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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CSC-2020-02-10CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION Regular Meeting February 19, 2020 Commissioners Present: Commissioner Richardson Commissioner Abrams Commissioner Thompson Staff Present: Valerie Saul (Deputy Director of Human Resources) Dennis Nayor (Police Chief) Vincent Monticello (Deputy Police Chief) Commissioner Richardson called the meeting to order at 11:35 am . APPROVAL OF MINUTES Commissioner Abrams made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 15, 2020 meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. Motion carried 3-0. NEW BUSINESS Request to Waive Residency Requirement for Police Officer Exam Police Chief Dennis Nayor and Deputy Police Chief Vince Monticello presented a request to waive the residency requirement for the 2020 Police Officer exam. The Ithaca Police Department is having significant difficulty recruiting candidates, and has been unable to fill all of its vacancies as a result. IPD’s experience is consistent with the national decline in police applicants, which has multiple causes. IPD is trying to remove as many obstacles as possible to increase their applicant pool. The residency requirement for the ex am is one such obstacle. After extended discussion about past recruitment efforts and potential recruitment strategies, Commissioner Richardson made a motion to waive the residency requirement for the 2020 Police Officer exam. Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. Motion carried 3-0. Physical Fitness Testing for Police Officer Candidates The discussion with Chief Nayor and Deputy Chief Monticello included an exchange of ideas about the timing of the physical fitness testing of Police Officer candidates. Deputy Human Resources Director Saul recommended that the physical fitness testing be conducted during the period between the administration of the written exam and the receipt of the exam scores, which would allow the maximum recruitment period possible prior to the exam, yet also achieve IPD’s desired goal of having the physical fitness testing completed by the time the eligible list is established. Additionally, this time frame would allow for a retest opportunity for candidates who fail the initial physical fitness test, which could also increase the pool of potential candidates. Commissioner Richardson made a motion to conduct the physical fitness testing during the period between the administration of the written exam and the receipt of the exam scores, and to offer a retest approximately two weeks after the first physical fitness test. Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. Motion carried 3-0. Civil Service Commission February 19, 2020 Page 2 Revision of Application Fees Chief Nayor and Deputy Chief Monticello also requested that the Commission reduce the application fee for out-of -county residents, to encourage applications from the extended recruitment area. Currently, there is no application fee for City residents, a fifteen dollar ($15.00) application fee for Tompkins County residents, and a seventy -five dollar ($75.00) application fee for out-of -county residents. The goals of the application fees are: 1. To offset the $12.50 per applicant fee charged by the NYSDSC. 2. To offset the administrative costs associated with the exams. 3. To screen out applicants who apply for the exam then fail to appear for it, and eliminate the corresponding expenses associated with their applications. 4. To screen out applicants from other counties who apply for the Ithaca exam s to keep their options open, but subsequently drop out of the hiring process because they have no real interest in employment with the City of Ithaca, and eliminate the corresponding expenses associated with their applications. IPD requested that the Comm ission balance the above goals with the obstacle that the $75.00 fee presents to potential applicants, and its impact on their recruitment efforts. Deputy Director Saul requested that, if the Commission decides to decrease the out-of - county application fee, they also decrease it for the Firefighter exam, which has an identical fee structure. Deputy Director Saul further requested that the Commission eliminate the $15.00 application fee for Town of Ithaca residents for the Firefighter exam, since the Town of Ithaca makes a significant financial payment to the City of Ithaca for fire protection services. After discussion, Commissioner Richardson made the following motion: Whereas, Section 50.5(b) of New York State Civil Service Law allows for the establishment of application fees for civil service examinations, and Whereas, the Ithaca Civil Service Commission wishes to revise the existing schedule of application fees for the Police Officer and Firefighter examinations, and Whereas, the revision of application fees is subject to the approval of Common Council, now, therefore, be it Resolved, that the Ithaca Civil Service Commission hereby establishes the following schedule of application fees for the Police Officer and Firefighter examinations: Tompkins County residents: $15.00 All other applicants: $50.00 and be it further Resolved, that the above application fees shall be waived for residents of the City of Ithaca, and be it further Civil Service Commission February 19, 2020 Page 3 Resolved, that the above application fees shall be waived for residents of the Town of Ithaca for the Firefighter exam, and be it further Resolved, that pursuant to Section 50.5(b) of New York State Civil Service Law, the above application fees shall be waived for candidates who certify that they are unemployed and primarily responsible for the support of a household and for candidates who are receiving public assistance, and be it further Resolved, that no refunds of application fees shall be provided, and be it further Resolved, that applications submitted without the required application fee or waiver shall be disapproved, and be it further Resolved, that the above schedule of fees shall be implemented immediately. Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. Motion carried 3-0. New Position Duties Statement: ICSD – Administrative Assistant The Commission reviewed and discussed a New Position Duties Statement from the Ithaca City School District for a new position in the Special Education Department. Commissioner Abrams made a motion to classify the position as Administrative Assistant. Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. Motion carried 3-0. New Position Duties Statement: City Attorney’s Office – Assistant City Attorney The Commission reviewed and discussed a New Position D uties Statement from the City Attorney’s Office. Commissioner Thompson made a motion to classify the position as Assistant City Attorney . Seconded by Commissioner Abrams. Motion carried 3-0. Change in Title, Update of Job Description, Revision of Minimum Qualifications and Special Requirements: Director of Facilities and Maintenance to Facilities and Maintenance Manager The position of Director of Facilities and Maintenance is being brought back into use at the Ithaca Housing Authority after several years of dormancy . The Commission reviewed and discussed proposed revisions to the job description, including updates to the relevant qualifying degree fields, allow ing a one year period to obtain the appropriate inspection certifications, and the retitling of the position as Facilities and Maintenance Manager. The revisions do not change the overall scope or nature of the position. Commissioner Thompson made a motion to revise the job description as requested and to change the title of the position to Facilities and Maintenance Manager . The revised minimum qualifications and special requirements will read as follows: “MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college or university with a Bachelor's Degree in Facilities or Building Management, Building Construction Technology, Engineering, Engineering Technology, or a closely related Civil Service Commission February 19, 2020 Page 4 field, and two (2) years of full-time paid experience, or its part-time paid equivalent, supervising custodial, maintenance or building trades personnel; or B. