San Jose Municipal Code Part 11 Disciplinary Action and Dismissal

As used in this Part 11:

A. "Demotion" means such action by the city manager as shall cause an employee's appointment in one classification to be terminated, and an appointment to be made of such employee in another and different and lower-paid classification.

B. "Disciplinary action" means dismissal, demotion or suspension of any employee.

(Prior code §§ 2016.2, 2016.3.)

In conformity with this Part 11, disciplinary action may be taken against any officer or employee, except as otherwise provided by the Charter, for any cause for discipline specified in this part.

(Prior code § 2016.1.)

Each of the following constitutes cause for discipline of an employee or person whose name appears on any employment list:

A. Malfeasance;

B. Misconduct;

C. Incompetence;

D. Failure to satisfactorily perform the duties of his position;

E. Failure to observe applicable rules and regulations;

F. Failure to cooperate reasonably with his superior officer or fellow officers or employees;

G. Fraud in securing appointment;

H. Inefficiency;

I. Inexcusable neglect of duty;

J. Insubordination;

K. Dishonesty;

L. Drunkenness on duty or drinking of alcoholic beverages;

M. Chronic alcoholism;

N. Use of narcotic or habit-forming drugs without prescription;

O. Inexcusable absence without leave;

P. Conviction of a felony or conviction of a misdemeanor involving moral turpitude;

Q. Discourteous treatment of the public or other employees;

R. Unlawful political activity;

S. Willful disobedience;

T. Misuse of city property;

U. Any violation of departmental conflict of interest codes approved by the city council and adopted pursuant to Chapter 7 of the Political Reform Act of 1974 (Government Code § 87100);

V. Any other act, either during or outside of duty hours which is detrimental to the public service.

(Prior code § 2016.4; Ord. 18502.)

A. The appointing authority may take disciplinary action against an employee for one or more of the causes for discipline specified in this part, as follows:

1. Where the contemplated discipline is a demotion, dismissal or suspension, by personally serving the employee with a written "notice of intended discipline," setting forth the specific nature thereof, the length and commencement date if it be a suspension, and the reasons for the proposed discipline, along with a copy of the charges and materials upon which the action is based. Said "notice of intended discipline" shall also advise the employee that he has five calendar days in which to respond either personally or in writing at an informal hearing before the department head making the charges or the appointing authority-or the person designated by either-and may appear with counsel or representative, to show cause, if any, why such discipline should not be imposed; provided, however, that said five-day period may be extended by department head or appointing authority upon the employee's timely request in writing and for reasons of employee's convenience and necessity.

B. No disciplinary action of any type or duration shall be valid unless a formal written notice thereof is served upon the employee and filed with the secretary of the commission within seventy-two hours of the effective date of the discipline. Such notice of suspension, demotion or dismissal shall be served upon the employee either personally or by mail and shall include:

1. A statement of the nature of the disciplinary action;

2. A statement in ordinary, concise language of the acts or omissions upon which the causes are based;

3. The effective date of the action; and

4. A statement advising the employee of his right to answer and setting forth that the response must be made within the time period specified in the notice of suspension, demotion or dismissal, if his answer is to constitute an appeal.

C. The procedures set forth hereinabove shall not apply to probationary employees who are rejected from probation, pursuant to Section 3.04.1010 of the San José Municipal Code.

D. The procedures set forth hereinabove shall not preclude an employee from entering into a written agreement with the city to settle a pending disciplinary matter, and further shall not preclude an employee from waiving any of the notice provisions, hereinabove provided for, as part of that written settlement agreement. A copy of any such disciplinary settlement agreement shall be filed with the commission.

(Prior code § 2016.5; Ords. 20017, 20893.)

Not later than twenty days after service of the notice of disciplinary action, the employee may file with the commission a written answer to the notice, which answer shall be deemed to be a denial of all of the allegations of the notice of disciplinary action not expressly admitted, and a request for hearing or investigation as provided in this part. With the consent of the commission, an amended answer may be filed. If the employee fails to answer within said twenty calendar days, or after answer withdraws his appeal, the disciplinary action taken by the appointing authority shall be final. A copy of the employee's answer, and of any amended answer, shall be given promptly by the secretary of the commission to the appointing authority.

(Prior code § 2016.6; Ord. 20801.)

At any time before an employee's appeal is submitted to the commission for decision, the appointing authority may, with the consent of the commission, serve on the employee and file with the commission an amended or supplemental notice of disciplinary action. If the amended or supplemental notice presents new causes or allegations, the employee shall be afforded a reasonable opportunity to prepare his defense thereto, but he shall not be entitled to file a further answer unless the commission so orders. Any new causes or allegations shall be deemed controverted and any objections to the amended or supplemental causes or allegations may be made orally at the hearing or investigation and shall be noted in the record.

(Prior code § 2016.7.)

A. Whenever an answer is filed to a disciplinary action, the commission shall hold a hearing within forty-five (45) days from and after the date on which said answer is filed, or at such other time as may be agreed to by the officer or employee filing the answer and the commission. The commission shall notify the parties in writing of the time and place of the hearing. Except as provided in subsection D. below, the hearing shall be open to the public and held in the council chambers or other regular meeting place of the commission. The hearing shall be presided over by a member of the civil service commission who is admitted to practice law in the Supreme Court of the State of California, and he or she shall rule on all questions of the sufficiency of the charges, procedures, and the admission and exclusion of evidence. Such hearing shall be conducted in accordance with the provisions of Section 11513 of the California Government Code, which reads as follows:

1. Oral evidence shall be taken only on oath or affirmation.

2. Each party shall have these rights: to call and examine witnesses; to introduce exhibits; to cross-examine opposing witnesses on any matter relevant to the issues even though that matter was not covered in the direct examination; to impeach any witness regardless of which party first called the witness to testify; and to rebut the evidence against the party. If the respondent does not testify in his or her own behalf, the respondent may be called and examined as if under cross- examination.

