Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Hiring topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Merit System Commission to redo Operator I interviews, approves test scores
Summary
On June 11, 2025 the Merit System Commission discussed redoing Operator I interviews for the street division after procedural concerns and approved current test scores; staff said HR will participate and interview panels will be used before scores are released.
The Merit System Commission on June 11, 2025 discussed rerunning interviews for the Operator I — Street Division hiring process after a portion of the interview scoring was determined to be handled improperly, and the commission approved current test scores for the written/assessment portion.
Commissioners and staff said the decision to redo interviews follows clarification from human resources that the previously scored interviews should not count because of how a protested question was handled. A staff member told the commission: "I didn't want those guys to think, or anybody to think, You based my interview score because I protested a question." The staff member said the interviews will be rescheduled with HR present and that he intends to include "1 or 2 other people maybe to sit in on the interviews" so scoring is not based on a single interviewer's view.
The commission heard that five candidates had assessment scores above the passing threshold of 60. The staff member said the plan is to complete the remaining assessment parts and interviews, then release the combined scores and names at the same time. "I would like to have all 3 parts done and then see the scores," the staff member said, describing a preference that the superintendent or hiring authority not view partial scores before interviews are completed.
The commission took two formal actions during the brief meeting. A motion to excuse Commissioner Watts for vacation was made and seconded and was recorded as approved with Commissioners Dell, Campey and Wasting voting yes. Later, a motion to approve the presented test scores for the Operator I assessment was moved and then approved; roll-call votes recorded Commissioners Campey, Dell and Wasting as voting yes.
Commissioners discussed using a small interview panel of two or three people, including HR, to reduce the risk of perceived favoritism and to provide multiple perspectives during candidate interviews. The staff member added that panels help avoid "just 1 person's" view driving an interview outcome and mentioned the goal of having the interviews completed before the commission's next meeting.
No statutes, ordinances, or personnel bylaws were cited on the record during the discussion. The meeting adjourned at 9:08 a.m.
