Illinois Civil Service Commission met Aug. 18.
Here are the minutes provided by the commission:
I. CALL TO ORDER THE REGULAR OPEN MEETING AT 11:01 A.M. AT 607 E. ADAMS STREET, SUITE 801, SPRINGFIELD, IL
II. ROLL CALL AND CONFIRMATION OF A QUORUM
Timothy D. Sickmeyer, Chairman; G.A. Finch (remote), David Luechtefeld, and Vivian Robinson, Commissioners; Thomas Klein, Executive Director, Andrew Barris, Assistant Executive Director, Sabrina Johnson (remote), Exemption Monitor, and Alexandra Myers, Executive Secretary; Sarah Kerley (remote) and Chris Nickols, Central Management Services; Tracey Kenney (remote), Commission of Equity and Inclusion; Terri Shawgo (remote), Healthcare and Family Services; Daria Hernandez (remote) and Amanda Thomet (remote),
Office of Executive Inspector General; and Michael Morthland (remote) and Charles Williams (remote), Public Health.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ROBINSON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LUECHTEFELD THE MOTION ADOPTED 4-0 TO ALLOW COMMISSIONER FINCH TO JOIN THEMEETING REMOTELY.
III. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF REGULAR OPEN MEETING HELD JULY 21, 2022
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LUECHTEFELD, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ROBINSON, AND BY ROLL CALL VOTE THE MOTION ADOPTED 4-0, TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE REGULAR OPEN MEETING HELD JULY 21, 2022.
IV. PUBLIC COMMENT IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT
In accordance with the Open Meetings Act and the Rules of the Civil Service Commission, Executive Director Thomas Klein offered an opportunity for any person to address members of the Commission.
Hearing no response, the meeting proceeded to the next agenda item.
V. EXEMPTIONS UNDER SECTION 4d(3) OF THE PERSONNEL CODE A. Governing Rule – Section 1.142 Jurisdiction B Exemptions
a) The Civil Service Commission shall exercise its judgment when determining whether a position qualifies for exemption from Jurisdiction B under Section 4d(3) of the Personnel Code. The Commission will consider any or all of the following factors inherent in the position and any other factors deemed relevant to the request for exemption:
1) The amount and scope of principal policy making authority;
2) The amount and scope of principal policy administering authority;
3) The amount of independent authority to represent the agency, board or commission to individuals, legislators, organizations or other agencies relative to programmatic responsibilities;
4) The capability to bind the agency, board or commission to a course of action;
5) The nature of the program for which the position has principal policy responsibility;
6) The placement of the position on the organizational chart of the agency, board or commission;
7) The mission, size and geographical scope of the organizational entity or program within the agency, board or commission to which the position is allocated or detailed.
b) The Commission may, upon its own action after 30 days’ notice to the Director of Central Management Services or upon the recommendation of the Director of the Department of Central Management Services, rescind the exemption of any position that no longer meets the requirements for exemption set forth in subsection (a). However, rescission of an exemption shall be approved after the Commission has determined that an adequate level of managerial control exists in exempt status that will insure responsive and accountable administrative control of the programs of the agency, board or commission.
c) For all positions currently exempt by action of the Commission, the Director of Central Management Services shall inform the Commission promptly in writing of all changes in essential functions, reporting structure, working title, work location, position title, position number or specialized knowledge, skills, abilities, licensure or certification.
d) Prior to granting an exemption from Jurisdiction B under Section 4d(3) of the Personnel Code, the Commission will notify the incumbent of the position, if any, of its proposed action. The incumbent may appear at the Commission meeting at which action is to be taken and present objections to the exemption request.
(Source: Amended at 34 Ill. Reg. 3485, effective March 3, 2010)
B. Requests for 4d(3) Exemption
⮚ Exemption Monitor Sabrina Johnson indicated that Item B was a request for an Internal/External Communications Officer at Commission on Equity & Inclusion (CEI), a position that reports to the Executive Director. This position serves as a policy advisor, develops and implements policies, procedures and guidelines associated with media relations, and develops and implements media communications strategy for the Commission. This position will track all legislation affecting the Commission, maintains contact with both Houses of the General Assembly, and is a spokesperson for the Commission. Staff recommended this exemption request be granted.
Commissioner Luechtefeld inquired if this is a new position. Ms. Tracey Kenney, Chief Fiscal and Human Resource Officer at CEI, indicated this is a new position.
⮚ Item C was a request for a Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Special Projects at the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (HFS), a position that reports to the Chief Operation Officer, who reports to the Director. This position formulates and implements policy and has authority on policy-making issues impacting agency management and statewide agency operations. This position is a representative for the Chief Operation Officer and the Director regarding department wide projects and programs involved in health care and child support services. Staff recommended this exemption request be granted.
Commissioner Luechtefeld inquired if this is a new position. Ms. Terri Shawgo, Administrator of Personnel and Administrative Services at HFS, indicated this is a new position.
