La Mesa Municipal Code Ch. 3.12 Appointments and Promotions

Responsibility and authority to make appointments to all positions in the city service, except those of city attorney and city treasurer, and the members of boards and commissions, rests in the city manager.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 1 (part); April 4, 1957: Ord. 2014-2837, § 4; November 4, 2014)

All appointments shall be made on the basis of merit and fitness, to be ascertained as far as possible by competitive examinations.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 1 (part); April 4, 1957)

All examinations shall relate to matters which will test the capacity and fitness of the candidates to discharge efficiently the duties of the positions for which the examinations are held.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 1 (part); April 4, 1957)

Examinations may be assembled or unassembled and may include written, oral, physical or performance test or any combination thereof.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 1 (part); April 4, 1957)

Examinations may take into consideration such factors as education, experience, aptitude, knowledge, character, physical fitness, or any other qualification which, in the judgment of the city manager and department heads, enter into the determination of the relative fitness of applicants.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 1 (part); April 4, 1957)

All appointments shall be made from lists of candidates so qualified when certified to the department head.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 1 (part); April 4, 1957)

The types of appointments for positions in the city service to which the city manager shall make appointments are defined as follows:

(a) Temporary appointments are made to short term positions of less than six months duration; however, if a position filled by a temporary appointment continues for more than six months, the appointment may be changed to a regular appointment.

(b) Probationary appointments are made to regular positions; that is, positions which are not for a specific project or of a seasonal nature.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 2a and b; April 4, 1957: Ord. 2542 § 2, November 7, 1989)

The probationary period is to be used to secure an effective adjustment by the newly appointed employee and to test further the ability of the employee to perform the duties of the position successfully.

(Ord. 790 Art. 8 § 1 (part); April 4, 1957)

(a) Each employee appointed or promoted to a position in the city service shall serve a working test period of twelve months before they may attain status as a regular employee.

(b) All department heads and division managers hired subsequent to the effective date of this subsection shall not serve a probationary period.

(Ord. 790 Art. 8 § 1 (part); April 4, 1957: Ord. 2014-2835, § 3; November 25, 2014; Ord. No. 2021-2891, § 3, October 12, 2021)

Probationary appointments are limited as noted in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) below, and are intended to provide an appropriate time period for managers to properly observe and evaluate a new employee's performance.

(a) Probationary appointments in the fire service are limited to twelve months.

(b) Probationary appointments in police service are limited to twelve months from date of hire or twelve months from successful completion of an accredited police academy, whichever is longer.

(c) Probationary appointments for employees represented by the La Mesa City Employees' Association are limited to twelve months.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 2(b) (part); April 4, 1957 as amended by Ord. 1415, § 2; March 24, 1964: Ord. 2395, § 1; September 10, 1985: Ord. 2514 § 1; November 22, 1988; Ord. No. 2021-2891, § 3, October 12, 2021)

The probationary period may be extended for an additional six months upon the recommendation of the department head and approval of the city manager.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 2(b) (part); April 4, 1957)

During this working test or probationary appointment period, department heads may be asked for periodic reports on the quality of work of probationary employees, by the city manager.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 2(b) (part); April 4, 1957)

If the employee fails to meet required standards of performance, he is to be dismissed or if he is a promoted regular employee, he may be restored to the position from which he was promoted or to a comparable one if a vacancy exists at that time.

(Ord. 790 Art. 8 § 1 (part); April 4, 1957)

Regular appointments follow the successful completion of a probationary appointment. City employees so appointed are subject to release only in the event of a layoff that becomes necessary by reason of reorganization, lack of work, or lack of funds or for good cause as provided in Sections 3.32.060 — 3.32.100 inclusive.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 2(c); April 4, 1957)

Emergency appointments may be made by department heads without prior approval of the city manager when emergency conditions require the immediate filling of positions to insure the performance of urgent city service.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 2(d); April 4, 1957)

Except in the circumstances warranting emergency appointments, the city manager is to be advised as far in advance as possible of the staff requirements of all city departments so that appropriate steps may be taken in determining the classification and appropriate salary rates for such positions, locating candidates for the vacancies in the city service, and in determining the best method of recruitment to insure appointment on the basis of merit.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 3 (part); April 4, 1957)

It is the policy of the city to fill vacancies on the basis of merit and fitness and, insofar as possible, in the interest of the city, to promote city employees to higher positions when vacancies occur.

(Ord. 790 Art. 7 § 3 (part); April 4, 1957)