Butte County Municipal Code Art. VI Personnel and Merit System

*Editor's note—Ord. No. 1724, § 1, enacted June 15, 1976, amended this Code by repealing former art. VI, §§ 2-27—2-38 and enacting in lieu thereof provisions pertaining to the same subject matter codified herein as §§ 2-27—2-37. Former art. VI, §§ 2-27—2-38 were derived from Ord. No. 729, § 2—13; Ord. No. 816; Ord. No. 1098, enacted June 30, 1970, and Ord. No. 1318, § 2—4 enacted Jan. 16,1973.

Cross reference—Duties, etc., of county administrative officer in connection with personnel system, § 2.20.4

State law reference—County officers generally, Gov. C., § 2400.

The purpose of this article is to provide for the establishment of a merit system and personnel program to regulate the appointment, advancement and removal of persons to the employ of the county. The merit system and personnel program shall provide for the analysis and classification of jobs, establishment of adequate and equitable wages, fringe benefits and retirement plans; development of effective recruitment, selection, placement, training, employee evaluation and promotion programs; assurance of equal employment opportunity of persons consistent with merit principles without regard to race, national origin, politics, religion, age, sex or other nonmerit factors; protection of employees from discrimination, arbitrary removal, and political pressures; development and administration of positive employee-management relations and communications to promote improvement of personnel management and employer relations by providing a uniform basis for recognizing the rights of county employees to join organizations of their own choice and to be represented by such organizations in their employment relationship with the county or to refrain from joining such organizations.

(Ord. No. 1724, § 1, 6-15-76)

The board of supervisors shall by resolution adopt rules providing for the administration of the merit system and personnel program.

(Ord. No. 1724, § 1, 6-15-76)

A personnel director shall be appointed by the board of supervisors. The director shall be responsible for the administration of the merit system and personnel plan and shall have authority to appoint such employees for personnel work as may be allowed by the board. The personnel director shall establish methods and procedures necessary for the proper functioning of the merit system and personnel programs; provide such personnel services and assistance to department heads and employees that will contribute to the efficient conduct of the county's business; maintain such records necessary for the effective administration of the merit system and personnel program, including a file for each employee which will be available for review by the employee and authorized persons; provide the board of supervisors with such reports and information as they may require. Actions of the personnel director may be appealed to the board of supervisors.

(Ord. No. 1724, § 1, 6-15-76; Ord. No. 2929, § 1, 6-18-91)

All position, except those held by elected officers, boards or commissions, shall be included in a classification plan and shall be classified according to the duties and responsibilities in such a way that equitable schedules of compensation may be applied. Each class shall have a title and a written specification defining the class, describing examples of duties and typical tasks related to the class and setting forth the employment standards and qualifications required of persons appointed to positions in the class.

(Ord. No. 1724, § 1, 6-15-76)

All classes of positions in the classification plan shall be assigned a salary range or rate as provided for by a salary ordinance. Employees appointed to positions in the classification plan shall be paid a salary within the range or rate so provided for in the salary ordinance and according to the procedures established pursuant to section 2-28. The salary ordinance may be amended as necessary from time to time by resolution or ordinance.

(Ord. No. 1724, § 1, 6-15-76; Ord. No. 3808, § 1, 2-12-02)

All nonelected department heads shall be appointed by the board of supervisors or as provided by law. Appointed department heads shall serve at the pleasure of the board of supervisors or as provided by law.

Appointments to positions in the classified service shall be made by department heads or their designated representative. Regular appointments to positions in the classified service shall only be made from among those persons certified by the personnel director as being qualified applicants for appointment to a particular class of position. Appointments shall be made in writing on forms prescribed by the personnel director. The personnel director shall, before approving any appointment to the classified service, determine that there is a vacancy in an authorized position as allocated in the salary ordinance that the work to be performed relates to the concepts of the position as described in the class specification and that the appointment was made from among the highest ranking available qualified candidates for the position.

A copy of the approved appointment shall be delivered to the county auditor before payment shall be made to any employee occupying a position in the classified service. Each employee appointed to a position in the classified service as shown in the salary ordinance who successfully completed a probationary period not to exceed one year shall have permanent status.

(Ord. No. 1724, § 1, 6-15-76; Ord. No. 3832 § 1, 9-10-02)

An employee in a classified service shall receive a merit pay advancement only upon satisfactory performance and in accordance with the procedures established pursuant to section 2-28.

(Ord. No. 1724, § 1, 6-15-76)

An employee may be discharged, demoted or suspended only for reasonable cause. When a department head believes reasonable cause exists, the employee shall be given a written notice specifying the disciplinary action taken, the effective date and the reason for the action. An employee with permanent status shall have the right to appeal that action pursuant to the rules established under section 2-28.

(Ord. No. 17-24, § 1, 6-15-76)

Editor's note—Section 2-35, relating to the personnel appeals commission; § 2-36, relating to removal of commission members for cause; and § 2-37, relating to the hearing officer, all derived from Ord. No. 1724 § 1, adopted June 15, 1976, were repealed by §§ 2—4 of Ord. No. 2929, adopted June 18, 1991.