HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CS-2018-02-28CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Regular Meeting
February 28, 2018
Commissioners Present: Commissioner Richardson
Commissioner Abrams
Commissioner Thompson
Staff Present: Valerie Saul (Deputy Director of Human Resources)
Commissioner Richardson called the meeting to order at 11:45 am.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Commissioner Richardson made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 10,
2018 meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Abrams. Motion carried 3-0.
NEW BUSINESS
Update of Job Description: Planner
The Commission reviewed proposed updates to the Planner job description. The updates
reflect current Planning Department work activities; they do not change the overall scope
or nature of the position. Commissioner Abrams made a motion to update the Planner job
description as proposed. Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. Motion carried 3-0.
New Position Duties Statement: Planning – Planner (2 positions)
The Commission reviewed and discussed a New Position Duties Statement from the
Planning Department for two new positions. Commissioner Abrams made a motion to
classify both positions as Planners. Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. Motion
carried 3-0.
Residency Requirement for Planner Positions
The Human Resources Department is continuing its review of specialized positions for
which it is advisable to permanently expand or waive residency requirements due to a
consistent need for residency waivers over the past decade. The Planning Department
has requested that there be no residency requirement for its Planner positions and, based
on past recruitment efforts, the Human Resources Department supports this request.
Commissioner Abrams made a motion to permanently waive the residency requirement for
all levels and specializations of Planner positions. Seconded by Commissioner
Thompson. Motion carried 3-0.
Change in Title and Update of Job Description: Working Supervisor – Building and
Grounds to Working Supervisor – Building Services
The position of Working Supervisor – Building and Grounds is being brought back into use
after several years of dormancy. The Commission reviewed and discussed proposed
updates to the job description, including changing the title to Working Supervisor –
Building Services to reflect the focus of the position on buildings and facilities, rather than
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exterior grounds. The updates do not change the overall scope or nature of the position.
A continuation of non-competitive class status will be sought. Commissioner Abrams
made a motion to update the job description as requested and to change the title of the
position to Working Supervisor – Building Services. Seconded by Commissioner
Thompson. Motion carried 3-0.
Authorization to Direct Public Hearing: Deletion of Working Supervisors – Building
and Grounds from the Non-Competitive Class and Addition of Working Supervisors
– Building Services to the Non-Competitive Class
Commissioner Abrams made a motion to direct a public hearing for Wednesday, April 4,
2018 at 11:30 am for the purpose of amending Appendix B – Non-Competitive Positions of
the City of Ithaca Civil Service Rules by deleting the title of Working Supervisors – Building
and Grounds from the non-competitive class and adding the title of Working Supervisors –
Building Services to the non-competitive class. Seconded by Commissioner Thompson.
Motion carried 3-0.
New Position Duties Statement: DPW – Working Supervisor – Building Services
The Commission reviewed and discussed a New Position Duties Statement from the
Department of Public Works. Commissioner Abrams made a motion to classify the
position as Working Supervisor – Building Services. Seconded by Commissioner
Thompson. Motion carried 3-0.
Addition of Driver License Requirement to Wastewater Treatment Plant Positions
The Commission reviewed and discussed the proposed addition of a NYS Class D driver
license requirement to the Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee, Wastewater
Treatment Plant Operator, Senior Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, Assistant Chief
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator and Chief Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator
job descriptions. The positions require the periodic operation of a City vehicle to travel
between different work sites. Commissioner Thompson made a motion to add the
following special requirement to the Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator Trainee,
Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator, Senior Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator,
Assistant Chief Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator and Chief Wastewater Treatment
Plant Operator job descriptions:
“SPECIAL REQUIREMENT: 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.”
Seconded by Commissioner Abrams. Motion carried 3-0.
Revision of Job Description and Minimum Qualifications – Director of Parking
The Commission reviewed and discussed proposed updates to the Director of Parking job
description. The updates reflect added responsibility for managing and supervising the
maintenance of the Ithaca Commons. The revised minimum qualifications broaden the
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February 28, 2018
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qualifying academic degree fields and qualifying experience to include all types of public
works management backgrounds. The minimum qualifications are proposed to read as
follows:
“MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
A. Graduation from a New York State registered or regionally accredited college or
university with a Bachelor’s Degree in public administration, business
administration, management, engineering, architecture, municipal or regional
planning, urban planning, or a closely related field with similar course curriculum
and four (4) years of full-time paid experience, or its part-time paid equivalent, in
the management of public works programs or projects, at least two (2) years of
which must have been in a supervisory capacity;
B. Graduation from a New York State registered or regionally accredited two-year
college with an Associate’s Degree in public administration, business
administration, management, engineering, architecture, municipal or regional
planning, urban planning, or a closely related field with similar course curriculum
and six (6) years of full-time paid experience, or its part-time paid equivalent, in the
management of public works programs or projects, at least two (2) years of which
must have been in a supervisory capacity;
C. An equivalent combination of training and experience as defined by the limits of (A)
and (B) above. Please note that this means that the minimum academic
requirement is at least an Associate’s Degree in one of the designated fields, and
the minimum experiential requirement is at least four (4) years of experience in
public works program or project management, at least two (2) years of which must
have been supervisory experience.”
Commissioner Thompson made a motion to adopt the proposed updates and to revise the
minimum qualifications as proposed. Seconded by Commissioner Richardson. Motion
carried 3-0.
