue
will impact this promotional significantly.
Fire Engineer - Waterloo Fire Rescue
The position was posted as a promotional at all Fire Stations .
Twenty-seven ( 27 ) employees signed up for testing and twenty-five
( 25 ) took the written examination, administered by Lyle Alberts , on
May 10 , 1994 . The results of this examination are still being
compiled. The veteran' s points issue may impact this promotional ,
also.
NEW BUSINESS
Maintenance Assistant
The job description and testing criteria for Maintenance Assistant
were presented for review. There are two ( 2 ) vacancies due to a
resignation and a retirement and we have found it necessary to
reassign a Traffic Operations Electrician to help with the
workload. Moved by Culp, seconded by Juon to approve the job
description and testing criteria for Maintenance Assistant . Motion
carried.
The Commission was asked to consider changing the date for
seniority eligibility from the deadline for application to the date
of the written examination for the promotional testing for Fire
Engineer. There is one fire fighter who missed the date by a few
weeks due solely to his layoff and he is the only one affected .
The Commission did not feel it would be appropriate to change the
original notice so the request was not considered.
The next meeting will be scheduled after the Mayor has appointed a
Commissioner( s ) . With no further business , the meeting was
adjourned at 5 :00 p.m.
Tom Campbell
Acting City Clerk/Auditor