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HomeMy WebLinkAbout866 - Civil Service• • ORDINANCE NO. 866 AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH RELAT- ING TO CIVIL SERVICE. The people of the City of New. port Beach do ordain as follows: SECTION 1. DEFINITIONS. The following terms, whenever used in this ordinance shall be construed as follows: "Acting appointment ". The temporary appointment of a per- son to a position in a class for which there is no employment list; to a position occupied by a regular employee on suspension as provided in Section 7(e) of this ordinance; or to a position occupied by a probationary or regular employee who is on a leave of absence. "Allocation ". The assignment of a single position to the proper class in accordance with the spe- cifications for that class. "Applicant ". A person whose application for employment has been accepted, but who has not yet taken part in the selection procedure for a class. "Board ". The Civil Service Board established pursuant to this ordinance and the Newport Beach City Charter. "Candidate ". An applicant who is participating in the selection procedure for a class. "Certification ". The act of noti- fying a department head of the candidates whose names appear on employment lists as set forth in Section 9(f) of this ordinance. "City." The City of Newport Beach. "City Charter ". The City Char- ter of the City of Newport Beach. "City Council ". The City Coun- cil of the City of Newport Beach. "Class ". A group of positions sufficiently similar in duties, re- sponsibilities, a u t h o r i t y, and minimum qualifications for em- ployment to permit combining them under a common title and the equitable application of com- mon standards of selection and compensation. "Class Specifications ". A writ- ten description of a class, setting forth factors and conditions which are essential characteris- tics of positions in the class. "Continuous service ". The serv- ice without break or interruption of an employee having a proba. tionary or regular appointment. "Copyrighted or standardized tests ". Written examinations which are used by agencies other than the City of Newport Beach. "Demotion ". The reduction of an employee from a position In one class to a position in an- other class which has a lower maximum rate of compensation. "Department head ". An em- ployee who is the head of an established office or department. "Discharge ". The termination of a regular employee pursuant to Section 14 of this ordinance. "Eligible ". A person whose name appears on an employment list. "Employee ". A person legally occupying a position. "Employment lists ". As de- scribed in Section 9 of this or- dinance, a list of the names of candidates who are eligible for probationary appointments to positions in a particular class. "Entrance -level position ". A position in the first or beginning class in a series of classes which have increasingly responsible duties and progressively higher minimum qualifications and compensation. "Exempt position ". Those posi- tions which either are specifical- ly excluded by the City Charter IYJ 0 from the Civil Service System or which are not included in the system in accordance with Sec- tion 2 of this ordinance. "Layoff ". As an economy meas- ure, the separation of an employ- ee because of lack of work or lack of funds. "Open recruitment ". A recruit- ment that is not restricted to City employees. "Original appointment ". A per- son's first appointment as an em- ployee of the City of Newport Beach. "Permanent position ". A posi- tion that is expected to exist in- definitely. "Position ". A combination of current duties and responsibili- ties assigned to a single employ- ee and performed on either a full -time or part-time basis. "Probationary status ". The sta- tus of a person who has acquired a probationary appointment. "Probation period ". A working test period that is part of the selection process and during which an employee is required to demonstrate his fitness for the duties of the position to which he has been assigned by actual performance of such duties. "Promotion ". The advancement of an employee from a position in one class to a position in an. other class which has a higher maximum rate of compensation. "Promotional recruitment". A recruitment that is restricted to City employees. "Reallocation ". The reassign- ment of a single position in a class to a different class on the basis of a change in the duties and responsibilities of the posi- tion. "Reassignment ". The change of an employee by a department head from a position in a class to another position in the same class. "Recruitment ". The process of attracting qualified persons to participate in a selection process for a class. "Regular employee ". An em- ployee