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Home My WebLink About2006-09-18 MinutesMINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION 9/18/06 A meeting of the Civil Service Commission was held on September 18,2006 at 8:30 AM in Room 111 of the City Administration Building at 113 W Mountain St., Fayetteville, AR. Present: Commissioners Adelman, Bittle, Coppinger, Ferguson and Hart Absent: Commissioner Augustine, Commissioner Brown The purpose of the meeting was to review the amended Physical Agilities Test as submitted by the Fire Department. Representing the Fire department was Chief Tony Johnson and Assistant Chief Bud Thompson. Human Resources Director, Michele Bechhold stated that it was the recommendation of Human Resources that a request for proposal be conducted for an outside firm to validate the physical agilities test for both the Police and Fire Departments. This validation study would take place in 2007. Chief Thompson reviewed the proposed physical agilities test with the Commission. He also informed the Commission that the Fire Department had been working with Dr. Barry Brown, retired University of Arkansas professor to assist them with validation of the test. The Commission discussed setting of an appropriate cut off time. Commissioner Bittle stated that he wanted to be careful where the time limit is set because he did not want to drastically reduce the applicant pool. Commissioner Adelman voiced questions regarding the validation of the test itself. His expressed a desire to make certain the City was legally protected if the test was challenged at any point. He requested the Fire Department choose a time that was based on validation, not a "best guess" estimate. After further discussion, Chief Thompson proposed that the time limit be set at 8.5 minutes. Commissioner Bittle commended the Fire Department for the work they had done on the development of the test. Commissioner Hart made a motion to approve the test packet with the change to 8.5 minutes. Commissioner Bittle seconded. Commissioner Adelman reiterated his concerns and requested an outside opinion be obtained prior to instituting the test. Commissioner Bittle asked the department if Dr. Brown would be providing a letter of endorsement regarding the time limit for the test. Chief Thompson stated that two rounds of testing would be necessary before validation could be completed. Commissioner Adelman asked that the motion be amended to provisionally approve the test for one year subject to the department having the test validated by an outside source. Commissioners Hart and Bittle agreed to the amendment and the motion passed unanimously. The Commission set the meeting to review any changes to the Rules and Regulations for October 30, 2006 at 8:30am. The Commission then went into executive session to conduct Fire Captain promotional interviews. Commissioner Bittle made a motion to adjourn the meeting and Commissioner Adelman seconded.