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered two year college with an Associate's Degree in Building Management, Construction Technology or a related field and four (4) years of full-time paid experience, or its part-time paid equiv alent, in the design, construction, maintenance, repair or inspection of buildings, related facilities or structural construction projects, at least two (2) years of which must have involved the supervision of custodial, maintenance or building trades personnel; or C. Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and six (6) years of full-time paid experience, or its part-time paid equivalent, in the design, construction, maintenance, repair or inspection of buildings, related facilities or structural construction projects, at least two (2) years of which must have involved the supervision of custodial, maintenance or building trades personnel; or D. An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A), (B) and (C) above. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: 1. Possession of a valid New York State Class D driver license or a valid driver license equivalent to a New York State Class D driver license at the time of appointment and maintenance of said license for the duration of employment. 2. Candidates must obtain a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspector certification and Uniform Physical Condition Standards (U PCS) Inspector certification issued in accordance with United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations within twelve (12) months of appointment and must maintain said certifications for the duration of employment.” Seconded by Commissioner Abrams. Motion carried 3-0. New Position Duties Statement: Ithaca Housing Authority – Facilities and Maintenance Manager The Commission reviewed and discussed a New Position Duties Statement from the Ithaca Housing Authority . Commissioner Thompson made a motion to classify the position as Facilities and Maintenance Manager. Seconded by Commissioner Abrams. Motion carried 3-0. Update of Job Description: Housing Inspector (Ithaca Housing Authority) The Commission reviewed proposed updates to the Housing Inspector (Ithaca Housing Authority) job description, including allowing a one year period to obtain the appropriate inspection certifications. The updates do not change the overall scope or nature of the position. Commissioner Abrams made a motion to update the Housing Inspector (Ithaca Civil Service Commission February 19, 2020 Page 5 Housing Authority) job description as proposed. The revised special requirements will read as follows: “SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS: 1. Possession of a valid New York State Class D driver license or a valid driver license equivalent to a New York State Class D driver license at the time of appointment and maintenance of said license for the duration of employment. 2. Candidates must obtain a Housing Quality Standards (HQS) Inspector certification and Uniform Physical Condition Standards (U PCS) Inspector certification issued in accordance with United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) regulations within twelve (12) months of appointment and must maintain said certifications for the duration of employment.” Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. Motion carried 3-0. Change in Title, Update of Job Description and Revision of Minimum Qualifications : Director of Housing Operations to Operations Manager The position of Director of Housing Operations is being brought back into use at the Ithaca Housing Authority. The Commission reviewed and discussed proposed revisions to the job description, including updates to the relevant qualifying degree fields and the retitling of the position as Operations Manager. The revisions do not change the overall scope or nature of the position. Commissioner Abrams made a motion to revise the job description as requested and to change the title of the position to Operations Manager. The revised minimum qualifications will read as follows: “MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: A. Graduation from a regionally accredited or NYS registered four-year college with a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Education, Public Administration, Business Administration, Operations Management, Public Policy or a closely related field with similar course curriculum and three (3) years of full-time paid experience, or its part-time equivalent, working in a federal or state housing program or agency; or B. Graduation from a regionally accredited or NYS registered two-year college with an Associate’s degree in Human Services, Psychology, Sociology, Education, Public Administration, Business Administration, Operations Management, Public Policy or a closely related field with similar course curriculum and five (5) years of full-time paid experience, or its part-time equivalent, working in a federal or state housing program or agency; or C. Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and sev en (7) years of full-time paid experience, or its part-time equivalent, working in a federal or state housing program or agency; or Civil Service Commission February 19, 2020 Page 6 D. An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A), (B) and (C) above.” Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. Motion carried 3-0. Approval of Annual Report The Commission reviewed and discussed the 2019 Annual Report to the N ew York State Department of Civil Service. Commissioner Richardson made a motion to approve the annual report. Seconded by Commissioner Abrams. Motion carried 3-0. EXECUTIVE SESSION Commissioner Richardson made a motion to go into executive session to discuss civil service examination matters. Seconded by Commissioner Abrams. Motion carried 3-0. During executive session, the Commission took the following actions: CONTINUING BUSINESS Approval of Rosters of Candidates for Examination Commissioner Abrams made a motion to approve the Rosters of Candidates for Examination listed below. Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. Motion carried 3-0. Recreation Program Coordinator #64-162 Recreation Program Leader #60-507 School Lunch Director #67-863 Addition of Candidates to Continuous Recruitment Eligible Lists Commissioner Thompson m ade a motion to add candidates to the continuous recruitment eligible lists. Seconded by Commissioner Abrams. Motion carried 3-0. Approval of Personnel Transactions Commissioner Thompson made a motion to approve the monthly personnel transactions . Seconded by Commissioner Abrams. Motion carried 3-0. The next Civil Service Commission meeting will be held Wednesday, April 1, 2020 at 11:30 am. With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:20 pm.