nothin A Test? A Retest? A Parallel Test? | New Haven Independent

A Test? A Retest? A Parallel Test?

Paul Bass Photo

Poindexter: Rules flouted.

The city administered civil service exams for two administrative assistant positions — but didn’t tell some of the applicants. Now it’s anybody’s guess when those positions will be filled.

The fate of the exam, which took place July 27, was the subject of debate Tuesday afternoon at the monthly Civil Service Commission meeting at 200 Orange St.

City Personnel Director Noella Marcano said the department notified people at the email or physical address that they provided. Two people called to say that they had not received any notification. That prompted the department to check the the contact data. In fact, a city employee had entered information incorrectly and 12 people did not receive notification that the test was coming up, she said.

Marcano said that because of the department’s error, those 12 people will still get a shot at being tested for the positions. Those who have already tested will have to wait a bit longer to find out their results and if they will one day work for the city.

The 12 people will be allowed to take a parallel version of the test,” Marcano said. The parallel version covers the same information as the first test, but the content will be different. It’s not the same test,” she said.

At least two of the three commissioners raised concerns about the parallel version.

I would think a whole new test should be done for everybody,” Commissioner Anne Massaro said. I don’t think it is fair for people not to take the same test.

But let’s say I took the first test and passed, but then I test again and fail?” Commissioner Leasley Negron said. That wouldn’t be fair to me.”

Well, I disagree with you,” Massaro said.

Marcano said that offering a parallel version is not unprecedented. A parallel test was offered for police detectives a few years ago after an eligibility list was exhausted.

Local 3144 President Cherlyn Poindexter (pictured at right in the photo at the top of the story) said the city should start over with a new test for everyone. She also asked for an accounting for why testing is backlogged for some 30 city positions. It took a year to get to the July 27 test for the two administrative assistant positions.

She wrote the commission in July and August to inform them that she knew of at least three people who did not receive notifications, and she sees it as part of a bigger problem with backlogged Civil Service testing.

To date there are well over 30 exams outstanding,” she wrote in a July 31 letter to city officials. The postings for some of the positions date back to September 2014, which is almost one year ago. City of New Haven residents, and several employees have applied for the positions, and they have been waiting for tests to be given. it is extremely unreasonable to have to wait almost one year from the date of application to take an examination for a position.”

Meanwhile, Poindexter said the administration is using temporary pending testing” to temporarily appoint people to positions. The administration is allowed to do that when there is no eligible list in effect for a particular class in the classified service,” according to Rule VII, Section 4 of the Civil Service Rules.

A test is supposed to be given within 90 working days,” but because of the backlog, Poindexter said a person appointed under such conditions could work indefinitely as long as the commission keeps approving an extension.

She pointed out as an example that Clifton Graves, who has been appointed to a project management position in early July with the Community Services Administration (in charge of the city’s prison reentry program), was appointed in such a fashion. He previously held the position under a different title (community grants organizer) when it was paid for using one-time special funds. Then the money ran out, at which point he was switched to the project management position, which is essentially the same, but paid for out of the general fund. That means the permanent occupant of the position needs to pass a civil service test.

Markeshia Ricks Photo

Marcano and Foster at Tuesday’s meeting.

At Tuesday’s Civil Service Commission meeting, commissioners also approved a temporary pending testing for a deputy director position for the economic development department. The approval allows Small Business Services Center Director Jackie James to keep doing her work until a test is devised in 90 working days.” Her position, like Graves’, was previously funded with special funds and has now been transferred to the general fund. If she is not tested in those 90 days, the commission would have to approve an extension.

You’re using temporary pending testing as if these positions are are urgent and they are not,” she said. You knew a year ago that this position was going to come into the general fund and need to be tested.” She said the positions should be posted and tested, and that the commission should investigate the reason for the backlog in testing.

Commission attorney Kathleen Foster, (pictured at right in the photo above) suggested, and the board accepted, that the Human Resources Department provide an update on testing at each monthly meeting. Per Pointdexter’s request, positions coming up for approval for temporary pending testing” status also will now appear on meeting agendas.

The city works hard to comply with all applicable standards and procedures to fill positions with the best candidates,” said mayoral spokesman Laurence Grotheer. Sometimes the timing has to be adjusted according to available funds.”

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