CITY OF NEW HAVEN CIVIL SERVICE BOARD
MINUTES OF MEETING
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April 2016 Regularly Scheduled
April 26, 2016
Also Present
Present
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Commissioner James Williams
Commissioner Anne Massaro
Commissioner Carmen Rodriguez
Stephen Librandi, Acting Civil Service Secretary
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John Rose, Corporation Counsel
Rebecca Bombero, Executive Dir Parks & Rec
Al Lucas, Dir Legislative Services
Cherlyn Poindexter, Pres Local 3144
Absent
• Noelia_Marcano,_Civil_Service_Secretary
Meeting opened at 6:00 pm.
#1 Job Description Revision Parks Foreperson
Rebecca Bombero, Executive Director Parks & Recreation presented the revised Parks Foreperson job
description to the Board. She explained that the description was updated to reflect current functions in the
department and duties of the position.
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There being no questions, Commissioner Massaro motioned to approve the revised description.
Commissioner Rodriguez seconded the motion. Vote taken: Three yes; none opposed. Revised
description approved.
#2 Eligibility Lists
Mr. Librandi presented Eligibility List #16-17 Director of Communications BOE. He also
also brought to the Board’s attention the fact that the President of Local 3144 had alleged that one of her
members (Latrice Hampton) was not properly notified of the test for this position. He further explained
that he had researched the issue and concluded that Ms. Hampton was notified properly. Mr. Librandi
then proceeded to show the Board a copy of the job posting, a copy of an email sent to Ms. Hampton with
the test notice, and an email from BOE employee Lisa Mack indicating that Ms. Hampton had showed her
on her cell phone that she had in fact received the email.
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Commissioner Williams then recognized Ms. Cherlyn Poindexter, President of Local 3 144 who informed
the Board that her member, who was unable to be present, told her she did not receive the email, nor did
she receive the certified letter that she was told was sent to her. Mr. Librandi informed the Board that no
certified letters were mailed to any candidates. All candidates were notified of the test by email.
There being no more questions/discussion, Commissioner Rodriguez motioned to approve the list.
Commissioner Massaro seconded the motion. Vote taken: Three yes: none opposed. List #16-17
approved.
Mr. Librandi presented Eligibility List #16-18 Meter Checker. There being no questions/discussion,
Commissioner Massaro motioned to approve. Commissioner Rodriguez seconded the motion. Vote
taken: Three yes; none opposed. List #16-18 approved.
Mr. Librandi presented Eligibility List #16-19 Assistant Parks Superintendent. There being no
questions/discuss ion Commiss ionei Massaro motioned to appro e Commissioner Rodriguez seconded
the motion. Vote taken: Three yes; none opposed. List #16-19 approved.
Civil Service Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2() 16 April Regularly Scheduled Meeting
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Mr. Librandi presented Eligibility List #16-20 Housing Code Inspector. There being no
questions/discussion, Commissioner Rodriguez motioned to approve. Commissioner Massaro seconded
the motion. Vote taken: Three yes; none opposed. List #16-20 approved.
Mr. Librandi presented Eligibility List#16-21 Public Health Nursing Coordinator. There being no
questions/discussion, Commissioner Rodriguez motioned to approve. Commissioner Massaro seconded
the motion. Vote taken: Three yes; none opposed. List #16-21 approved.
Mr. Librandi presented Eligibility List #16-22 Clerk Typist. There being no questions/discussion,
Commissioner Massaro motioned to approve. Commissioner Rodriguez seconded the motion. Vote
taken: Three yes; none opposed. List #16-22 approved.
#3 List Removal / Restore
Mr. Librandi distributed the list of names presented for removal from List #15-07 Police Officer. He
indicated that all were being removed because they were withdrawing from the hiring process.
There being no questions/discussion, Commissioner Rodriguez motioned to approve. Commissioner
Massaro seconded the motion. Vote taken: Three yes; none opposed. List of names presented for
removal from List #15-07 approved.
