Minutes Civil Service Commission 4 8 05
CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION
Date: Frida~ApriI8,2005
Time: 3:00 p.m.
Place of Meeting: City Hall - Conference Room A
Present: Merle Duehr, Loras Kluesner, Dick Wertzberger
Also Present: Fire Chief Dan Brown, Firefighter Representatives Dave Beaves and
Roger Wernimont
1. Approval of Minutes of April 5, 2005
Wertzberger moved to approve the minutes of April 5, 2005, with the correction
of the last vote from 7-0 to 2-0. Seconded by Kluesner. Motion carried 3-0.
2. Discussion of Rules and Regulations for Promotional Examinations -
Assistant Chief Test
Chief Brown explained that he was recommending a change in the rules and
regulations for an Assistant Fire Marshall to take the promotional test for
Assistant Chief from one year as a line officer to eight years in-grade. He stated
the reasoning for this was to increase interest in the Assistant Fire Marshall
position. He further explained the history of this position and what has been
done to enhance the position in order to attract more interest.
Dave Beaves, President of the Dubuque Professional Firefighters Association,
presented a petition in support of requiring line officer experience to test for
Assistant Chief. He explained the union's reasons for opposing the change and
stressed the importance of an Assistant Chief having line officer experience. He
explained that with the proposed change a firefighter could move into the
Assistant Fire Marshall position and eight years later test for Assistant Fire Chief
with no line officer or supervisory experience. He explained that now the
Assistant Fire Marshall would have to take the test for Captain and then after a
year would be eligible to take the Assistant Chief test.
Wertzberger questioned whether it was the role of the Civil Service Commission
to determine who is eligible to take promotional exams. Duehr explained that the
Code of Iowa gives the Civil Service Commission the right to determine the
qualifications necessary for promotional examinations.
Duehr stated he was uncomfortable with Assistant Chief possibly not having line
officer experience. He further stated he was concerned about the lack of
qualified candidates for the Assistant Fire Marshall position and urged
administration and union representatives to look at the position to determine how
it could be enhanced.
Kluesner stated he was inclined to leave the rules and regulations as they
currently are since no one would be affected during this round of promotionals.
He further charged administration and union the responsibility to work on a
compromise prior to the next set of promotional tests.
Commissioner Kluesner moved that the rules and regulations with respect to
Assistant Fire Marshall remain unchanged. Seconded by Wertzberger. Motion
carried by the following vote: Yeas - Kluesner, Duehr. Nay - Wertzberger.
Communication of Captain Jay Imhof requesting that he be allowed to take the
promotional examination for Assistant Fire Chief on May 26 or 27, 2005.
Wertzberger moved to approve the request. Seconded by Kluesner. Passed 3-
O.
There being no further business, motion to adjourn at 3:45 p.m.
Merle Duehr, Chairperson
Civil Service Commission
Approved