Civil Service Commission addresses investigation

The El Dorado Civil Service Commission approved Thursday a letter that they hope will put an ongoing issue to rest.

Commissioners agreed to send the letter to Mayor Frank Hash and local media regarding the results of a formal investigation — at Hash’s request — into concerns about the operations of the El Dorado Fire Department and Fire Chief Chad Mosby.

Hash requested the probe in March after a series of stories appeared in the News-Times regarding 2017 city budget cuts and their affect on staffing and services provided by the fire department.

Mosby explained later that information contained in the stories led to a misunderstanding that spread among city officials and the general public.

One of the points raised in the stories involved a reduction in minimum staffing that was implemented as a cost-cutting measure to help meet a $1 million revenue shortfall that was projected for the city’s general fund.

Per a recommendation by the El Dorado City

Finance Committee, the fire department dropped minimum staff requirements per shift from 13 to 12 to cut down on overtime pay for firefighters.

The fire department’s uniformed personnel roster was also cut from 51 to 50 due to a decision not to fill a vacant position in 2017.

The News-Times had reported the measures prior to the series of articles that ran in March.

The articles “created public alarm,” Hash said at the time, pointing in particular to a headline on one of the stories — “Fire Department budget cuts affect city’s safety.”

The mayor also contended that Mosby did not consult with city officials on the matter before speaking with a News-Times reporter — an act that Hash said could warrant disciplinary action, including dismissal.

Following an initial investigation, civil service commissioners concluded that Mosby did not commit any wrongdoing that called for disciplinary action.

Moreover, the finance committee and city council agreed to raise minimum staffing per shift back to 13 for the

fire department, and last week, the finance committee agreed to boost the roster for uniformed personnel back to 51.

Mosby requested the reinstatement after explaining to city officials that the fire department was down six firefighters due to three retirements so far this year, military duty and extended medical leaves, including a lieutenant who was severely injured in an automobile accident on June 30.

On paper, the department will have 51 slots, if the city council gives the final approval to Mosby’s request next week.

The fire chief told civil service commissioners Thursday that two entry-level candidates have accepted job offers,

noting that they were on the fire department’s certification list of candidates who passed civil service exams in April.

The new hires will begin July 31 and will spend eight weeks at the Arkansas Fire Training Academy in Camden, Mosby said.

For the 51st position, Mosby said he hopes to hire an already certified/ trained candidate who can begin work immediately.

After the civil service commission rendered its conclusion after the initial probe, Hash pressed for further investigation.

The mayor later said he had had a conversation with Mosby and had gained a better understanding of the situation.

Civil service commissioners

previously said they planned to send a written explanation of their findings to Hash.

On Thursday, they settled on a final draft of a letter they planned to send to Hash today.

“We have interviewed several current and retired personnel within the department, and we have researched news stories and interviewed members of the NewsTimes staff,” commissioners wrote.

They also wrote that city budget cuts have had not had any negative effects on public safety.

“Out fire department currently has a good balance of trained personnel, including ambulance drivers, emergency medical technicians, paramedics and firefighters,”

commissioners continued. “Our city is very fortunate to have this much talent and experience on board.

Commissioners agreed to include language acknowledging that Hash had raised valid concerns.

“We view his concerns as appreciable from where he was sitting, watching, listening and reading,” commission chairman Scott Ellen said.

“We shouldn’t have to go to the same ballpark again. This should close the door on this,” added Commissioner Janis Van Hook.