who has successfully com- pleted his probationary period in a position. (2) "Regular status ". The status of an employee who has acquired a regular appointment. "Reinstatement ". The re -em- ployment of a former employee. "Rejection ". T h e separation from the City service of an em- ployee who does not successfully complete his probation period in a position and who does not have regular status in another posi- tion in a different class; or, the reduction of an employee who did not successfully complete his probation period in a position to another position in a different class in which he has acquired regular status. "Resignation ". An employee's voluntary separation. "Rules and Regulations ". The Civil Service Rules and Regula- tions adopted pursuant to this ordinance. "Selection ". The process of evaluating the qualifications of candidates through one or more techniques. "Separation ". The termination of an employee's service with the City. "Suspension ". The temporary separation of an employee as a disciplinary action. "System ". The Civil Service System created in accordance with this ordinance and the New- port Beach City Charter and in- cluding only those positions to which the provisions of this or- dinance apply. "Temporary position ". A posi- tion of limited duration. "Transfer ". A change of an em. ployee from one position to an- other position in the same class or in another class having the same maximum salary rate, in- volving the performance of basic- ally similar duties, and requiring substantially the same minimum qualifications. "Vacancy ". A position that is not occupied by an employee having either a probationary or regular appointment. SECTION 2. ESTABLISHMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM. Pursuant to Article VIII of the City Charter, all full -time regu- lar, and permanent positions and 11� L employment in the Police and Fire Departments are included in the System, except those posi- tions excluded by Section 802 of the City Charter. The City Coun- cil by ordinance may include in the System positions in other de- partments. SECTION 3. PURPOSE OF SYSTEM. The purpose of the System is to establish an equitable and uni- form procedure for dealing with personnel matters; to attract to the City service the most compe- tent persons available; to assure that the appointment and promo- tion of employees will be based on merit and fitness; and to pro- vide reasonable security for em. ployees. SECTION 4. CREATION OF A CIVIL SERVICE BOARD. There is hereby established a Civil Service Board consisting of five members to be appointed by the City Council in accordance with the City Charter. Each of the members shall be a person of good repute in his business, pro- fession or occupation and known to support civil service principles in the public service. - SECTION 5. RESPONSIBILI. TIES AND AUTHORITY OF BOARD. The functions of the Board shall be: (a) Meetings. To determine the order of business for the con- duct of its meetings; to hold regular meetings at least once a month and such special meetings as are necessary on call of the chairman or a majority of the members of the Board, and to keep a record of its proceedings and transactions. A majority of the members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. (b) Rules and Regulations. To recommend to the City Coun- cil, after approval by the City Attorney and after a public hearing thereon, the adoption, amendment, or repeal of Rules and Regulations to implement the provisions of this ordinance. After adoption by motion of the City Council, such Rules and (3) Regulations shall have the force and effect of law. (c) Appeals. To receive and hear appeals submitted by any person or any applicant or can- didate for a position in the City employment relative to original appointment, promotion, dismis- sal, demotion, suspension and other disciplinary actions; the al- leged violation of this ordinance or the Rules and Regulations; and to certify its findings and recommendations as provided in this Ordinance. (d) Advisory role. To act in an advisory capacity to the City Council on personnel administra. tion in the City service. (e) Recruitment and selec- tion. Subject to the provisions of this ordinance and the Rules and Regulations, to establish pol- icies and approve procedures for the recruitment and selection of Civil Service personnel, includ- ing, but not limited to, the post- ing of recruitment notices, the preparation and scoring of ex. aminations, and the establish- ment and certification of em- ployment lists. (f) Investigations. To make any investigation concerning the administration of personnel in the City service and report its findings to the City Council and City Manager when requested to do so by the City Council, the City