3. The hearing need not be conducted according to technical rules relating to evidence and witnesses. Any relevant evidence shall be admitted if it is the sort of evidence on which responsible persons are accustomed to rely in the conduct of serious affairs, regardless of the existence of any common law or statutory rule which might make improper the admission of such evidence over objection in civil actions.

4. Hearsay evidence may be used for the purpose of supplementing or explaining other evidence but shall not be sufficient in itself to support a finding unless it would be admissible over objection in a civil action.

5. The rules of privilege shall be effective to the extent that they are otherwise required by statute to be recognized at the hearing.

6. The presiding officer shall have discretion to exclude evidence if its probative value is substantially outweighed by the probability that its admission will necessitate undue consumption of time.

B. Either by deposition or at the hearing, the employee may be examined and may examine or cause any person to be examined under Section 776 of the Evidence Code. The employee shall be allowed to appear personally at the hearing, shall have the right to legal counsel or lay representation of the employee's choice at all times throughout the proceeding, and shall be allowed to produce such competent evidence in his or her own defense and in rebuttal of the charges as the employee or the employee's counsel may wish to offer.

C. The commission shall supply a phonographic or stenographic reporter to record all testimony adduced at the hearing. Either the commission or the employee may order a transcript of the hearing to be prepared, and, except as provided in subsection E. below, such transcript shall be filed with the commission as a public record. If such transcript is ordered by the employee or the employee's representative, the employee shall pay the cost thereof. If such transcript is ordered by the commission, the cost thereof shall be paid from money appropriated therefor by the city council.

D. The hearing for an employee in a City of San José Peace Officer Classification shall be closed to the public unless the employee requests a hearing which is open to the public. For purposes of this section, "peace officer" shall mean peace officers covered by Public Safety Officers Procedural Bill of Rights Act (Gov. Code Sections 3300 - 3312). Representatives designated by the city manager's office and the employee's department or office shall not be considered members of the public and shall not be excluded from the hearing.

E. The transcript of a hearing for an employee in a City of San José Peace Officer Classification shall be sealed unless the employee requests the transcript be made public or unless ordered open by a court of competent jurisdiction.

(Prior code § 2016.8; Ords. 18347, 18394, 28314.)

In any hearing conducted by the commission, it shall have the power to subpoena and require the attendance of witnesses, and the production of books, papers and other evidence pertinent to the investigation and to administration of oaths to witnesses.

(Prior code § 2016.11.)

At any and all hearings conducted hereunder, the city attorney or his authorized representative shall represent the appointing authority.

(Prior code § 2016.16.)

Failure of the employee to appear at the hearing shall be deemed a withdrawal of his answer and the action of the appointing authority shall be final.

(Prior code § 2016.9.)

A. In arriving at a decision, the commission may consider any prior suspension or suspensions of the employee by authority of any appointing authority, or any prior proceedings under this chapter. The decision shall be in writing and contain findings of fact and the disciplinary action, if any. The findings may be stated in the language of the pleadings or by reference thereto. Copies of the decision shall be delivered to the parties personally or sent to them by registered mail.

B. The commission shall render a decision within a reasonable time after the hearing or investigation. The disciplinary action taken by the appointing authority shall stand unless modified or revoked by the commission. If the commission finds that the cause or causes for which the disciplinary action was imposed were insufficient or not sustained, or that the employee was justified in the course of conduct upon which the causes were based, it may modify or revoke the disciplinary action and it may order the employee returned to his position, either as of the date of the disciplinary action or as of such later date as it may specify. The decision of the commission shall be entered upon the minutes of the commission.

(Prior code § 2016.10.)

Dismissal of an employee from the service shall, unless otherwise ordered by the commission:

A. Result in the automatic removal of the employee's name from any and all eligible lists on which it may appear;

B. Terminate the salary of the employee as of the date of dismissal, except that he shall be paid any unpaid salary, and be paid for any and all unused and accumulated vacation, and any and all accumulated compensating time off or overtime to his credit as of the date of dismissal.

(Prior code § 2016.12.)

Whenever the commission revokes or modifies a disciplinary action and orders that the employee be returned to his position, it shall direct the payment of salary to the employee for such period of time as the commission finds the disciplinary action was improperly in effect. Salary shall not be authorized or paid for any portion of a period of disciplinary action that the employee was not ready, able and willing to perform the duties of his position, whether such disciplinary action is valid or not, or the causes on which it is based state facts sufficient to constitute cause for discipline.

(Prior code § 2016.13.)

A. Within fifteen days after the receipt of a copy of the decision rendered by the commission in a proceeding under this part, the employee or the appointing authority may apply for a rehearing by filing with the commission a written petition therefor. Within fifteen days after such filing, the commission shall cause notice thereof to be served upon the other parties to the proceedings by mailing to each a copy of the petition for rehearing, in the same manner as prescribed for notice of hearing.

B. Within forty-five days after service of notice of filing of a petition for rehearing, the commission shall either grant or deny the petition in whole or in part. Failure to act upon a petition for rehearing within this forty-five-day period is a denial of the petition.

(Prior code § 2016.14.)

If the petition for rehearing is granted, the matter shall be set down for hearing by the commission. The hearing shall be conducted as to the matters on which granted in substantially the same manner and under like rules of procedure as an original hearing upon charges under this part.

(Prior code § 2016.15.)