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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCIV 1982-08-31 Minutes MINUTES FOR THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION AUGUST 31, 1982 AT 7:00 P.M. IN THE NORTH RICHLAND HILLS CITY HALL 7301 N.E. LOOP 820. CALL TO ORDER The Chairman called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. ROLL CALL Members Present: Ed Szol Chairman Bob Roark George Pederson David Phelps Others Present: Dick Fisher Councilman Ron McKinney Civil Service Secretary Dennis Horvath Assistant City Manager APPROVAL OF MINUTES George Pederson moved, seconded by Bob Roark, to OF JULY 20, 1982 approve the minutes of July 20, 1982 as written. The motion carried 3-0 with Commissioner Phelps abstaining since he was absent. CONSIDERATION TO Dennis Horvath explained to the Commission the position's APPROVE P& Z background. He stated that this person handles all of COORDINATOR the zoning and platting cases for the City. He CLASSIFIED POSITION stated in June 1980 a pay plan was brought before the Civil Service Commission and approved which included a P& Z Coordinator classification. He stated the plan was approved at a City Council work session in July, but then the 1980 August Charter Election failed and the City had to go back to the old pay plan. He said in October 1980 the position was once again brought before the Civil Service Commission and for various reasons the Commission failed to act on it. He stated that since that time there has been a new City Council, Civil Service Commission and Director of Personnel. He explained that the position requires the incumbent to know the ends and outs of the whole Planning & Zoning process. He said this person is the first person the developers see when they walk in the door and the position requires the person to be able to explain all of the rules, zoning changes, and be familiar with the zoning laws of the City. He stated the position is now classified as a Clerk II position. He said that maybe ten years ago a good clerk could have handled the job, but that is not the case now because the responsibilities have expanded. He stated that if the incumbent were to leave, the position would not be filled by a Clerk II within the City. He explained where the position is now listed on the classification CIVIL SERVICE MINUTES August 31, 1982 • P~ge 2 schedule and where he felt the position should be listed. He stated he was asking the Commission to consider creating the classification of a P& Z Coordinator and move the position to Step 4 in the Pay Plan. Mr. McKinney stated that he checked with the other cities to see if they had a similar position. He stated that Hurst has a Development Coordinator that is an appointed position in the Engineering Department. He stated that Euless has a Development Coordinator and is listed in their pay scale equivalent to our pay grade 5. Chairman Szol asked why the position was not brought up at the time the Comtnission was looking at the new job descriptions. Mr. McKinney explained that during that time there was a transition period between City Managers and he was told by the City Manager to hold of.f. He explained he was unable to determine until today that the other cities had this position. He stated that the position was not on the pay plans he received from them. Chairman Szol asked Mr. Horvath how much independent decision-making is involved. Mr. Horvath stated that the incumbent ~s very independent. He explained the ~ob to the Commission. Commissioner Pederson asked how the P& Z Department was organized. Mr. Horvath explained that Gene Riddle, Public Works Director, is over Public Works, Utilities, the Maintenance Shop, Building Department and Planning & Zoning. He stated that the P& Z position is a one person job. Commissioner Pederson asked if the City had its own engineer. Mr. Horvath explained that the e~ty contracts the firm of Knowlton-English-Flowers. Co~issioner Pederson asked if the P& Z Clerk did work for anyone else. Mr. Horvath explained that Inspections has a Clerk II who answers that department's phones, types, etc. and Mr. Riddle has a Clerk II who does clerical responsibilities. He explained that the P& Z Clerk has more responsibilities than clerical work. There was a general disucssion as to why a distinction of this job was not brought up back. CIVIL SERVICE MINUTES August 31, 1982 • Page 3 Commissioner Phelps asked Mr. Horvath what the similarities and responsibilities were between the P& Z Coordinator and Secretary. Mr. Horvath stated the P& Z Clerk has more decision- making responsibilities than a Secretary II and she also helps in the City Secretary's office when she is out. Commissioner Phelps asked if this person is expected to interpret the ordinances. Mr. Horvath stated that the P& Z Clerk will interpret an ordinance and then discuss it with Gene Riddle or himself. Chairman Szol stated there have been a number of requests for changes in classifications. He said he felt the Commission should look at all of the jobs at the same time and make the appropriate moves at one time. There was a general discussion about the other requests and the reclassification of the P& Z position. Commissioners Phelps and Pederson both agreed the position was misclassified. ` Chairman Szol stated his personal opinion was the City Manager should submit