Manager or by any organ- ized City employees' association. In any investigation or hear. ing it conducts the Board shall have the authority to examine witnesses under oath and to com- pel their attendance or the pro- duction of evidence before it by subpoenas issued in the name of the City and attested by the City Clerk. It shall be the duty of the Police Chief to cause all such subpoenas to be served, and re- fusal of a person to attend or to testify in answer to such sub- poenas shall subject said person to prosecution in the same man- ner set forth by law for failure to appear before the City Council. Each member of the Board shall have the power to administer oaths to witnesses. ly5 0 0 SECTION 6. RESPONSIBILI- TIES AND AUTHORITY OF CITY MANAGER. The City Manager shall be re- sponsible'for the following: (a) Rules and Regulations. Preparation of amendments to the Rules and Regulations for recommendation to the Board. The City Attorney shall approve the legality of such amendments prior to their submission by the Board to the City Council for its approval. Rules and Regulations shall be adopted by motion of the City Council. (b) Class Specifications. Sub- ject to approval by the Board, the preparation and revision of class specifications for positions in- cluded in the System. (c) Personnel procedures. Ad. ministration of Board policies and procedures within the frame- work of* this ordinance and the Rules and Regulations, Includ- ing: 1. Public announcement of vacancies and examinations and the review of applications for employment 2. Preparation and conduct of examinations and the establish- ment and use of employment lists. 3. Certification and appoint- ment of eligibles. 4. Evaluation of employees during probation periods and periodically thereafter. 5. Appointment, transfer, pro- motion, demotion, rejection, lay- off, dismissal and re- instatement of employees. 6. Allocation of positions to classes on the basis of duties, responsibilities an d minimum qualifications. 7. Maintenance and use of personnel records. 8. Maintenance of effective communications b e t w e e n em- ployees and their supervisors; between employees and the City Manager; and between employ- ees and the Board relative to con- ditions of employment SECTION 7. APPOINTMENTS. (a) General policy. Appoint• ments shall be based on merit and fitness to be ascertained so (4) far as practicable by competitive examination. Appointments shall be made from employment lists by the department head on ap- proval of the City Manager. (b) Employment lists. Subject to the provisions of this ordi- nance with respect to re- employ- ment lists and the selection of the Police and Fire Chiefs, when an appointment is to be made the names of the highest three eligibles willing to accept ap- pointment shall be certified to the department head in the order in which they appear on the ap. propriate employment list and the appointment shall be limited to these eligibles. (c) Acting appointments. In the absence of an employment list for a class, a vacant position in that class may be filled by an acting appointment No credit shall be allowed in any examina- tion or the establishment of any employment list for service ren- dered under an acting appoint- ment (d) Temporary positions. Ap- pointments to temporary posi- tions need not be made from em- ployment lists. (e) Appointment during sus- pension. During the period of suspension of a regular employee from a position or pending final action on proceedings to review the suspension, demotion, or dis. missal of a regular employee, the position may be filled only by an acting appointment. (f) Transfers. With the ap- proval of the City Manager an employee may be transferred from one position to another. Transfers shall not affect in any way the status, rights and privi- leges of an employee under this ordinance. (g) Reinstatements. Provisions governing the reinstatement of a former employee shall be provid. ed in the Rules and Regulations. SECTION 8. RECRUITMENT AND SELECTION. (a) Recruitment. Recruitment shall be specified by the Board as promotional or as open. Inso- far as practicable and consistent with the best interests of the City 1 9 G 0 i • service, all vacancies shall be filled by promotion. (b) Selection. 1. The scope of an examina. tion for a class shall be approved by the Board and stated in the examination announcement. It may consist of any one or a combination of the following techniques: - written, oral, and demonstration tests; an apprais. al of education and experience; and any test of manual skills or physical fitness which fairly evaluates the candidates. 