New York City Council
Committee on Civil Service and Labor
Feb 27, 2024
·
01:00 PM
1 hr 11 min
Summary
A hearing on optimizing the NYC municipal service exam system, focusing on adopting a band scoring method for competitive civil service titles to improve the exam process's equity, efficacy, and accessibility. Discussion covered modernization efforts by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) to enhance the exam system, challenges such as exam result waiting times, barriers to access for applicants, and plans to make civil service exams more inclusive. Features testimony from the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and the public.
Meeting chapters
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Council Member Carmen De La Rosa Opens Oversight Hearing on Optimizing the Municipal Service Exam System
Council Member Carmen De La Rosa initiates the oversight hearing to scrutinize and improve the city's municipal service exam system. - The committee discusses a resolution seeking to adopt a …
0:00:31
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3 min
Katrina Porter on Enhancing Equity and Modernizing Civil Service Examinations Process
Katrina Porter testifies about efforts to modernize the civil service examination process, emphasizing equity and accessibility. - Porter outlines DCAS's commitment to modernizing civil service examinations, underlining equity, effectiveness, and …
0:04:47
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10 min
Who mandates the examination requirement for civil service positions, DCAS or the state?
The state constitution governs the city's civil service system, imposing a merit and fitness based system for over 80% of positions. - The state constitution mandates a merit and fitness …
0:15:52
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98 sec
How does the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) decide on the classification of a position?
The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) no longer administers Qualified Incumbent Exams and follows a case-by-case process for classifying positions. - Qualified Incumbent Exams are discontinued as part of …
0:17:30
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53 sec
How are open competitive and promotional exams conducted in the "education and experience" format?
Katrina Porter explains the education and experience exam process and the additional steps for multiple choice exams. - The education and experience exam is conducted through the online Oasis system. …
0:18:24
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57 sec
How do promotional exams score and do they use a curved or weighted system?
The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) uses a weighted scoring system for promotional exams, with exceptions for curving based on industry standards. - Promotional exams typically allocate scores based …
0:19:22
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160 sec
How does the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) exercise discretion in grading exams, and are there laws restricting this discretion?
General Counsel Sanford Cohen clarifies that the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) finds the laws governing exam grading fairly flexible, allowing for adaptability in scoring to match job competency …
0:22:03
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54 sec
What is the impact of the 2 for 1 hiring model on the exam system and applicants?
Katrina Porter confirms that the lift of the hiring freeze and the transition to a 2 for 1 hiring model have no impact on the FY24 examination schedule or the …
0:22:59
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74 sec
Has DCAS made any changes to the open competitive system?
Katrina Porter, responding to Council Member Carmen De La Rosa, confirms that the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) has made no changes to the open competitive system. - Council …
0:24:13
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12 sec
What grading system was used for FDNY firefighter promotional exams, and how is future accuracy ensured?
The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) clarifies there was no algorithm used for the FDNY firefighter promotional exams, but a weighting error in the initial results announcement. - No …
0:24:39
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150 sec
How many job offers were made from the 736,000 employment applications received through Jobs NYC?
Katrina Porter, Chief Human Capital Officer and Deputy Commissioner of DCAS, does not have immediate access to the data on job offers made from the 736,000 employment applications but commits …
0:27:08
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30 sec
How are the civil service exams promoted and where is information shared?
Officials from the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) detail efforts to promote civil service exams and reach communities underrepresented in city government. - DCAS posts annual and monthly examination …
0:27:38
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145 sec
How does the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) plan to remove barriers to civil service exam access, and what are future changes?
DCAS is committed to reducing barriers for civil service exam access by eliminating application fees, launching the New York City Bridge exam, piloting no-fee exams for uniform titles, and offering …
0:30:12
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3 min
Why are promotional exams for DCAS employees offered so infrequently, and is DCAS open to more regular scheduling?
The promotional exam schedule at DCAS is data-driven, considering active status and candidate availability, to avoid overlapping exams and extended wait periods. - Exams are active for 1 to 4 …
0:33:35
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94 sec
What is the status of the applicants who received same-day job offers at the 2023 hiring halls?
