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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCivilService 2018-05-07 Agenda• 0401 City of Tukwila Allan Ekberg, Mayor Mayor's Office - David Cline, CityAdministrator Human Resource Conference Room 6300 Southcenter Blvd., Suite 112 Tukwila, WA 98188 Monday May 7, 2018 5:00 p.m. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AGENDA CALL TO ORDER APPROVAL OF MINUTES (03/05/18) GENERAL BUSINESS a. Introduction of new Human Resources Analyst b. Presentation by Mia Navarro, Community Engagement Manager, on community workshops. c. Annual Civil Service Conference September 20-21 held in Yakima, WA FIRE DEPARTMENT BUSINESS a. Staffing Update b. Certification of Fire Captain Eligibility List POLICE DEPARTMENT BUSINESS a. Staffing Update b. Extension of temporary Sergeant Assignment c. Certification of the Police Support Operations Administrative Specialist Eligibility List d. Certification of Lateral Police Officer Eligibility List e. Certification of Entry Level Police Officer Eligibility List f. Summary by Vic Masters, Police Officer, on Lateral Police Officer current recruitment. Clarification on Civil Service Rule VIII. Examination - Section 6 Promotional /Lateral Entry Examination. Tukwila City Hall • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 • Website: TukwilaWA.gov Title or Addressee Date Page 2 NEW BUSINESS ADJOURNMENT Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov 1140 City of Tukwila Allan Ekberg, Mayor Mayor's Office - David Cline, City Administrator March 5, 2018 The following commissioners attended the regularly scheduled meeting of the Tukwila Civil Service Commission: Stephen Wheeler, and Ron Johnston. Others in attendance were Deputy Police Chief Rick Mitchell, Police Senior Manager Support Operations Leon Richardson, Fire Chief Jay Wittwer, Erika Eddins, HR Analyst/Interim Civil Service Examiner, Jacqueline Spicer, Appellant, Taylor Ostman, Michael Moore. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Steve Wheeler called the meeting to order at 5:00 pm. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The January 8, 2018, minutes were approved. No corrections were noted. FIRE DEPARTMENT BUSINESS Staffing Update POLICE DEPARTMENT BUSINESS Staffing Update Chief Wittwer reported that one firefighter retired in December of 2017, and due to that, there are a total of four pipeline positions available. Chief Wittwer explained that pipeline positions are unfunded full-time positions which provide for hiring without a vacancy. The firefighter(s) will move into the budgeted position(s) as people retire. Through attrition, the fire department is going to go down to three pipeline positions in effect for 2018. There are three possible retirements noted. Official notice has not yet been received by the fire department. Two current firefighters have applied for lateral positions with other jurisdictions and may be hired during the beginning of the 2" quarter of 2018. This will leave the fire department with five open positions. Chief Witter stated the fire academy starts in September however, that is a long time to wait to get entry level candidates in and through the academy and then up to speed after academy graduation. The fire department is looking at bringing back a lateral hiring process to get firefighters on the line quicker. Deputy Chief Mitchell reported that the police department has 79 commissioned police officer positions. Four pipeline positions are available however, Chief Linton is not planning on filling the pipeline positions. Of the 79 positions, three are vacant, six officers are in field training (one will complete training in one month), five officers are on light duty, one officer is on an extended military leave, and there is one lateral candidate in background. Out of the 79 positions, 63 are working full duty. Tukwila City Hall • 6200 Southcenter Boulevard • Tukwila, WA 98188 • 206-433-1800 • Website: TukwilaWA.gov GENERAL BUSINESS Appeal Hearing: J. Spicer The lateral candidate is also testing at other local jurisdictions however, the police department feels they have a good time line in place to complete the background process quickly, in order to hire him first. Chief Linton will be meeting with the police department recruiter to work on strategies for filling the three vacancies. Two officers have submitted their retirement notice and will be gone by July. Two more retirements are expected later this fall. For non-commissioned police staff, there are 19 positions. Currently there are 2 vacancies and 1 person is on light duty. Jacqueline Spicer, candidate for Police Support Operations Administrative Specialist, submitted a timely written appeal to the Civil Service Commission regarding her removal from the eligibility list after not passing the department's background process. Chair Wheeler explained the Civil Service Commission would listen to Ms. Jacqueline Spicer present her information, then the Police Department would present their information. Ms. Spicer stated she received a letter from the City dated February 8, 2018, notifying her that she was removed from the City of Tukwila's eligibility list for Support Operations Administrative Specialist due to information obtained during the background investigation that brought into question her suitability for employment with the Tukwila Police Department. Ms. Spicer explained she was present this evening to hear from the Police Department the details about the reasons why she was not found suitable for the position and to provide her response. Ms. Spicer stated she could not think of anything