2. A probation period as es- tablished in the Rules and Reg- ulations shall apply to all ap. pointments to positions included in the System except acting ap- pointments. Successive proba- tion periods in a position shall not be allowed. In the event of promotion to a position in a high- er class and at any time within his probation period in that posi- tion, an employee may be re- jected by the department head and reduced to the position he occupied prior to such promotion without right of appeal to the Board, provided he had acquired regular status in such former position. If the employee had not acquired regular status in the System prior to such promotion, he may be discharged without right of appeal to the Board. SECTION 9. EMPLOYMENT LISTS. (a) Priorities. Priority for con- sideration for employment shall be given to employment lists in the following order: re- employ- ment lists, promotional employ- ment lists, and open employment lists. (b) Re- employment lists. The re- employment list for a class shall consist of the names of the following: (1) Layoff. Regular employ- ees who have been laid off for lack of work or lack of funds. (2) Position reallocation. Reg- ular employees whose positions in a class have been reallocated to a class with a lower maximum rate of compensation. Such names shall be placed on the list in reverse order of lay- (5) off or position reallocation. The order of layoff or position real- location shall be on the basis of inverse employee seniority in the class. (c) Promotional employment lists. Promotional employment lists shall consist of the names of City employees who have been successful in a promotional re- cruitment and examination. (d) Open employment 11 s t s. Open employment lists shall con- sist of the names of all candi- dates who have been successful in an open recruitment and ex- amination. (e) Layoffs. The names of probationary employees who are laid off or reduced in rank for lack of work or lack of funds shall be restored to the same pro. motional or open employment list from which the original ap- pointment was made and in the same order as when the original appointment was made. (f) Certification. Certification shall be made in conformance with the following provisions: 1. If a re- employment list ex- ists for the class, the highest name on such list shall be cer- tified for each vacancy to be filled. Names on promotional or open employment lists shall not be certified if a re-employment list for the class exists. 2. Except for acting appoint- ments, no person may be ap- pointed or transferred to any po- sition in the System unless he possesses the minimum qualifi- cations set forth in the class specifications for that position. (g) Duration of employment lists. The duration of employ- ment lists shall be as prescribed in the Rules and Regulations. SECTION 10. SELECTION OF POLICE AND FIRE CHIEFS. (a) Intent. It is the intent of this section that vacancies in the positions of Police Chief and Fire Chief be filled by the best quali. fied persons available as deter- mined by competitive examina. tion. Qualifications being sub- stantially equal, preference shall be given to candidates in the Newport Beach Fire and Police i U -J Departments who qualify under the selection process herein de- scribed. This section shall not be con- strued to include the positions of Police Chief and Fire Chief in the System. (b) Selection process. The se- lection of the Police Chief and Fire Chief shall be made by the City Manager from among the candidates whose names appear on an open employment list for the class. Such list shall be cre- ated as a result of an examina- tion consisting of a written test weighted at 50 percent and a qualifications appraisal weighted at 50 percent. The minimum qualifying score on each phase of the examination shall be 70 percent. The written test shall be pre- pared by a professional person. nel agency designated by the City Manager with the approval of the Civil Service Board. T h e qualifications appraisal board which interviews candi- dates successful on the written test shall consist of the follow- ing: (1) The Chairman and one other Board member selected by the Board. (2) Two chiefs selected by the Board from other police or fire departments in cities with popu- lations comparable to Newport Beach. (3) One person selected by the City Manager. The scope of the written test and the factors to be rated by the qualifications appraisal board shall be jointly established by the City Manager and the Board. In order to be eligible to com- pete in the selection process for Police Chief or Fire Chief, all candidates must possess the min. imum qualifications set forth in the class specifications. Such class specifications shall be pre- pared by the City Manager with the approval of the Board. SECTION 11. EXAMINATION ANNOUNCEMENTS. Examina- tion announcements shall be posted not less than two weeks (6) prior to the final