04/27/1998 Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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(Comment: Patrolman Kilbane's added seniority points not affecting the score ranking); (3) The assessment results not being released on 3/16 as prior procedures but held until 3/23 which gave opportunities for score influencing; and (4) The lack of due care by Civil Service Secretary Donna Rote not following procedures to be present at the fax machine to receive the assessment results which resulted in Patrolman Plocica receiving the scores, transferring them to Secretary Pam Chesar and then to Chief George Ruple before ultimately being in the custody of the Civil Service Commission. Law Director Gareau explained when objections with respect to the examinations occur there are areas in the handbook which identify how the commission hears those protests. He noted they are not the subject matter of any hearing and frankly the person that objects should come before the commission and indicate the reason for objection to the examination. The commission can then take in any other information, look at the basis of the objections, and then decide from there. Mr. G4reau clarified this not subject to a hearing or a 2506 appeal and one of the reasons he knows this is because the McArthur V. Desouza case was handled by him in front of the supreme court and in this case there is a ruling that the questioning of an examination was not quasi-judicial and as a result is not subject to administrative appeal. Mr. Gareau noted that although the party that filed the protest was not present, obviously the writing he submitted can be the basis for the commission reviewing his protest and there are other people at the meeting that are familiar with the facts and allegations with respect to the fairness of the examination. He stated he did not think there was any basis at all with respect to these allegations as far as fairness is concerned. If, after reviewing all the facts the commission concurs that there is no foundation for this protest, they can deny the protest and immediately certify the list so that an appointment can be made. Chief Ruple agreed to respond to, each of the four accusations. He noted before the assessment team left Saturday evening the scores were completed. Mr. Gareau questioned if the chief knew this because that is the procedure. Mr. Ruple responded he received a call Saturday night from the lead assessor informing him the assessment was complete, and the results would be submitted to the civil service commission as soon as possible. He called the lead assessor Monday morning hoping that they would be able to fax the results so that they can be revealed as soon as possible. The lead assessor, however had personal problems over that weekend with family members which prevented him from working on the formal report Sunday. The lead assessor agreed to call when the formal report was completed so that it could be faxed to the civil service office. In response to count (1) Chief Ruple advised there is an activity during the assessment that involves role playing, called the subordinate counseling exercise. During this exercise the role player throws in a complete bizarre thing like "Well another major problem is the captain is sleeping with my wife and every time I see him in the hall I want to punch him." In a brief conversation with one of the assessors, Chief Ruple noted he was informed by one of the assessors that one of the candidates responded "I cannot address the problem with the captain but we got to work on your weight." This was all the conversation he had with any of the assessors. Mr. Cummings questioned if Chief Ruple was aware at that time of which candidate the assessors were discussing. Chief Ruple confirmed he was unaware which candidate the assessors were discussing. Law Director Gareau questioned how that conversation with the assessors became known to the candidates. Chief Ruple explained that a few of the candidates were discussing the subordinate counseling section and particularly the section dealing with the captain having an affair with this guys wife. He overheard this conversation and stated that its fumy that one of the candidates responded to it that "I cannot address the problem with the captain, but we got to work on your weight problem." In response to count two (2) Chief Ruple explained there was some conflict within his department with respect to the commissions decision to grant Candidate Kilbane seniority