that would have been discovered during the background investigation, that had not been discussed or disclosed previously, which would question her eligibility and she was stunned as she had been fully transparent in all the information she provided in her application, interviews and background information into the eSOPH system. Ms. Spicer also stated she passed the polygraph test which included questions of whether she had withheld or misconstrued any information. Ms. Spicer stated she was very upset to learn that the reason for disqualification had nothing to do with her skills or background, and was not based on factual information but a judgement of her character by someone who had never met her. She was astonished the City had invested so much time and resources into the hiring process, only to have one person veto the employment offer without having had any discussion with her or asking for clarifications. She stated that integrity, honesty, and transparency are core values in her personal and professional life. Ms. Spicer stated she was open and transparent starting with the first interview through the polygraph test and given that information she was asked to recall took place over 30 years ago, she recalled some details later over the course of the months of the application and interview process. She stated she answered all questions and provided details as she recalled them, and if she provided additional detail in an interview subsequent to the first interview, it was because she recalled additional details at that time and wished to be fully transparent. She stated she simply did not remember each and every occurrence and does not believe anyone could be expected to do so. Ms. Spicer described the only instances she could determine which would have been potentially considered as inconsistencies and stated there are no other potential discrepancies she could think of as she has been as honest as she can be throughout the process and hopes the information she provided here helps to give clarification. Taylor Ostman, Ms. Spicer's daughter, presented information in support of other mother stating why she is an ideal candidate for the position and attesting to her honesty and strong work ethic, and that she has the demeanor for a public service job. Ms. Ostman stated it is hard to understand, after thee months of background process, that no explanation was offered as to why her mother's application was removed. She stated that this is a character judgement and not skill related. They would like the respect of a conversation from the police department as to why. Michael Moore, Ms. Spicer's life partner, stated he has known Ms. Spicer since she was sixteen years old and she has always been goal -oriented with a strong work ethic, and honesty and integrity are very important to her. Mr. Moore stated he has seen the investment and energy Ms. Spicer has expended to provide the information requested, covering the last 40 years of her life, and consulted him about filling out the background check as she wanted to make sure it was correct to the best of her recollection as she really wanted this position. Mr. Moore stated that being considered for this position was so important, that she left her job of 34 years to be able to participate in the interview process. He also stated that he is confident that nothing was found when Jackie's fingerprints were run, she was told she passed the lie detector test, and that he was sure that the information provided by her references was quite positive and the Commission should reconsider in her favor. Phone: 206-433-1800 • Email: Mayor@TukwilaWA.gov • Website: TukwilaWA.gov ADJOURNMENT 5:53 PM 6:10 PM Deputy Chief Rick Mitchell presented information about the background process on behalf of the Tukwila Police Department. He noted that there was a lack of consistency in answers from Ms. Spicer's telephone pre-screen, into the oral board interview, and what was discovered in the integrity interview later during the background process. He noted that the answers changed making it hard to ascertain if they were receiving truthful answers. DC Mitchell presented several specific examples where Ms. Spicer's answers were inconsistent and did not match up from the initial telephone pre-screen, to the oral boards, and into the integrity interview portion of the background screening. DC Mitchell stated the Tukwila Police Department runs a strict background process and he explained that it is made clear to all job candidates from the beginning, that the oral board answers must match up with any further background step or they could face elimination from the process. Because Ms. Spicer's answers were significantly different from the beginning to the end, and due to the sensitive nature of police department business the Police Chief was not confident in Ms. Spicer's suitability for the police department based on the inconsistency of her answers. Commissioners Wheeler and Johnston both asked Ms. Spicer if this was her first application to a government agency. She stated it was. Chair Wheeler thanked the parties for their statements and explained that the Commissioners would meet in Executive Session after the meeting, and their determination would be mailed to Ms. Spicer later in the week. MOVED BY WHEELER, SECONDED BY JOHNSTON THAT THE REGULAR MEETING BE ADJOURNED SO THAT COMMISSIONERS COULD MOVE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION. MOTION CARRIED. MOVED BY JOHNSTON, SECONDED BY WHEELER THAT THE EXECUTIVE SESSION BE ADJOURN. MOTION CARRIED. Chairperson Steve Wheeler Vice -Chairperson Ron Johnston Commissioner (Vacant)