date for sub. mitting applications. Such post. ing shall be in a conspicuous place at the City Hall, at the of- fice of the appropriate depart- ment, and at such other places as the Board deems appropriate. SECTION 12. INSPECTION OF EXAMINATION PAPERS. (a) In general. The examina- tion papers of candidates are not subject to inspection by the pub- lic. Upon request made within seven days after the notices of the examination results have been mailed, any candidate may inspect his own examination papers, including the questions and his answers, excepting copy. righted or standardized tests. On copyrighted or standardized tests the candidate may review the ac- curacy of scoring and computa- tions by comparing his answer sheet with the key answer sheet. The written comments of a quali- fications appraisal board and the written evaluation of a psy- chiatrist, if any, shall not be reviewed by the candidate; on request of the candidate, his rat- ing by the qualifications apprais- al board shall be summarized for his information. (b) Review procedure. If the candidate believes an error has been made in the grading of his examination or in the credit giv- en to him he may within twelve days after the mailing of exam- ination results make written ap. plication to the Board for a re- view; provided, however, that in such application he must state specifically and particularly wherein he believes an error has been made. Upon receipt of such applica. tion and in no case later than its next regular meeting, the Board shall examine the candi. date's papers and grades. Any er- ror or injustice shall be correct- ed, and any change in the order of standing of candidates as a result thereof shall be made by the Board. No appointments shall be made from the employment lists until the Board has acted upon such application. The Board's decision shall be final. (9 Y, SECTION 13. EMPLOYMENT CONDITIONS. (a) Applications. The Board shall have the right to require all applicants to submit applica- tions, agreements, or statements pertinent to their employment. (b) Exempt positions. Where there is no actual break in con- tinuous service, an employee having probationary or regular status in a position in the Sys- tem who is appointed to an ex- empt position shall retain such status in the Civil Service posi- tion. Upon vacating the exempt position, the employee shall on his request be restored to his former status in the position un- less the reason for such vacating is sufficient grounds for dis- charge from the City service as described in this ordinance. This provision shall not apply to an employee who resigns from a position in the System and, without a break in his continu- ous service with the City, is ap- pointed to an exempt position. SECTION 14. EMPLOYEE AP- PEALS. The Board shall con- vene in regular or special meet- ings for the purpose of reviewing appeals of regular employees as follows: Any regular employee in the System who has been sus- pended, demoted, or discharged may, within a period of five days after such action, request of the department head a written state- ment of the reasons for such ac- tion. The department head shall furnish such statement within five days thereafter. The employ- ee may, within ten days there- after, file a written answer to such reasons with the Board. The Board shall within fifteen days investigate the case and shall schedule a hearing. The hearing shall be a closed hearing at the request of the employee. SECTION 15. DEMOTION, SUSPENSION AND DISCHARGE. Employees in the System may be demoted, suspended, or dis- charged only on the following grounds: Incompetency; ineffici- ency; dishonesty; misconduct; insubordination; or failure to ob- (7) serve departmental or City rules and regulations. SECTION 16. HEARINGS. (a) In general. Board hear- ings need not be conducted ac- cording to technical rules relat- ing to evidence and witnesses. (b) Right of counsel. The em- ployee may be represented by counsel and shall have the right to produce witnesses to testify in his behalf. The Board shall is- sue subpoenas and compel the attendance of all witnesses. (c) Modification of department head's action. The Board may modify or revoke a disciplinary action only on the following grounds: 1. The facts do not justify the action taken. 