⮚ Items D1 and D2 are positions at the Department of Public Health (DPH). These positions were approved for a two-year exemption on September 17, 2020, expiring August 31, 2022.
Item D1 is a Division Chief for Contact Tracing and Item D2 is a Bureau Chief of Testing. At the present time, the duties for both positions have not changed since being established in June 2020. Both positions have principal policy responsibilities relating to the COVID pandemic. DPH requested permanent exemption for both positions and Staff recommended both positions for continued exemption be granted.
Chairman Sickmeyer inquired when DPH intends to fill the vacant position. Ms. Johnson indicated both positions are filled. Ms. Sarah Kerley, Chief Administration Officer with Central Management Services (CMS), indicated both positions were submitted with time limited requests regarding the current pandemic for the purpose of giving DPH time to identify infrastructural changes that needed to be made. These positions were built for long-term pandemics, different public health crises, and on-going public health work. Ms. Kerley pointed out that these positions are still perform critical policy making functions regarding contact tracing and different emergencies handled by DPH. She also indicated there these functions are needed to respond to new public health emergencies declared within state level and federal level. Ms. Kerley indicated if these positions get to a point where policy making functions no longer exist, DPH or CMS will ask for reconsideration or rescission.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ROBINSON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LUECHTEFELD THE MOTION ADOPTED 4-0 TO GRANT THE 4d(3) EXEMPTION REQUEST FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS:
B: Internal/External Communication Officer (ICEI)
C: Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Special Projects (HFS)
D1: Division Chief for Contact Tracing (DPH)
D2: Bureau Chief of Testing (DPH)
B. Illinois Commission on Equity and Inclusion
| Position Number | 40070-50-58-000-40-01 |
| Functional Title | Internal/External Communications Officer |
| Incumbent | Vacant |
| Supervisor | Executive Director |
| Location | Cook County |
| Position Number | 40070-33-00-080-20-61 |
| Functional Title | Deputy Chief Operating Officer for Special Projects |
| Incumbent | Vacant |
| Supervisor | Chief Operation Officer, who reports to the Director |
| Location | Sangamon County |
| Position Number | 40070-20-82-000-00-81 |
| Functional Title | Division Chief for Contact Tracing |
| Incumbent | Adebola Hassan |
| Supervisor | Deputy Director of Disease Control, who reports to the Director |
| Location | Cook County |
| Position Number | 40070-20-83-000-00-81 |
| Functional Title | Bureau Chief of Testing |
| Incumbent | Charles Williams, II |
| Supervisor | Deputy Director of Disease Control, who reports to the Director |
| Location | Cook County |
A. Governing Rule – Section 1.45 Classification Plan
The Commission will review the class specifications requiring Commission approval under the Classification Plan and will approve those that meet the requirements of the Personnel Code and Personnel Rules and conform to the following accepted principles of position classification:
a) The specifications are descriptive of the work being done or that will be done;
b) Identifiable differentials are set forth among classes that are sufficiently significant to permit the assignment of individual positions to the appropriate class;
c) Reasonable career promotional opportunities are provided;
d) The specifications provide a reasonable and valid basis for selection screening by merit examinations;
e) All requirements of the positions are consistent with classes similar in difficulty, complexity and nature of work; and
f) The relation of the class specifications to any applicable collective bargaining agreement.
B. Veterinary Consumer Safety Officer (revise)
Regarding Item B, Assistant Executive Director Barris reported that the proposed revision was to remove a one-year experience requirement and include an additional veterinary degree to increase the candidate pool for the Veterinary Consumer Safety Officer. The proposed revision was agreed to through collective bargaining.
C. Portable Scales Operator Trainee (create new)
Portable Scales Operator (create new)
Portable Scales Senior Operator (create new)
Portable Scales Coordinator (create new)
Regarding Item C, Barris reported that the creation of the proposed classes addressed the fact that only some but not all positions within the Highway Maintainer and/or Highway Maintenance Lead Worker classes performed vehicle weight enforcement tasks. Chairman Sickmeyer asked about the training for performing such tasks. Chris Nickols from CMS Technical Services reported that the Illinois State Police had a 2-year training program for employees charged with these tasks and that was a consideration in the creation of the proposed classes because of this differentiation. Commissioner Luechtefeld asked if employees would be hired to the new positions and Nickols reported that the employees were already in system and would be moved to the new classes from the existing classes. Barris reported that the creation of these classes was agreed to through collective bargaining.
D. Assignment Coordinator (revise)
Regarding Item D, Barris reported that the revision was requested because positions within the class were no longer responsible for the review of the Earned Discretionary Sentence Credit. The proposed revision was agreed to through collective bargaining.
