Auburn Municipal Civil Service
Notes –Special Meeting August 6, 2009 11:00 am
Roll Call –
Commissioner John Brennan called the meeting to order at 11am.
Roll Call by Secretary Bill Fulton: Commissioner John Brennan, Commissioner John Camardo and Commissioner Jack Hardy. Also present Police Chief Gary Giannotta, Comptroller Lisa Green, Director of Economic Planning, Jenny Haines and City Manager Mark Palesh
Approve minutes of meetings held on June 4, 2009 and June 30, 2009. Commis. Camardo motion to approve. Hardy 2nd. Motion carried 3-0.
New Business
· Attached request from Keyboard Specialist, Stacie Roberts to be transferred as a voluntary demotion to a clerk to the Public Works Garage. Written request with approval by both Department Heads; Superintendent of Public Works, Jerry DelFavero, Director of Planning, Jenny Haines and City Manager, Mark Palesh.
Commis Brennan: Any questions on this?
Jenny Haines: Jerry and I have verbally agreed to a start date and coverage of the offices.
Commis Brennan: That would be between the two of you.
Commis Camardo motion to approve the voluntary demotion of Stacie Roberts to clerk. 2nd by Hardy. Motion approved 3-0.
· Approval of Eligible lists #74-714 – Police Sergeant, #61-484 Director of Capital Projects & Grants, #61-316 Code Enforcement Officer and #61-528 School Business Executive. Lists to be eligible for a minimum of one year, maximum of 4.
Motion to approve all lists by Commis Camardo 2nd by Hardy. Motion carried 3-0.
Old Business
· Further discussion on attached request from Police Chief Gary Giannotta and City Manager Mark Palesh to consider ordering a new Police Officer exam to be given in 2009. Also attached is the current Police Officer Eligible list #65-847 with the results of the intent letter that was sent to the entire list on June 4, 2009.
Chief Giannotta: I have made it no secret that I would like to do what the state recommends and have a new list every 2 years. I do not think of this as a negative but a positive for the lower scores to give them the opportunity to better their scores. Civil Service did a canvass of the current list.
Civil Service Meeting Notes Continued
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August 6, 2009
We have one 90 that said he was interested but in the last police officer canvass he
did not respond so amongst this list we have some inconsistencies. There are others on the last certified list that we just do not want to hire for various reasons. If we need to disqualify I can do that but I do not believe that is necessary if we order a new list. This list is two years old and in this economy we need to keep it fresh.
Commis Brennan: How many are on the current list?
Bill Fulton: Right now – if we hire today we have 5 eligible. We have others that still need an agility test.
Mark Palesh: Do we administer the agility test right away?
Fulton: More on a as needed basis
Chief Giannotta: My job is to hire the best person possible.
Commis. Brennan: 40% of your current police force received grades of 85 or less. We have someone on the chief list right now that was hired with a 79. I just hate the thought of telling someone that unless you get an 85 or higher you have no chance of getting the job.
Chief Giannotta: Trust me, I don’t believe just because you get a 100 you’re the best person for the job. I am sure there are many of people on this list with 75’s that would make great police officers. What we are allowing them to do is better their scores.
Commis Camardo: First off the state recommends 4 years not 2 years. That’s because of the testing process and the cost. Second of all my question to you is why wont you even consider hiring someone less then a 85?
Chief Giannotta: It is not that I wouldn’t consider it.
Commis Camardo: Will you hire an 85 or 80?
Chief Giannotta: If I am put in that position then I have no choice.
Commis Camardo: Your current officers - 1/3 of them have received 85 or below. I am very concerned about the liability of the city. We always request new lists when we get down to the 80’s.
Commis Hardy: When does the police dept do the background checks?
Chief Giannotta: We only get the list of eligible hires. We only do backgrounds on them.
Fulton: We only give the police dept the ones that are on the top of the list after they pass the agility test.
Commis Camardo: Is there anyone in the 80 zone that you would consider?