2. A substantive violation or omission of procedure was made. 3. The action taken was un- reasonable, capricious or arbi- trary in view of the offense, the circumstances surrounding the offense, and the past record of the employee. (d) Reimbursement for loss of pay. An employee shall be re- imbursed for a loss of pay aris- ing from a disciplinary action against him to the extent that it is subsequently revoked or modi- fied by the Board. Reimburse- ment shall be confined to the period of time between the date of such disciplinary action and the date of the Board's final de. cision as set forth in Section 16 (e) hereafter. (e) Findings. The Board shall certify copies of its findings and decisions to the City Manager, the department head from whose action the appeal was made, and the appellant employee. The Board's decision shall be final. SECTION 17. POLITICAL AC- TIVITIES. (a) Political activities prohib- ited. Any person occupying a position included in the System shall not: 1. Take an active part in a County of Orange or City political campaign. 2. Act as a worker at the polls or distribute badges, pamphlets, dodgers, or handbills of any kind 1171 favoring or opposing any candi- date for election or nomination to a County of Orange or City office. (b) Activities not affected. This ordinance does not prohibit any person occupying a position included in the System from: . 1. Becoming or continuing to be a member of a political club or organization. 2. Attending a political meet- ing. 3. Enjoying complete freedom from interference of any kind in casting his vote. 4. Seeking or accepting elec- tion or appointment to a public office while on leave of absence. 5. Seeking signatures to any Initiative or referendum petition directly affecting his rates of compensation, hours of work, re- tirement, or other conditions of employment , 6. Distributing badges, pam. phlets, dodgers or handbills, or other activities in connection with such petition if not carried on during his hours of work or when he is dressed in the uni- form required in his City depart- ment. SECTION 18. STATUS OF PRESENT EMPLOYEES. Any employee who, prior to the ef. fective date of this ordinance, at- tained probationary or regular status in the System shall retain such status. Employees in per- manent positions in the Police and Fire Departments on such date who had not previously been considered as being in the System shall on such date be presumed to have completed their probation periods and shall acquire regular status in the Sys- tem. SECTION 19. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this ordinance is for any reason held to be un- constitutional, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining provisions. (e) SECTION 20. CONFLICTING LEGISLATION. (a) Conflicts with City Charter. In the event of any conflict be- tween this ordinance and the City Charter, the provisions of the City Charter shall prevail. (b) Conflicting ordinances. Or- dinance No. 511 is hereby re- pealed. SECTION 21. CODIFICATION AMENDMENT. This ordinance may be codified by the City Council in a single chapter of the Newport Beach Municipal Code, but may not be repealed or amended except by a majority vote of the electors voting there- on at any general or special mu- nicipal election. A majority of two- thirds of the electors voting thereon is necessary for the ap- proval of any amendment or re- peal that withdraws any depart- ment, officer or employee from the System. SECTION 22. PENALTY FOR VIOLATION. Any person who violates any of the provisions of this ordinance shall be deemed guilty of a misdemeanor, and upon conviction thereof shall be punished as provided in the New- port Beach Municipal Code for violations of said code. SECTION 23. EFFECTIVE DATE. This ordinance shall be effective ten days after the can- vassing board determines that it was adopted by a majority vote of the electors voting thereon at the special municipal election called for November 4, 1958." The Canvassing Board deter- mined by adoption of a Resolu- tion on Nov. 19, 1958, that this Ordinance was adopted by a ma- jority vote of the electors voting thereon on Nov. 4, 1955. Ordi- nance No. 866 will become effec. tive Nov. 29, 1958. Dated Nov. 24, 1958. Margery Schrouder, City Clerk City of Newport Beach, Calif. 0 STATE OF CALIFORNIA COUNTY OF ORANGE SS. CITY OF NEWPORT BEACH I Margery Schrouder ------------------- ----- ----------------- ---- - - - -- City Clerk of the City of Newport 2-of Beach, California, do hereby certify that the foregoing .Ordinance ---- ---------- -- -- -- ------------------ adopted by a majority vote o lo lectors No..-- -- - --.$66 was eluly-and- regularly adop4ed- passed r and -arpproved- 6rAu-Cif7�Govncif- °af Fljo-Q efrNewporto ach,-Beach,- kzj- �f- safd°Cf4� CoBncq°heFd °at °ffie° hereon r¢gufarmEetingpfae- fhSr 'daf °°n Ae--- ----�g� - -- .....day, of-... - -.....November 19-5.8 by the following vote: AYES: COUNC NOES: COUNCILMEN-- ---------------------------------------------------°--- -------------------------------------------- ----- ------ ----------------- ABSENT: COUNC Dated this...31St........day of .............��cember NB 130 -500 12/56 In City Clork and Fx- ffitio lark of the City Council, City of Newport Boac , State of California