2020-11-04 Civil Service Commission MinutesEDPWONDS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
MINUTES
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING
Regularly Called Meeting
November 4, 2020
Commissioners present: Mike Fields
Norm Davis
Others present: Professional Standards Sergeant, Josh McClure
Assistant Police Chief, Don Anderson
Secretary and Chief Examiner, Jessica Neill Hoyson
1. CALL TO ORDER
Chair Mike Fields called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
2 CG!!"(:u
Secretary and Chief Examiner, Jessica Neill Hoyson confirmed that there was no correspondence to review.
4. A1212royal of meeting minutes — 7/1/2020
Chair fields made a note that, due to a technical issue with the Zoom recording conversion function, no minutes
were available to be approved for the previous meeting that took place on 7/1/2020.
POLICE BUSINESS
a.i. Review/Approval of the Academy Certified Eligibility List
Chair Fields Inquired about the current state of staffing in the department regarding vacancies, expected hires
and 2021-2022 budget expectations. Sergeant Josh McClure responded that the department currently has two
vacancies due to retirements that will not be actively filled at this time due to the "freezing" of two positions going
into 2021. Sergeant McClure explained that the forecast between now and February 2021 is four to six positions.
Sergeant MCCIUre explained that while the two current vacancies are not being actively recruited at this time,
the department Is considering lateral and Academy Certified candidates due to the potential cost savings and
that any potential hires would not be brought on till the freeze is lifted.
Sergeant McClure indicated that the City has not done any entry level processes since about May of 2020 due
to COVID restrictions and other factors. Chair Fields asked about budgetary expectations for 2021-2022.
Sergeant McClure explained that besides the two frozen positions the budget process is not yet completed, and
there was no further information available. Assistant Chief Don Anderson clarified that the City prepares an
annual budget and while the department is freezing two positions, they are not lost, but not being filled at this
time.
Chair Fields asked about the three candidates on the Academy Certified list. Sergeant McClure confirmed that
-� the three candidates had been tested over the spring and summer of 2020 and were evaluated through their
personal history statements, a couple moved to further assessment and while not determined to be disqualified,
they have been screened out for not being most competitive. Sergeant McClure added that while they remain
on the list, the City has no plans to move forward with any of them.
Commissioner Davis made a motion to approve/certify the Academy Certified Eligibility list dated
10/27/2020. Chair Fields seconded the motion. The motion carried.
a-il. Review/ARproval of the Lateral Level Police Eligibility List
Sergeant McClure Indicated there was a typo under "expires" that should say 3/2212021. Sergeant McClure
explained that this candidate is currently at another agency and still would like to move forward but due to
personal circumstances lie will remain on the list for 6 months and we may move forward with him during that
time.
Commissioner Davis made a motion to approve/certify the Lateral Level Certified Eligibility list dated
10/27/2020. Chair Fields seconded the motion. The motion carried.
a-ili: ReviewlApRroval of the Sergeant Eligibility List
Assistant Police Chief Don Anderson explained that when there is a sergeant opening the department runs a
promotional process for Sergeant, posting the promotional announcement on April 22, 2020. Assistant Chief
Anderson continued to explain that these processes d❑ not typically take this long but due to many factors,
including COVI❑ there was a substantial delay. Assistant Chief Anderson summarized the requirements to be
promoted to a Sergeant's position within the City of Edmonds. Assistant Chief Anderson explained that a letter
of interest and a resume was required to be submitted to HR by .tune 19, 2020 and the City received five
applicants who's names appear on the current Sergeant Eligibility List. Assistant Chief Anderson Indicated that
the process consisted of the following: A written exam, evaluation of the last two years of employment reviews,
and a full one -day assessment center. Assistant Chief Anderson further explained that a candidate orientation
and written exam were conducted on June 25, 2020 and all five candidates passed the written exam, Assistant
Chief Anderson explained that the assessment center was originally scheduled to take place in July 2020 at City
Hall but due to COVID restrictions it was rescheduled at an alternate location on October 28, 2020. Assistant
Chief Anderson explained that the assessment center was conducted with the help of Public Safety Testing and
consisted of four different exercises evaluating the following job dimensions: Oral Communication, Written
Communications, Interpersonal Insight, Problem Analysis. Judgement, Decisiveness, Planning and
Organization, and Delegation and Control. Assistant Chief Anderson concluded that all the candidates preformed
very well, and that the list includes their overall score from the testing process; the written test was weighted at
10%, the performance review evaluation was weighted at 10% and the assessment center was weighted at 80%.
Chair Fields asked if the weighting of the testing components was spoken to in the union contract. Assistant
Chief Anderson responded that it was not and that came from past practices. Chair Fields asked if veterans
preference was included as a component in the scoring. Assistant Chief Anderson responded that it was not part
of the promotional process and that candidates typically use veteran's preference points when they are initially
hired and those points can only be used once.
Commissioner Davis made a motion to approve/certify the Sergeant Eligibility List dated 10/27/2020.
Chair Fields seconded the motion. The motion carried.
b-l. Discussion only of the Entry Level Police Eligibility List
Sergeant McClure explained that all the names that had been on this list were now expired or had been hired.
Sergeant McClure continued that any next process will be all new names and he expects to hold a new proc:e.�;�;
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sometime after the first of the new year, after it is better known how many retirements and true vacancies the
department has.
NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner Davis asked of the Commission anticipated needing a meeting in December 2020. The
Commission members agreed that a December meeting would not be needed.
Chair Fields adjourned the meeting at 6:11 PM.
Chair Mike Fields Da e
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Qii• of Edmonds Secretary and Chief Exam ner Date