Chief Giannotta: I don’t know – I have not looked. I am still working with the 85’s. Amongst the last certified list - we hired two, one was offered the job but is currently deployed and the 3 others are not people I would consider for various reasons.
Commis. Camardo: What about the 80’s?
Chief Giannotta: I have not looked at the 80’s.
Commis Camardo: Can you look at the applications and see if you are interested?
Chief Giannotta: I can not tell by the applications – there is not enough information. I would have to do background checks on them. I am not going to say no I wont consider them.
Commis Brennan: The commissioners are under certain restrictions for disqualifications.
Civil Service Meeting Notes Continued
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August 6, 2009
Chief Giannotta: Yes, I am familiar the local commission is allowed to use discretion and then each person is allowed a hearing.
Palesh: They do not have to show to the hearing.
Commis Brennan: Correct - that is the best way.
Fulton: Before we get into disqualifications – 5 guys are ready to be hired.
Chief Giannotta: To add to that list we need to give another agility test. Currently I do not have any openings. Some people may be retiring by the end of the year.
Commis Brennan: We have no objection to giving an agility test.
Fulton: Before we can hire into the 80’s we still have 8 people that could be added if they pass the agility test.
Commis Brennan: We are not going to hire 13 people.
Chief Giannotta: I remember in 1998 – 16 officers all left in one year after NYS offered an early retirement.
Commis Camardo: Lets go over our options.
Fulton: We have ordered the test. It would be given November 14th if we were to give it. We could cancel preferably before October. If we are going to proceed in giving this test the sooner we make the decision the better.
Commis Camardo: I want to know the option with the 11 candidates.
Fulton: Well to hire today – we have 5. If we offer another agility test we have the potential to add 8 more. This is still in the 85’s and above.
Jocko: Does anyone have any objections?
Anna Hlywa: The only thing I see is if we only give the agility test to the 8 individuals that are 85 or above - amongst those are the ones that have failed their first agility test or have not replied to one letter. You may not get all of them interested.
Fulton: Is giving another agility test a factor in ordering a new exam?
Commis Brennan: You know my feeling – I do not want to give another exam – I want to give the lower grades an opportunity.
Chief Giannotta: But you would be giving them another shot to get a better grade. Hopefully they will improve their scores.
Mark Palesh: If this agility test doesn’t work out – are you leaning toward giving a new test or hiring into the 80’s?
Commis Camardo: I would like Gary to look at the 80’s applications and see if there is any interest. My fear is someone that takes these test may sue the city – just because they only get an 80 doesn’t mean they are not qualified.
Mark Palesh: What if only 2 people show for the agility?
Commis Brennan: Then we get into the 80’s
Commis Camardo: If we give another exam when will the results come in and do we have to certify the list within 30 days?
Civil Service Meeting Notes Continue
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August 6, 2009
Commis Brennan: No – you can certify whenever we feel fit –not time restriction.
Commis Brennan: Check with Ed Wagner and see when we could do an agility test. Once we canvass the list we will know how many and we can get into the 80’s if we need to.
Fulton: You give the background checks kits at the agility test – correct?
Chief Giannotta: Yes
Commis Brennan: I only remember disqualifying one person since I have been here.
Chief Giannotta: We have actually disqualified quite a few. One year it was 5 at one time. We put all the information together brought it to the commission and they were all disqualified.
Commis Camardo: Yes I do remember, Jocko I think that was before you were on the board.
Commis Brennan: Anyone else have anything else to add
Anna Hlywa: Question regarding the time frame. If we do not get enough responses from the 8 people that have the 85’s or higher are we sending out another letter to include the 80’s?
Camardo: We can just do them all from the beginning.
Hlywa: Ok – just to clarify – earlier it was said we are only doing the 85’s
Commis Brennan: Lets do it for all the 80’s & 85’s. Now does anyone else have anything to add?
Motion to adjourn meeting made by Commis Camardo 2nd by Commis Hardy. Motion Carried
3-0 Meeting adjourned at 11:35am
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