Katrina Porter from DCAS confirms individuals with job offers are undergoing or have completed the hiring process, with details on their current status pending. - The city council collaborated with …
0:35:16
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96 sec
How does the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) decide which job titles qualify for the bridge exam?
The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) uses job analysis to determine which job titles qualify for the bridge exam, based on common knowledge, skills, and abilities. - The exam …
0:36:52
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105 sec
How is the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) reducing the delay in exam results?
The Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) explains the procedures ensuring legal compliance and integrity extend the exam results timeline. - Certain processes, including the opportunity for test takers to …
0:38:37
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134 sec
Which types of exams see a trend towards protests, and what plans are in place for education and experience exams?
Katrina Porter explains that uniform exams, especially those with a large number of test takers, tend to see more protests, and details plans to expand the use of education and …
0:40:51
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79 sec
What is the selective certification process and how does it work for city positions?
The selective certification process allows for candidates with specialized skills to be preferentially hired for positions requiring specific qualifications, as explained by DCAS. - Selective certification enables agencies or DCAS …
0:42:05
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151 sec
How is DCAS addressing the educational requirements for civil service jobs?
DCAS is revising minimum qualification requirements for 90 entry-level civil service titles to reduce barriers to employment. - A review of 90 entry-level titles began in spring 2023 to identify …
0:44:36
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87 sec
What are the current initiatives for entering civil service and how do fellowship titles relate to civil service positions?
The Civil Service Pathway Fellowship, a partnership with CUNY, offers a direct path into civil service through specialized training and hands-on experience in various tracks. - The fellowship focuses on …
0:46:06
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127 sec
What is the current status of the Civil Service Ambassadors Program and civil service recruitment law implementation?
The Civil Service Ambassadors Program, as part of the new law implementation, successfully conducted 209 events last year to promote civil service pathways. - Kadian Outar confirms the successful implementation …
0:48:14
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60 sec
Has the bill allowing incarcerated individuals to take the civil service exam been implemented?
The bill allowing incarcerated individuals to take the civil service exam became effective in February and implementation is underway, with information sessions and discussions on administering exams ongoing. - The …
0:49:14
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52 sec
Member of the Public on Addressing Bias in Testing and Enhancing Community Outreach by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS)
A member of the public critiques the biased testing procedures by the Department of Citywide Administrative Services (DCAS) and underscores the need for more engaging community outreach. - The speaker …
0:51:59
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3 min
Michael Tracy, FDNY Captain / Recording Secretary on the Uniformed Fire Officers Board, FDNY, on Band Scoring in Fire Department Promotional Exams
FDNY Captain Michael Tracy criticizes band scoring and opaque grading practices in fire department promotional exams. - Tracy argues that band scoring is not effective for life or death situations …
0:55:10
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120 sec
What was the impact of the examination error on FDNY members?
The error in the examination reduced the importance of extensive preparation by FDNY members. - Captain Michael Tracy emphasizes the intensive preparation required for FDNY examinations, which can span months …
0:57:33
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56 sec
Brandon Coons on Changes to the FDNY Exam Weighting System and Its Impact on Promotion Prospects
Brandon Coons addresses the New York City Council, expressing frustration over changes to the FDNY exam weighting system that detrimentally affected his and possibly others' promotion prospects. - Coons prepared …
0:59:06
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97 sec
Dennis Sweeney, Battalion Chief, FDNY on Clarity and Transparency in FDNY Exam Processes
Dennis Sweeney, Battalion Chief at FDNY, emphasizes the need for clarity in terminology and transparency in FDNY’s examination processes. - Sweeney highlights the confusion and potential unfairness associated with the …
1:01:40
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161 sec
Council Member Amanda Farías on Proposing Band Scoring for Civil Service Exams
Council Member Amanda Farías proposes implementing the band scoring method in civil service exams to enhance equity and efficiency. - Farías argues for the modernization of the civil service exam …
1:04:33
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3 min
Christopher Leon Johnson on the Unfairness of City Agency Testing and Hiring Practices
Christopher Leon Johnson discusses his views on unfairness in city agency testing and hiring, criticizing affirmative action-like practices and the allocation of additional points for certain groups. - Johnson argues …
1:08:09
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3 min
