Auburn Municipal Civil Service
Meeting February 4, 2009 11:00 am
Commissioner John Brennan called the meeting to order at 11am.
Roll Call by Bill Fulton: Commissioner John Brennan, Commissioner John Camardo and Commissioner Jack Hardy. Also present HR Director Karen Green, Dir. Of Capital Projects & Grants, Christina Selvek, Corporation Counsel John Rossi and Supt. Of Engineering Bill Lupien.
Approve minutes of meeting held on January 8, 2009 . Commis. Camardo motion to approve . Hardy 2nd. Motion carried 3-0.
Old Business
NYS Licenses:
Bill reports that for a labor class position you cannot put a qualification of a NYS License as that would take it out of the labor class.
Commis. John Camardo: Once Civil Service turns the employee over to the city – it is their responsibility.
Fulton: Right, so it is not necessarily Civil service. We just have to make sure the city has some sort of system.
Karen Green: Yes, we do. We also have governing laws that talks about what you can and cannot do with NYS licenses. If civil service takes this on they must be aware of these laws. There are also new privacy laws that were just enacted in January 2009. On page 500-8 of the employees handbook drivers licenses is covered . It gives details for employees to provide proof of license, changes, etc.
Commis Brennan: The reason I brought it up is that as long as I remember Civil Service was responsible.
Camardo: Our responsibility was up until they took the test then it is turned over to the city.
John Rossi: If they were applying for a job that requires a CDL license, then yes, Civil service can ask for that license.
Brennan: I was more concerned about current employees losing their licenses.
Rossi: Once civil service has cleared it – it is the cities responsibility.
Jocko – everyone agree?
Camardo & Hardy agreed
Hardy: This would cover the lawn care vehicles also?
Rossi: Anything in a classification of a motor vehicle
Camardo – Just wanted to follow up with John Rossi in regards to independent contractors.
Rossi: Yes, everything is good
Camardo – The biggest discussion when the state was here is that independent contractors should not be using city vehicles.
Rossi: No, no one is that I know of. I just heard they are trying to reclassify independent contractors.
Camardo: Just wanted to make sure we were in line with the state regulations.
February 4, 2009 Civil Service Meeting minutes
Page 2
New Business
Attached memo and job description for the addition of Chief Wastewater Treatment plant operator.
Fulton: We gave you the job description & Job duties statement. I have a couple question if you can answer for us Karen.
Green: What we are looking for specifically is a 4A certification that is required by the DEC to have at least one person on staff that has this certification.
Fulton: For clarification - Grade 4A has to do with the license that is required not the city’s salary
Camardo: That is not written on this min. duties sheet.
Green: Well we believe that it is a limiting factor. The state commission has stated that we have a shrinking job pool. For example to announce test and request colleges accredited by New York State Board of Regents does eliminate some schools –like Duke & Stanford. We would like to open it to more qualified people.
Camardo: Take the Bachelors degree out and put more experience with a 4A.
Brennan: We can change these min duties sheets- that is what we are here to do.
Fulton: To get the 4A license you have to have those requirements.
Brennan: What does the state say – will they let you hire someone without a 4A until they pass the test?
Green: We received a letter form the DEC that says we have 90 days to fill the 4A position
Camardo: The more qualifications you put in the more difficult it is to pinpoint.
Green: It is presumed if you have the 4A license you have the rest of the qualifications.
Bill Lupien: Are there previous people who have the license but not the bachelor’s degree?
Fulton: There is also an experience time that is allowed instead of the Bachelors
Brennan: Is the 4A license announcement the same as this new job description.
Christina Selvek: The 4A license is done through the county – nothing to do with the city.
Lupien: How often is the test given?
Fulton: It looks as if you call and set it up on an individual basis
Lupien: A lot of time it depends on the size of the operation. You don’t want to exclude people that have other grade levels that could pass the test.
Camardo: I would want them to have it at the time of appointment.
Green: permanent or provisional appointment?
Lupien : That is going to be tough. 4A is for the size plant you have. You could have someone that could pass the test that is working at a smaller or bigger plant and has a different grade level that will really narrow the search. You could hire someone, give him or her time then they take the test if the pass then they are permanent.
February 4, 2009 Civil Service Meeting minutes
Page 3
Selvek: We can try to schedule with the county so the tests work together.
Fulton: What Civil Service needs to do is approve this job position. Does the city have someone in place that has this 4A license? So he can be appointed to a provisional appt, a test would be ordered, he would meet the qualifications
Camardo: Wording needs to have the 4A license
Fulton: From your knowledge will anyone else that works for the city be qualified to take the exam?
Green: As far as I know, one other person
Camardo: So the person has to be certified at time of appointment
Futon: OK – we need a title: Chief Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator. We also need to sign off on a resolution
Selvek: We need to make sure that this is suitable for the DEC
Green: Read from the attached letter she sent to the DEC stating what action plans have taken place. We want to make sure with the DEC that moving forward it is still all ok.
Camardo: Motion to approve job duties with the changes to meet requirement of having 4A license by appointment. Karen Green is advised it is ok to move forward and hire someone provisionally. Anna to order the exam.
2nd By Hardy Motion carried 3-0
Commis Brennan: Approval of eligible lists #20-091 – Wastewater Treatment plant Operator trainee, #63-164 – Community Development Planner, #63-163 – Planner, #63-161 – Sr. Planner (O/C) and #72-192 Sr. Planner (promo), Asst Civil Engineer # 61-483 & Junior Engineer #61-485. All lists established 2/4/09 up to maximum of four years 2/4/13.
Budget:
Commis Brennan: Review of services. Did we allocate money for the police agility test?
Fulton: No, we do not get charged for the Police. For the fire agility when Ed Wagner has to get a couple of proctors we pay them but the college does not charge for the facility and Ed Wagner does not charge for his services.
Camardo: We should send the president a thank you letter for his accommodations.
Brennan: Any changes to the budget?
Camardo: I thought we all agreed to put in for an additional $1000 annually.
Brennan: Yes, put it in there.
Fulton: Also, this does not represent the portion the school pays. The pay roughly ? of everything.
Motion by Commis Brennan to go into executive session to discuss personnel issues with the School District.
Motion to go back into general session and adjourn by Commis Camardo second by Hardy Motion carried 3- 0 Meeting Adjourned 11:45am
Attest
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