255-2000 LTC
C.ITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HAll 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\ci.miami-beach.fl.us
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L.T.C. No.:J<"S ~tJO
LETTER TQ COMMISSION
December 1, 2000
TO: Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
FROM:
Jorge M. Gonzalez \.~
City Manager G r 0
SUBJECT: Miami Herald Article "Board cites bias against 2 Lifeguards"
An article appeared in today's Miami Herald, regarding two lifeguard applicants who, after
being given a condit[onal job offer, failed to successfully complete their background investigation
because of the psychological assessment phase of their background investigation.
This article omits several important facts. First, Mr. Valdes and Mr. Pino were removed from
the psychological assessment because they were talking and sharing responses. The information
received by the City was that they not only discussed the questions, but they had identical answers
on the tests given - including one item that was an open-ended question. The City was notified by
the administrator of the psychological assessment that it was an impossibility for individuals taking
the tests independently to have identical results. Thus, these applicants were clearly cheating on the
assessment.
In addition to the two applicants mentioned in the article, there were two other applicants also
removed from the assessment. All four were questioned by the administrator of the psychological
assessment, and one admitted to talking and exchanging answers. All four, including the two
mentioned in the Herald article, denied having language problems. The administrator of the
psychological assessment told these gentlemen that if they were having language problems, he would
contact the City and ask if they could retake the test in Spanish. Because they denied having
language problems, the City was not contacted. The only reason that these applicants were
disqualified from further consideration was because their conduct was unbecoming of a potential
employee of the City during the psychological assessment.
No written decisions have been prepared, or approved by the Board. I do understand, however,
that the Board intends to make a recommendation to me based on their determination that the two
applicants were discriminated against because the test was not given to them in Spanish. That is
simply not the case. They were eliminated from the application process because they were found
cheating on the assessment.
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Page 2
Letter to Commission
Miami Herald Article
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In any event, prior to, and independent, of the Board's determination, however, I have been
exploring the possibility, and the feasibility, of offering the psychological assessment in as many
languages as are available to the positions in the City that include the psychological assessment as
a component of the background investigation (primarily public safety positions).
If you have any additional questions or concerns regarding this matter, please do not hesitate to
contact me directly.
JMG: MG: vpm
\\CH2\SYS\lfUMA\LABORREL\VPM\Commissirm Lflters\L TC reprding Miami Herald Anicle 12.1.(lO,doc
c: Assistant City Managers
Mary Greenwood, Executive Assistant to the City Manager/Labor Relations