2014-10-01 Civil Service Commission MinutesEDMONDS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
MINUTES
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING
Regularly Called Meeting
October 1, 2014
Commissioners present: David Bracilano, Chair
H. Scott McEwen
Michael Shimer
Others present: Chief of Police Al Compaan
City Attorney Sharon Cates
Secretary & Chief Examiner Mary Ann Hardie
CALL TO ORDER
Chair David Bracilano called the meeting to order at 7:01 pm.
MINUTES
Chair Bracilano made a motion to approve the meeting minutes of 4/2/14. Commissioner Shimer seconded the motion
The motion carried.
Commissioner H. Scott McEwen made a motion to approve the meeting minutes of 6/11/14. Chair Bracilano seconded
the motion. The motion carried.
Commissioner McEwen made a motion to approve the 8/20/14 meeting minutes. Commissioner Shimer seconded the
motion. The motion carried.
hair Bracilano made a motion to approve the 9/3/14 meeting minutes. Commissioner Shimer seconded the motion. The
motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE
None
POLICE BUSINESS
Review and approval of the Lateral: Level Police Officer Eligibility List
Chief of Police Al Compaan explained that one candidate had been added to the eligibility list. Commissioner Shimer
made a motion to approve the Lateral Level Police Officer Eligibility List. Chair Bracilano seconded the motion. The
motion carried.
Rev iew/Discussion/Avorovai of proposed amendment/clarification to the Civil Service Rules regarding vision standards for
Police Officers.
Chief Compaan stated that prior to the meeting, he had reached out to Chair Bracilano to discuss this issue and had
asked City Attorney Sharon Cates to provide information and background for the Commission on this issue. Chief
Compaan stated that, in his opinion, it was time to look at the vision standard and update the language in the Civil Service
Rules and Regulations.
Ms. Cates stated that the current standards (under "Exhibit B — Minimum Qualifications for Police Officer Edmonds Police
Department' reads as follows:
MINIMUM AGE: Must be at least 21 years of age at time of appointment.
EDUCATION: A graduate of an accredited high school or the equivalent with a certificate of proof
rXPERIENCE: Previous experience not required.
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, OR SKILLS: Good social and general intelligence; medical and physical well -being -
fitness to be out of doors under adverse conditions; ability to treat the public with courtesy, but when occasion demands
with firmness; aptitude for Police Department work; tact, good character and ability to carry out complex directions and
assignments of a superior officer.
HEALTH: Must be able to pass a medical examination the standards of which shall be not less than the Minimum Medical
and Health Standards of the Washington State Law Enforcement Officers and Firefighters Retirement System which were
in effect June 30, 1979.
Ms. Cates further explained that the new standards being presented for review and approval before the Commission were
based on the current Washington State Patrol (WSP) and American College of Environmental Occupational Medicine
(ACEOM) vision standard language and that other cities (agencies) have been using the WSP standards. The proposed
update to the standard is as follows (as underlined below):
MINIMUM AGE: Must be at least 21 years of age at time of appointment.
EDUCATION: A graduate of an accredited high school or the equivalent with a certificate of proof
EXPERIENCE: Previous experience not required.
SPECIAL KNOWLEDGE, ABILITIES, OR SKILLS: Good social and general intelligence;
medical and physical well-being; fitness to be out of doors under adverse conditions; ability to
treat the public with courtesy, but when occasion demands with firmness; aptitude for Police
Department work; tact, good character and ability to carry out complex directions and
assignments of a superior officer.
HEALTH Must be able to pass a medical examination the standards of which shall be not less than the
Minimum Medical and Health Standards of the Washington State Law Enforcement Officers and
Firefighters Retirement System which were in effect June 30, 1979, with the exception of the
vision standards set forth therein. Instead, the vision standards forpolice officers shall be those
set forth in Section 4.5 ("Eves and Vision") of the American College of Occupational and
Environmental Medicine's Guidance for the Medical Evaluation of Law Enforcement Officers, as
they are currently stated or are hereafter amended. The 2014 version of these standards are
attached hereto as Appendix A.
Law enforcement officer candidates who are being evaluated for employment with the Edmonds
Police Department who meet the vision standards through the use of soft contact lenses will be
asked to present satisfactory medical evidence from their private optometrist or ophthalmologist
documenting that they have been a successful wearer of soft contact lenses for one ( 1) year prior
to the medical examination given by the City of Edmonds. Such documentation must also
indicate if they have any medical contraindications to wearing soft contact lenses._ In addition,
such candidates will be required, as a condition of employment —to _sign a pre -employment
agreement obligating them to wear soft contact lenses at all times while on duty, except when
authorized by the Edmonds Police Department. Such use of soft contact lenses will be submei ct to
verification by the City of Edmonds and to such medical eye examinations as deemed necessary
in the sole judgment of the Cit
Ms. Cates further explained that, under the Washington Administrative Code (WAC) standards (taking effect 6/30/79), that
there is a requirement for 20/20 visual acuity for Police Officers. The new language proposed before the Commission
would allow for the department to hire Police Officers who wear contact lenses to correct their vision to meet the standard,
as contact lenses as soft lenses are not easily dislodged during altercations or physical activities [that Police Officers may
become involved in on duty].
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Ms. Cates further explained that it appears that there are other agencies that are currently requiring [an even] lower
standard of visual acuity that also use an employment agreement [given at the time of hire] that the Police Officer will
wear their [contact] lenses at all times on duty and will also provide verification to the department that they have worn
them for a year prior to the start of employment. Ms. Cates further stated that she had also been in contact with the WSP
and DRS regarding this issue as the current standards appear to only relate to LEOFF 1 employees. Ms. Cates
iggested that this standard be not only considered but also adopted by the Commission.
There was a short discussion that followed by the Commission. Chief Compaan stated that he believed that as there are
two other independent bodies (including WSP) that had adopted the ACEOM standards and that this was a defensible
standard. Chief Compaan further stated that there was an excellent entry level candidate on the eligibility list that the
department would like to provide a conditional offer of employment to if this updated vision standard is approved by the
Commission. After further discussion by the Commission, Chair Bracilano made a motion to adopt the updated vision
standard as proposed (above), which was drafted by Ms. Cates. Commissioner Shimer seconded the motion. The motion
carried.
Resignation of Officer Nat Rossi
Chief Compaan stated that Officer Nathaniel Rossi resigned from his position as Police Officer effective 10/1/14.Chief
Compaan further stated that there is one new hire (Nicholas Haughian) who is starting on 11/3/14 and two candidates in
the background check process and that the [entry level] commissioned positions were fully staffed.
NEW BUSINESS
None.
OTHER
The meeting adjourned at 7:30 pm
H. Scott McEwen. Commissioner Date
Mary Ann Hardie, Secretary and Chief Examiner Date