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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CIV-1987-12-09 234 , cz c !✓ SPECIAL MEETING y. ' ` December 9, 1987 Present: Commiwi,6tper--Ra rfuv is, Commissioner Cooper, Executive Secretary Pezdek William ,'Vice President C.S.E.A. Administrative Unit, David Livingstone, President C.S.E.A. Labor Unit, John DeBell , Senior Engineering Aide, Peter Jager, Engineering Technician, Neil Bieberich, Senior Engineering Aide, Arthur Santora, Senior Engineering Aide, John Dougherty, Superintendent of Public Works, William Gray, City Engineer, William S. Baker, Personnel Administrator. The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Cooper at 4:05 P.M. Commissioner Cooper welcomed everyone and stated: "What we would like to do is to open the floor for any additional comments on the re-classification of the Senior Engineering Aides and for anyone not having had an opportunity to speak. " Mr. Gray: "I have a question. Originally the question was to re-class the positions, was there a title which would reflect the work?" Commissioner Bantuvanis: "Based on the questionnaires and the job specifications given to us by Albany we had. They were done on the basis of the questionnaires. " Mr. Gray: A lot of this precedes me. I don't know where Engineering Technician came from. Does the desire to call Senior Engineering Aides Engineering Technicians mean calling a rose by another name.?" There was discussion and clarification on where the Engineering Technician Specificat- ions came from. Mr. Gray: "I have read the two titles. They are not so distinct. It was not immediately obvious to me what was being attempted. " Mr. Dougherty: " I would like to agree . There is supposed to be a difference between Engineering Technician and Senior Engineering Aides. " Commissioner Bantuvanis: "In title?" Mr. Dougherty: "Is there a difference in the level of skill ?" Mr. Jager: "That's why the State recommended the change. " Commissioner Bantuvanis: "Any other questions?" Mr. Jager: "Going back to 1972, every boss I had tried to raise my job and salary. It started with Junior Engineer. I took that test but nothing happened. The test I took was for blocks and black top. I am water and sanitary work. To take that type of test doesn't make sense. " Commissioner Bantuvanis: "Your present title doesn 't apply?" Mr. Jager: I have read the state parks department specifications for Sanitary Engineering Technician and it is more applicable to my situation and that of my co-workers at Water and Sewer. " Commissioner Bantuvanis: "Are you implying .' 'working out-of-title?" S r�� • Mr. Jager: "If the test doesn't fit the job something is wrong. " Commissioner Bantuvanis : "Who is your immediate supervisor?" Mr. Jager: "Walt Happel . " Commissioner Cooper: "Are you saying that there are two distinct groups?" Mr. Santora: "Yes. We have two groups. One in Water and Sewer and those working here up town. That's the difference. The State has different levels. I agree with Pete that to test for the same thing is unfair. " Commissioner Cooper: Bob, when the re-classification survey was done was there a difference noted between the two groups?" Mr. Pezdek: "No. " Mr. Bieberich: Mr. Ciprioni , I believe, at the time of the interviews noted a difference. " Commissioner Bantuvanis: "Any other questions?" Commissioner Cooper stated that she wished to discuss the matter of the re-classificat ion of the three Senior Engineering Aides with Commissioner Bantuvanis because she did not have an opportunity to do so prior to the meeting and wished for the Commission to do into executive session. Mr. Dougherty asked if it were legal for the Commission to go into executive session under the open meetings law. Mr. Pezdek replied that it was. Commissioner Bantuvanis moved: "That the City of Ithaca Civil Service Commission would now go into executive session to discuss the re-classification of the three Senior Engineering Aides. " Seconded by Commissioner Cooper. The Commission voted. Motion carried. All present except the two Civil Service Commissioners left the room. At approximately 5:10 P.M. Executive Secretary Pezdek was called back into the Conference Room by Commissioner Cooper. During the executive session the Commissioners compared the Job Classification - Questionnaires prepared in 1985 and those done last week by the individuals in the positions of Senior Engineering Aides, and the two for the individuals who were provisionally appointed to the position of Engineering Technician. They noted that the jobs which the individuals were performing had changed very little. There was a very small percentage of change in the duties. The Commission also discussed how the re-classification would result in a promotion for the three Senior Engineerinc_ Aides if approved. The Commission then notified the waiting individuals that it was ready to come out of executive session, and awaited their return to the conference room. Commissioner Cooper moved that the City of Ithaca Civil Service Commission come out of executive session. Seconded by Commissioner Bantuvanis. The Commission voted. Motion carried. 