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ROBINSON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FINCH THE MOTION ADOPTED 4-0 TO APPROVE THE ABOLISHMENT, CREATION AND REVISIONS OF THE FOLLOWING CLASS SPECIFICATIONS TO BE EFFECTIVE SEPTEMBER 1, 2022:
B. Veterinary Consumer Safety Officer (revise)
C. Portable Scales Operator Trainee (create new)
Portable Scales Operator (create new)
Portable Scales Senior Operator (create new)
Portable Scales Coordinator (create new)
D. Assignment Coordinator (revise)
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LUECHTEFELD, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER ROBINSON THE MOTION ADOPTED 4-0 TO DISAPPROVE ANY CLASS SPECIFICATIONS RECEIVED BY THE COMMISSION STAFF NOT CONTAINED IN THIS AGENDA TO ALLOW ADEQUATE STUDY.
VII. PERSONNEL RULES
A. Civil Service Commission Governing Rule – Section 1.310 Personnel Rules
The Commission has power to disapprove new rules or amendments to existing rules submitted by the Director of Central Management Services. Such proposed new rules or amendments of existing rules submitted to the Commission shall be accompanied by a report of proceedings attending the prior public hearing required by law with respect to them.
If the Commission does not disapprove new rules or any amendment to existing rules within 30 days following the receipt from the Director of Central Management Services, the new rules or amendments have the force and effect of law after filing by the Director with the Secretary of State.
B. None submitted
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER LUECHTEFELD, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER FINCH THE MOTION ADOPTED 4-0 TO DISAPPROVE ANY AMENDMENTS TO PERSONNEL RULES RECEIVED BY THE COMMISSION STAFF BUT NOT CONTAINED IN THIS AGENDA TO ALLOW ADEQUATE STUDY.
VIII. MOTION TO CLOSE A PORTION OF THE MEETING
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR THOMAS KLEIN ASKED IF ANY COMMISSIONERS WANTED TO GO INTO CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE PROPOSAL FOR DECISION. THERE WAS NO MOTION TO MOVE INTO CLOSED SESSON AND THE MEETING CONTINUED.
IX. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE CLOSED PORTION OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD JULY 21, 2022
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ROBINSON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LUECHTEFELD, AND BY ROLL CALL VOTE THE MOTION ADOPTED 4-0 TO APPROVE THE MINUTES OF THE CLOSED PORTION OF THE REGULAR MEETING HELD JULY 21, 2022.
X. LITIGATION
Alex Hall, Jr., Plaintiff v. Civil Service Commission & Department of Corrections, Defendants, 19-L-50427, DA-35-18: On July 19, 2022, the Appellate Court of Cook County affirmed the Commission’s decision to impose a 60-day suspension in lieu of discharge.
Carlos Ocampo, Plaintiff v. Civil Service Commission & Department of Revenue, Defendants, 20221115966, DA-25-22: A request for administrative review was filed by Carlos Ocampo on August 11, 2022, on the Commission’s decision to uphold the discharge.
XI. APPEAL TERMINATED WITHOUT DECISION ON THE MERITS S-1-23
| Employee | Kimberly Reiniche | Appeal Date | 07/12/2022 |
| Agency | Dept. of Human
Services | Decision Date | 08/04/2022 |
| Appeal Type | Suspension | Proposal for
Decision | Dismissed. |
| ALJ | Thomas Klein |
SICKMEYER YES
FINCH YES
LUECHTEFELD YES
ROBINSON YES
DA-5-23
| Employee | Rebecca Ann Mills | Appeal Date | 07/25/2022 |
| Agency | Dept. of Children & Family Services | Decision Date | 08/05/2022 |
| Appeal Type | Discharge | Proposal for
Decision | Dismissed. |
| ALJ | Andrew Barris |
SICKMEYER YES
FINCH YES
LUECHTEFELD YES
ROBINSON YES
XII. STAFF REPORT
Executive Director Thomas Klein announced that the Civil Service Commission has already received 11 appeals this fiscal year that started in July. In comparison, we reached 10 appeals in November last fiscal year.
Executive Director Thomas Klein announced that we have added the ability to file an appeal on the website when the new website goes live. Chairman Sickmeyer inquired when the new site will go live. Executive Secretary Alexandra Myers stated that it will go-live in two weeks based on the last correspondence with DoIT.
Chairman Sickmeyer asked how the elimination of the Special Master will impact the Civil Service Commission. Executive Director Klein indicated that the Office of Executive Inspector General’s HEM unit will still be reviewing exemption requests before they are submitted to the Civil Service Commission for approval. The elimination of the Special Master does not change the way the Civil Service Commission will operate, but it will hopefully streamline the process by eliminated a level of review.
XIII. ANNOUNCEMENT OF NEXT MEETING
Announcement was made of the next regular open meeting to be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, September 15, 2022, in the Springfield office of the Commission.
XIV. MOTION TO ADJOURN
IT WAS MOVED BY COMMISSIONER ROBINSON, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER LUECHTEFELD, AND BY ROLL CALL VOTE THE MOTION ADOPTED 4-0 TO ADJOURN THE MEETING AT 11:26 A.M.
https://icsc.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/icsc/documents/2022/8-18-22%20Regular%20Meeting%20Minutes.pdf
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