#4 Temporary Pending Test Report
Mr. Librandi distributed the updated report. No voting action needed or taken,
#5 Temporary Pending Test Request
A request for permission to hire two temporaries for the positions of Bilingual Legislative Assistant and
Legislative Services Document Processor was presented. Al Lucas the Director of Legislative Services
explained that both positions were open and that the operational needs of the department were immediate
with respect to the functions of the two positions.
Ms. Poindexter, President of Local 3144 was recognized by the Commissioner Williams. She proceeded
to point out the actual positions to be acted upon in this agenda item were not listed on the meeting
agenda. She reminded the Board that she has requested this before. The Board and the Mr. Librandi
acknowledged the oversight and agreed to correct this practice. Ms. Poindexter then went on to explain
her objections to the temporary hire requests, which were the subject of an MOU she signed with the
Labor Director. The MOU required that the hiring of Temporary Pending Test be agreed to by the Union.
Corporation Counsel John Rose stated he was unaware of the MOU’s existence and suggested that the
Board table the matter. Mr. Lucas pointed out that the MOU only pertained to one of the two positions he
was requesting for temporary hire. Ms. Poindexter agreed that was true, but she was now objecting to
Temporary Pending Test being granted for either position. The Board agreed to table the matter pending
more information.
#6 Transfer Requests
Mr. Librandi presented five separate Transfer Requests. Those requesting a transfer were: George Peet,
Jolyn Wilson, Ashish Desaai, John Raffone and Jeffrey Patton.
There being no questions/discussion, Commissioner Rodriguez motioned to approve. Commissioner
Massaro seconded the motion. Vote taken: Three yes; none opposed. All transfer requests presented
were approved.
Civil Service Meeting Minutes
April 26, 2016— April Regularly Scheduled Meeting
#7 Corporation Counsel Update
Attorney Foster advised that she had no update to provide. No voting action needed or taken.
#8 Board Correspondence
None received. No voting action needed or taken.
#9 Public Safety Testing Update
Mr. Librandi updated the Board on the status of upcoming public safety testing. No voting action needed
or taken.
#10 Meeting Minutes March 22, 2016
Mr. Librandi presented the minutes from the meeting conducted on March 22, 2016. There were no
comments or changes made to the minutes as presented. Motion to accept made by Commissioner
Massaro, seconded by Commissioner Rodriguez. Vote taken: three yes, none opposed. Minutes
approved.
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#11 Other Business
Motion made to add an item to the agenda, that item being List Extension Carpenter BOE # 14-30
was made by Commissioner Massaro. Motion seconded by Commissioner Rodriguez and votes taken:
three yes, none opposed.
After discussion on the need to extend this list Commissioner Rodriguez motioned to extend List #14-30
through a new expiration date of November 11, 2016. Motion seconded by Commissioner Massaro. Vote
taken: three yes, none opposed. List extension approved.
The date of the next regularly scheduled meeting was set for May 24, 2016 at 6:00 pm.
There were no commissioner requested items to appear on the agenda for the next scheduled meeting.
Commissioner Massaro motioned to adjourn the meeting. Seconded by Commissioner Rodriquez. Vote
taken: 3 yes, 0 opposed. Meeting adjourned at 6:44 pm.
Stephen Librandi
Acting Secretary
For the purpose of compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, these minutes are
NOTE:
made available for review subject to later review, revision and approval by the Civil Service
Board.
Civil Service Board Approval Date:_____
Civil Service Meeting Minutes
April 26. 2016 April Regularly Scheduled Meeting
Personnel Director Summary
Director of Training (NHFD)
April/May 2016
As with all like projects of this type, the process for the Director of Training exam
commenced with a bidding process.
Two bids were received one from Morris & McDaniel, Inc. out of Alexandria, Va., and
one from Booth Research Group out of Parker, CO. The selected vendor was Morris &
McDaniel, Inc. Dr. Morris directed all services rendered to the City of New Haven this
project.
A job analysis was conducted, and based on the analysis it was determined that the
examination plan would consist of a periormance-based assessment process with a
Situational Exercise, an In-Basket Exercise and a Written Exercise.
Seven applications were received for the position. Of the 7 applicants, 6 confirmed their
intent to test by the prescribed deadline. Consequently, those 6 candidates complete the
exam process.