236 Mr. Santora Stated: "Based on the fact you had a few minutes with Jack Dougherty before you went into executive session, do you have any questions of us?" Commissioner Bantuvanis: "What I asked Mr. Dougherty was a question on what had been written on one of the Job Classification Questionnaires. It was for purposes of clarification of something I didn't understand. " Commissioner Cooper: "Based on the Job Classification Questionnaires that came back now and comparing them to those done in 1985, we have found that the per centage of time for the various duties have changed very little, and that the duties being performed then are being performed now. We are in agreement that the three Senior Engineering Aides are working out of title. We did not look at the names of the individuals on the forms but rather only at the duties being performed. " Commissioner Bantuvanis moved: I move that the present three Senior Engineering Aide positions be re-classified as Engineering Technicians and that these positions be placed in the competitive class. Seconded by Commissioner Cooper. Commissioner Bantuvanis then asked for discussion. Mr. Santora: "People are using Senior Engineering Aide and Engineering Aide interchangeably. Engineering Aide was dropped out of the budget some time ago and thus Engineering Aide is no longer used. " Commissioner Bantuvanis: "All are Senior Engineering Aides on the Questionnaires ." The Commission then voted. Motion carried. Commissioner Cooper: "Based on the comments earlier in the meeting on Engineering Technicians , and the differing duties between the two groups, we believe that the Engineering Technicians should be divided. We now recognize that the Water and Sewer group should not be taking the same examination as those Engineering Technicians in City Hall . " Commissioner Cooper then moved that the City of Ithaca Civil Service Commission will work to develop a position specification for Engineering Technician for Water and Sewer and that the present specification will be used for the other Engineering Technicians not employed in the Water and Sewer Division of the Department of Public Works. " Seconded by Commissioner Bantuvanis. The Commission voted. Motion carried. There was general discussion at this point in the meeting. Mr. William R. Baker: "You have decided to move them over to Engineering Technician. How does it relate to the test? Will they have to take a test?" Commissioner Bantuvanis: "I don't see why they should have to. " Commissioner Cooper: "Should another position open then there would be a test. " Mr. Santora: "A provisional has been appointed. " Mr. William R. Baker: "I was referring to Mr. Ciprioni 's letter in which he stated that there would be no test if all five were moved to Engineering Technician." The Commission agreed_ _ and then there was a discussion on testing. Albany -the State Commission is to be notified that the promotional examination for Engineering Technician; is to be cancelled. 237 LIFTING FROM THE TABLE OF THE NEW POSITION DUTIES STATEMENT FOR AN ENGINEERING TECHNICIAN Commissioner Cooper moved to lift from the table the New Position Duties Statement for an Engineering Technician position. Seconded by Commissioner Bantuvanis. The Commission voted. Motion carried. The Commission reviewed the New Position Duties Statement for the Engineering Technician position - the sixth and discussed the background of the request, as well as, reviewing the accompanying memorandum from City Engineer Gray. Commissioner Cooper then moved that the New Position Duties Statement for Engineering Technician be approved. Seconded by Commissioner Bantuvanis. The Commission voted. Motion carried. Commissioner Cooper adjourned the meeting at 5:30 P.M. ATTEST: December 9, 1987 Ann Bantuvanis , Commissioner Audrey J. Cooper, Commissioner Robert V. Pezdek, Executive Secretary