to the Commission all of the positions he feels should be changed and the Commission will consider them all at one time and make the appropriate moves. Mr. Horvath stated that the City Manager asked him what else he thought was wrong on the classification plan and he told him he knew of no other individual instances. Chairman Szol said he thought Mr. Line should meet with the department heads and see if they felt any more positions were misclassified and then bring it back before the Commission. Mr. Horvath stated he didn't have any problems with getting with the department heads and with Mr. Line. Commissioner Phelps moved, seconded by Commissioner Pederson, that the City Manager review all of the classifications for the purpose of determining equity and present to the Civil Service Commission those classifications that he feels should be reviewed. The motion carried unanimously. CIVIL SERVICE MINUTES August 31, 1982 P~ge 4 _ INTERPRETATION OF RULE Mr. McKinney said an interpretation was needed regarding 10:05 (WORKMEN'S the six-month time period. He explained that a Utility COMPENSATION AND Maintenance Worker hurt his knee on the job in July 1981 INJURY LEAVE) and was off work until Decem~er. He said he came back to work in December, reinjured his knee in January, and was off again until April when he came back to work on light duty. He stated that the employee has injured his knee again and has had to have surgery. He explained that the employee has been on disability leave for approximately nine months altogether and had been paid by the City during this time. He stated Mr. Riddle has asked how the six-months applies~-is it six months of continuous absence for one injury, is it accumulated or is it within a calendar year. The Commission discussed the interpretation of the rule. Chairman Szol stated his initial opinion was that since the City allowed him to come back and he reinjured his knee, that he begins another six months. Commissioner Phelps said that was also his opinion. Chairman Szol asked if the employee would be sent to the City physician before being allowed to come back to work. Mr. McKinney stated that the City doesn't require a second opinion. Commissioner Pederson stated that it looks like the rule has a procedure set up where the case is re-evaluated at specific time periods. Chairman Szol stated that the employee is entitled to full pay the first month, the City Manager can approve it for up to six months, and after that the City Manager would have to submit a recommendation to the City Council. The Commission discussed if it was the same injury and same claim. Chairman Szol asked Mr. McKinney to call the company that handles the workmanFS comp. claims for the City and see whether they view it as the same injury. Commissioner Pederson asked if the City was wanting to stop the compensation pay for this employee now. Mr. McKinney stated that Mr. Riddle was wanting to know when the compensation stops. CIVIL SERVICE MINUTES August 31, 1982 P~ge 5 Commissioner Pederson stated he felt the rule was set up this way for a reason. He stated that if for example the injured employee was a police officer the city might want to reward him for a longer period of time than someone who fell in a hole. There was a general discussion as to what the Charter said about injury leave compared to the Rules and Regulations. Chairman Szol said he felt the intent of the rule is that after thirty days, the case is reviewed and the City Manager can extend it for six months if he wants. The Commission asked Mr. McKinney to obtain the City Attorney's opinion on the legality of what the Commission felt was the intent of the rule. DISCUSSION OF PAID Mr. McKinney stated that Mr. Line would like for the HOLIDAY SCHEDULE Commission to recommend that Veteran's Day Holiday be moved to the day following Thanksgiving. He explained that for the last several years the City has taken Veteran's Day the day after Thanksgiving and the City Manager would like it officially designated that. The Cotnmission discussed that the holiday could be moved to the day after Thanksgiving or be made a floating holiday. Commissioner Pederson moved, seconded by Commissioner Phelp~ to recommend that Veteran's Day be deleted from the paid ho'liday schedule and at the discretion of the City Manager be reassigned annually as a floating holiday or as the day following Thanksgiving. The motion carried unanimously. Mr, McKinney stated that the City Manager also wanted the Commission to recommend that holidays that fall on a Saturday be observed on Friday, and holidays that fall on Sunday be observed on Monday. Chairman Szol asked why the City Manager should constrain himself if he didn't have to. He told Mr. McKinney to discuss it again with Mr. Line and then at the next meeting the Co~ission would act on it. APPROVAL TO PASS Mr. McKinney stated that the Department Head ha~ withdrawn OVER FOR APPOINTMENT this item. OF POLICE OFFICER APPLICANT FROM CURRENT ELIGIBILITY LIST. WITHDRAWN CIVIL SERVICE MINUTES August 31, 1982 Page 6 _ ESTABLISH APPEAL Commissioner Pederson moved, seconded by Chairman Szol, HEARING DATE FOR to set the date of the hearing for September 22, 1982 CS 82-2. at 7:30 p.m. The motion carried unanimously. ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 8:45 p.m. Ed Szo Chai , Ron McKinney, Civil S ice Secretary ~