An application packet was made available when the position was advertised and it
contained information on the candidate orientation offered as preparation for the exam.
Approximately 5 applicants attended the orientation sessions offered in December 2015.
The composition of the 6 candidates who presented for testing include 3 White
candidates, and 3 Hispanic candidates. A discussion on the pass/fail breakdown and
demographics follows later in this report.
Eight assessors participated in evaluating the candidates in this promotional process.
The total average length of time these assessors have in the fire service is in excess of
34 years. One assessor holds the rank of assistant fire chief, one a chief of training,
another a deputy chief and three are fire chiefs. Four of the eight are white, two are
Black and two Hispanic. All are male.
Page I of4
Personnel Director Summary
Director of Training (NHFD)
April/May 2016
Immediately at the conclusion of testing, candidates responded to the Evaluation Survey
offered for candidates to provide feedback about the exam process.
All 6 Director of Training candidates test responded to the Evaluation Survey. The
results were positive.
• All 6 candidates reported that the process was fair and that it was obvious that
great efforts were taken to ensure fairness.
•
Four of the candidates said that the process was conducted consistently with what
they had been told to expect in the candidate orientation.
• All 6 candidates said the exercises were related to the Director of Training job and
of those 6, three said the exercises were as realistic as can be expected in a test.
• All 6 candidates said the instructions were very clear and that the test facilities and
logistics were good. Eighty-three percent of the candidates said that it was clear
that the administration staff put forth considerable effort in the selection of the
facilities and the logistics.
• All 6 candidates said that the assessment process was well run.
• While all 6 of the candidates reported that the process was free of bias, 3 of the 6
said that it was apparent that considerable effort was taken to make the process
fair to all groups and all candidates.
Morris & McDaniel uses a method they call the second review process in performancebased exams that they administer. Even though an assessment such as the one
administered are reliable and consistent, as with all measures in assessment, there is
the opportunity for error. The second review process acknowledges this fact, and the
purpose of the second review is to detect and address significant error.
One (1) candidate requested a 2nd review of their performance ratings. A panel of three
assessors for the
n,d
2
review was selected from the pool of assessors who conducted the
initial assessments. The assessors received refresher training before they conducted the
2 review of the assessment exercises from the appealing candidate. After conducting
Page 2 of 4
Personnel Director Summary
Director of Training (NHFD)
April/May 2016
the requested 2nd review, the panel then determined if the original scores for all three
exercises were reasonable based on the training the assessors received and the
candidate’s observed performance. If the panel determined, after the review process,
that a score should be changed, it was changed to reflect a score deemed more
appropriate. After a thorough review, the panel determined that the original score for one
of the exercises needed to be adjusted upwards or increased. The original scores for all
other exercises completed by this candidate were found to be reasonable based on the
candidates’ observed performance and no additional changes were made.
All six Director of Training candidates passed with a score of 70% or higher.
Demographically, the passing candidates include 3 White candidates and 3 Hispanic
candidates. The 4/5ths rule was not violated and therefore, no additional adverse impact
analyses were conducted.
To summarize:
The promotional examination processes for the Director of Training position was
designed to provide a valid, reliable and fair assessment of competencies that are
necessary to successfully perform the work of the position.
The technical quality (e.g., job-relatedness, reliability, and validity) of the Director of
Training promotional process was established through previous validation studies and on
the job analysis process conducted by Morris & McDaniel on information provided by the
New Haven Fire Dept. This process identified factors considered in the development,
implementation, and administration of the exam process.
Exam procedures and content were reviewed and approved by qualified subject matter
experts and were based on procedures proven to create a qualified pool of candidates.
Based on these findings, the consultant submits that the examination was fair, valid,
reliable and defensible. Morris & McDaniel recommend that the results of this
examination be used to make promotions to the target position.
Page 3 of 4
Personnel Director Summary
Director of Training (NHFD)
April/May 2016
Morris & McDaniel transmitted the list of scores to the City and has certified in writing as
to the accuracy of the test results.
On this basis, the eligibility list for the position of Director of Training for the New Haven
Fire Department is presented for certification.
Page 4 of 4