Civil Service Commission certifies community service officer eligibility list

The Lake Stevens Civil Service Commission voted unanimously May 29 to certify an eligibility list for community service officers, clearing the list to be sent to the police chief for interviews.
Commission Chair Ray Mitchell called the vote after a motion by Commissioner Brian McManus and a second by Mitchell. “I make a motion to accept the list,” McManus said before the commissioners voted “Aye.”
The certification follows oral boards held the previous day; Chief Examiner Julie Kelch said three candidates — listed as positions 1, 2 and 5 on the eligibility list — passed the oral board. Kelch explained the commission follows a “rule of five plus vacancies,” and that the chief may interview the top six scoring candidates. If any of those six are disqualified or withdraw, candidates in positions seven and eight can move up to be considered, she said.
Why it matters: certifying the list is the formal procedural step that allows the police chief to begin hiring interviews for a current vacancy in the community service officer ranks.
The commission recorded the action as a motion to accept the minutes and then a separate motion to certify the CSO list; both motions passed with verbal “Aye” votes from the two commissioners present. The minutes for the April 17 meeting were also approved at the May 29 session.
Details and next steps: after certification, Kelch said she will forward the list to the police chief, who will interview the top six candidates. The commission did not take further hiring action; the chief retains authority to interview and hire from the certified list.
No statutes, ordinances or hiring rules beyond the commission’s stated “rule of five plus vacancies” were cited during the motion.
The commission adjourned after completing the agenda.