2015-12-02 Civil Service Commission MinutesEDMONDS CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
MINUTES
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION MEETING
Regularly Called Meeting
December 2, 2015
Commissioners present: H. Scott McEwen, Chair
Mike Fields
Norm Davis
Commissioners absent:
Others present: Assistant Chief of Police Jim Lawless
Secretary & Chief Examiner Mary Ann Hardie
Police Corporal Mark Froland
Police Officer Alan Hardwick
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Scott McEwen called the meeting to order at 7:02 pm. Chair McEwen welcomed new Commissioner Norm Davis
to the commission and invited him to introduce himself. Commissioner Davis explained that he had lived in Alabama
and works/worked in Human Services.
MINUTES
Chair H. Scott McEwen made a motion to approve the September 9, 2015 meeting minutes. Commissioner
Mike Fields seconded the motion. The motion carried.
CORRESPONDENCE
Request to extend the current Police Sergeant Eligibility List (expiring 2/11/15) for a one year period (as requested by
Police Corporal Mark Froland and Police Officer Alan Hardwick). Commissioner Fields inquired as to what the history
has been with renewing eligibility lists in the past. Chair McEwen explained that [such requests have come before the
commission and] eligibility lists have been renewed [by the commission] previously. Secretary & Chief Examiner Mary
Ann Hardie confirmed that these eligibility lists have been renewed as there is no continuous testing process and
eligibility list for this process for Police Corporal and Police Sergeant (as this process is cost -prohibitive) although there
may be discussion in the future with the commission about this.
Corporal Froland explained that he was respectfully requesting the extension of the list for a one year period from the
date of expiration, also in consideration of the administrative burden (to the department) and the cost. Commissioner
Fields inquired as to how many sergeants there were currently. Assistant Chief of Police (ACOP) Jim Lawless stated
that there were 8-9 with one potential vacancy and that, as Ms. Hardie stated, there is not continuous testing process
for this position.
There was some discussion that followed by the Commission as to the expense involved with the Assessment Center
process and what services the City receives for the cost of the Assessment Center (including a candidate briefing and
personality profile for each candidate) which is helpful to the candidates. Commissioner Davis inquired as to whether
or not the eligibility list score contained both oral and written scores. ACOP Lawless confirmed that they did.
Commissioner Fields made a motion to extend the Sergeant Eligibility List for a one year period from the date
of the expiration of the current list. Chair McEwen seconded the motion. The motion carried.
POLICE BUSINESS
Review and Approval of Entry Level Police Officer Eligibility List
ACOP Lawless explained that there are a lot of tenured officers and younger officers in the department and that there
have been 4-6 openings for officer positions, with 53 sworn officers (including command staff). ACOP Lawless
provided an update to the commission that candidate Nathaniel Bickley (currently on the list) was interviewed and an
offer of employment would likely be extended to him. Chair McEwen asked ACOP Lawless to explain (for
Commissioner Davis' benefit) a little about the application process for entry level police officers. ACOP Lawless
explained that the City uses Public Safety Testing (PST) and that many of the candidates at PST apply to 10-15
agencies and that the job market (including with other agencies) in the recent past has been competitive. As of late,
there have been many very good candidates applying for openings. Commissioner Fields inquired as to what may be
attributing to this and if it was specific to [a change] in the recruitment process. ACOP Lawless stated that Sergeant
Josh McClure, the Professional Standards Sergeant, is handling the recruitment process and has done an excellent
job with this. He has been using social media and other less used mediums, such as Facebook and recruitment
videos, recruiting posters now, etc.
There was further discussion that followed by the Commission regarding department vacancies and the entry level
police officer starting pay. Chair McEwen inquired about minimum staffing levels. ACOP Lawless confirmed that there
are, but that injuries, leaves, vacation schedules and sickness affected those staffing levels.
Commissioner Davis made a motion to approve the Entry Level Police Officer Eligibility List. Commissioner
Fields seconded the motion. The motion carried.
Review and Approval of Lateral Level Police Officer Eligibility List
ACOP Lawless explained that there have not been many viable candidates for this list. Recently, the department hired
a lateral level candidate (Julie Burrell) in the last month and there is another candidate who has been extended a
conditional offer of employment (Sierra Jensen). Chair McEwen inquired as to whether or not there was a restriction
on choosing candidates in a certain order from the eligibility list(s). ACOP Lawless confirmed that was correct.
There was further discussion that followed by the Commissioner regarding lateral level candidate eligibility and
confirmation of the consistency/validation of the scores [by the Secretary/Chief Examiner] for the eligibility list(s).
Commissioner Fields made a motion to approve the Lateral Level Police Officer Eligibility List. Chair Davis
seconded the motion. The motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
None
OTHER
Commissioner Davis inquired about whether or not the Commission may be able to use Skype and/or phone
conference for meeting quorum purposes (when members are unable to physically attend the meeting). Ms. Hardie
stated that, per the information provided from the city attorney's office, this would have to be adopted and incorporated
into the rules. Ms. Hardie suggested that she could bring back some language for the Commission to review for
adoption at the next meeting.
ACOP Lawless mentioned that there may be a future request to extend the current Police Corporal Eligibility List
depending on department vacancies.
The meeting adjourned at 7:35 p.m.
H. Scott McEwen, Chair
Mary Ann Hardie, Secretary and Chief Examiner
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