Update of Job Description, including Minimum Qualifications and Special
Requirements – Assistant Chief Water Treatment Plant Operator
The position of Assistant Chief Water Treatment Plant Operator is being brought back into
use after several years of dormancy. The Commission reviewed and discussed proposed
updates to the job description. The updates do not change the overall scope or nature of
the position. The minimum qualifications are also being revised to reflect current licensing
requirements, and a NYS Class D driver license requirement is being added.
Commissioner Richardson made a motion to revise the Assistant Chief Water Treatment
Plant Operator job description as proposed. 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 Environmental Science, Engineering, Natural
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Resource Management or a closely related field with similar course curriculum, and
one (1) year of full-time paid experience, or its part-time paid equivalent, in the
operation of a Type IA water treatment plant with facilities for filtration with
pretreatment, chemical softening, or any similar process; or
B. Graduation from a regionally accredited or New York State registered college with an
Associate's Degree in Water/Wastewater Technology, Environmental Science,
Engineering Technology, physical sciences, chemistry, biological sciences, life
sciences or a closely related field with similar course curriculum, and three (3) years
of full-time paid experience, or its part-time paid equivalent, in the operation of a Type
IA water treatment plant with facilities for filtration with pretreatment, chemical
softening, or any similar process; or
C. Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma and
ten (10) years of full-time paid experience, or its part-time paid equivalent, in the
operation of a water treatment plant, at least two (2) years of which was at a Type IA
water treatment plant with facilities for filtration with pretreatment, a chemical
softening, or any similar process.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. Possession of a current Grade IA Water Treatment Plant Operator certificate issued
by the New York State Department of Health pursuant to Part 5, Subpart 5-4.2 of the
New York State Sanitary Code at the time of appointment and maintenance of said
certification for the duration of employment.
2. 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.”
Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. Motion carried 3-0.
Update of Job Description, including Minimum Qualifications and Special
Requirements – Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator
With the re-establishment of the Assistant Chief Water Treatment Plant Operator position,
the Senior Water Treatment Plant Operator title will no longer be directly responsible for
assisting with the overall supervision and oversight of the Water Treatment Plant. The
position will have reduced supervisory responsibilities, and greater focus on specialized
plant activities. The Commission reviewed and discussed proposed updates to the job
description that reflect these changes. The minimum qualifications are also being revised
to reflect current licensing requirements, a NYS Class D driver license requirement is
being added, and the Operator license is being downgraded from a IA certification to a IIA
certification. Commissioner Richardson made a motion to revise the Senior Water
Treatment Plant Operator job description as proposed. The revised minimum
qualifications and special requirements will read as follows:
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February 28, 2018
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“MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:
A. Graduation from a NYS registered or regionally accredited college or university
with a Bachelor's Degree in Environmental Science, Engineering, Natural
Resource Management or a closely related field with similar course curriculum,
and one (1) year of full-time paid experience, or its part-time paid equivalent, in
the operation of a Type IA water treatment plant; or
B. Graduation from a NYS registered or regionally accredited college with an
Associate's Degree in Water/Wastewater Technology, Environmental Science,
Engineering Technology, physical sciences, chemistry, biological sciences, life
sciences or a closely related field with similar course curriculum, and three (3)
years of full-time paid experience, or its part-time paid equivalent, in the operation
of a water treatment plant, at least one of which was at a Type IA water treatment
plant; or
C. Graduation from high school or possession of a high school equivalency diploma
and five (5) years of full-time paid experience, or its part-time paid equivalent, in
the operation of a water treatment plant, at least one of which was at a Type IA
water treatment plant.
SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS:
1. Possession of a current Grade IIA Water Treatment Plant Operator certificate
issued by the New York State Department of Health pursuant to Part 5, Subpart
5-4.2 of the New York State Sanitary Code at the time of appointment and
maintenance of said certification for the duration of employment.
2. 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.”
Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. Motion carried 3-0.
New Position Duties Statement: DPW – Assistant Chief Water Treatment Plant
Operator
The Commission reviewed and discussed a New Position Duties Statement from the
Department of Public Works. Commissioner Richardson made a motion to classify the
position as Assistant Chief Water Treatment Plant Operator. Seconded by Commissioner
Thompson. Motion carried 3-0.
Request to Expand Residency Requirement – Forestry Technician
The Commission discussed a request to expand the residency requirement for the
Forestry Technician position to New York State. The current recruitment effort has not
yielded an adequate candidate pool in the local area, due to the specialized qualifications.
Commissioner Thompson made a motion to expand the residency requirement for the
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February 28, 2018
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Forestry Technician position to New York State. This expanded New York State residency
requirement will be permanent. Seconded by Commissioner Abrams. Motion carried 3-0.
Approval of Annual Report
The Commission reviewed and discussed the 2017 Annual Report to the New York State
Department of Civil Service. Commissioner Richardson made a motion to approve the
annual report. Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. 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.
Executive Assistant #64-583
Financial Management Assistant #65-807
Police Chief #79-134
Recreation Program Coordinator #77-755
Technical Assistant for Fine and Performing Arts #68-570
Establishment of Eligible Lists
Commissioner Abrams made a motion to establish the eligible lists specified below for the
time period indicated. Seconded by Commissioner Thompson. Motion carried 3-0.
Information Management Specialist #78-548 (1 year)
Occupational Therapist #2018-2 (1 year)
Sidewalk Program Manager #69-885 (1 year)
Approval of Personnel Transactions
Commissioner Abrams made a motion to approve the Personnel Transactions. Seconded
by Commissioner Thompson. Motion carried 3-0.
The next Civil Service Commission meeting will be held Wednesday, April 4, 2018 at
11:30 am.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 1:10 pm.