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Athens civil service commission unanimously approves changes to promotions, subpoenas, probation and firefighter physical test
Summary
The Fire Fighters' and Police Officers' Civil Service Commission of the City of Athens, Texas, voted unanimously on Nov. 24, 2025, to amend local civil service rules to speed promotional examinations, allow the director to subpoena in appeals without a meeting, permit limited probation extensions for recruits in training, and update the firefighter physical ability test to require an 8-foot Keiser sled movement.
The Fire Fighters' and Police Officers' Civil Service Commission of the City of Athens, Texas, met in special session on Nov. 24, 2025, at the Athens Police Station and unanimously approved four amendments to the city's Local Civil Service Rules and Regulations affecting promotions, subpoena authority, probationary periods and the firefighter physical ability test.
Police Chief Chad Allen said the first amendment (section 143.032) would let the Civil Service Director open a promotional examination to candidates with less than two years of service when there are not two eligible candidates in the next lower position, without first bringing the decision to the commission. Allen said the change is intended to speed the promotional process.
Civil Service Director Shawn Ruff described a change to section 143.010(3) that, in the context of an appeal to the commission, permits the director to issue subpoenas without first calling a commission meeting to present the subpoena question to commissioners. Ruff framed the revision as an efficiency measure to move appeal proceedings more quickly.
Chief Allen also described an amendment to section 143.027 allowing the head of the police or fire department to extend a recruit's probationary period for up to six months when the recruit is required to attend a basic training academy for initial certification by the Texas Commission on Fire Protection or the Texas Commission on Law Enforcement.
Assistant Fire Chief Ricky Harris explained a revision to Attachment B of the local rules (section 143.023) that updates the physical ability test for firefighter applicants: the Keiser sled requirement will be changed so that the striking block must be moved the full length of the Keiser machine (8 feet) across the track.
All four amendments were moved and seconded as recorded in the minutes and carried unanimously. Vice Chairman Lisa Collins made the motions on several items, and Member Jack Harrington seconded; motions are recorded as passing with unanimous support from the three commissioners present. The commission approved the minutes of the Aug. 27, 2025 special session earlier in the meeting by the same unanimous vote pattern.
The commission adjourned at 2:22 p.m. The minutes include a formal sign-off line indicating the record was "PASSED AND APPROVED THIS 15TH DAY OF JANUARY 2026."
