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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1986-07-10 EXECUTIVE SESSION CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION July 10, 1986 CALL TO ORDER The executive session of the Civil Service Commission was called to order by Chairman Bill Wagner at 3:33 p.m. PRESENT Mr. Bill Wagner, Chairman Mr. K. B. Fuller, Personnel Director Mrs. Mary Balsinger Ms. Anniece Vargas, Personnel Technician Mr. Frank Douglass I. REQUEST OF RON HYDE FOR A HEARING Mr. Wagner stated that the purpose of the executive session was to determine the validity of the grievance, to set a hearing date if necessary, and to notify Mr. Hyde of the decision of the Commission. He then referred to Mr. Hyde's letter of June 30, 1986, in which Mr. Hyde requested a hearing before the Civil Service Commission. Mr. Hyde alleges that he was wrongfully demoted due to a recent reclassification of City Employees (he refers to Chapter II, Section 2.11 and Chapter II, Section 2.45 of the Civil Service Rules and Regulations). Mrs. Balsinger inquired if the request of Mr. Hyde was in regard to pay or class. She calculated that Mr. Hyde was earning $2.50 per hour more than a fire lieutenant (a fire lieutenant works 2,912 hours per year, whereas Mr. Hyde works 2,080 hours per year). Mr. Wagner remarked that the Civil Service Rules and Regulations excludes reclassification from being a demotion. So, he feels that Mr. Hyde has not been demoted. From his letter of June 30, 1986, Mr. Hyde takes exception to the fact that reclassification has been excluded. Discussion then centered around the definition of "demotion" and how it relates to rate-of-pay. Mr. Douglass concluded that Mr. Hyde had gone from one classification to another, but he had not gone to a lower rate-of pay. The Commission unanimously concluded that Mr. Hyde had not been demoted because of two reasons: Mr. Hyde was not moved to a lower maximum rate, and that reclassification was excluded from the definition. Civil Service Commission - July 10, 1986 - Page Two Mr. Fuller mentioned that Mr. Hyde's letter of May 23, 1986, to the City Manager, expressed a concern for parity. He then described the previous pay system to the Commission members to further clarify the situation--Senior Inspector and Fire Lieutenant are in different pay grades. He then described the steps used to arrive at the new reclassification plan. It was then mentioned that Mr. Hyde had had a similar grievance in 1984 regarding a demotion stemming from a reclassification. At that time, the City Manager granted an additional $100 per month salary increase and denied the elevation of Mr. Hyde to a Fire Lieutenant grade. Mr. Hyde failed to exercise his right to appeal the decision. Mrs. Balsinger commented on the fact that she felt that Mr. Hyde based the current grievance on the 1986 pay scale. Mr. Douglass added that promotion to a Fire Lieutenant would require the successful completion of a promotional exam. Mr. Fuller stated that Mr. Hyde was placed on an eligibility list to take the January, 1986, promotional exam for Driver Engineer (Mr. Hyde did not elect to take the exam). Discussion then centered around the processes that led up to the new reclassification schedule. Mr. Fuller stated that it was an across-the-board reclassification, was prepared thoroughly and objectively, and was adopted by the City Council. II. RESULTS The decision of the Civil Service Commission to deny Mr. Hyde's request for a hearing are based on the following points: 1. There was no demotion (Mr. Hyde was not moved to a lower pay rate; and reclassification was exempt from the definition of "demotion". ) 2. The reclassification process was across-the-board, was prepared objectively, and adopted by the City Council. 3. Mr. Hyde did not have the assurance of parity to a Fire Lieutenant as decided by the City Manager in 1984 during Mr. Hyde's previous grievance. The positions of Fire Lieutenant and Senior Inspector are not the same. Mr. Hyde would be required to successfully complete a promotional exam in order to be classified as a Fire Lieutenant. Civil Service Commission - July 10, 1986 - Page Three III. ADJOURNMENT The meeting of the Civil Service Commission adjourned at 4:21 p.m. APPROVED: Mr. Bill Wagner, Ch irman