§ 2.60.410. Appointments.

A.

Advance steps for new hires and voluntary reappointments to permanent full-time and permanent part-time positions may be requested under the following provisions and conditions:

1.

There is a demonstrated inability to recruit applicants at the entry level step as certified by the personnel officer.

2.

Prior to the appointment of a new employee to a class or of a present employee seeking a voluntary reappointment, the department head shall make a written request to the personnel officer to establish compensation at a rate of Step B through E in the range assigned to the class when a candidate has training and/or experience beyond the minimum qualifications which is of the same type and level as that involved in the full and satisfactory performance in the class to which the candidate is being appointed. Such request shall follow prescribed procedures and provide sufficient documentation to enable the personnel officer to determine the eligibility for advanced steps.

3.

This information shall be presented to the board of supervisors by the personnel officer, and when appropriate, the respective department head or a representative of the department shall be present. The board of supervisors, by majority vote, shall authorize appointment at a level above the entrance step of the appropriate range.

B.

Upon reinstatement of a previous permanent employee separated due to a reduction in force, or otherwise terminated in good standing, the compensation rate may be established at any step in the range for the class, upon approval of the personnel officer, provided that it shall not exceed the step occupied at the time of leaving county service and the class specifications for the classification have not changed. In cases involving reinstated employees separated due to a reduction in force, reinstatement shall be at the same step occupied at the time of leaving county service and the anniversary date of the employee shall remain the same less the period of time while on layoff.

C.

Upon request of the department head, an extra help employee may be hired above Step A of the appropriate range, if such employee has had prior service in a permanent position in the same classification within the same department or if the individual is currently employed in a permanent position in the same classification in another county department. Such requests shall be made in writing to the personnel officer who will approve, disapprove, or modify the request based on the individual's training and/or experience and the needs of the county.

D.

The compensation for an employee receiving a promotional appointment to a permanent full-time or permanent part-time position shall be at the entrance step of the promoted class, or within five dollars of a five percent increase in the monthly salary, whichever is the greater. However, in no case shall the salary exceed the maximum step assigned to the promoted class.

E.

Prior to promotion, a department head may request approval to establish a compensation rate for a promotional candidate at a higher step in the range than that provided in subsection D of this section of this chapter. The provisions and conditions established in subsection A of this section of this chapter shall govern such requests.

F.

A new anniversary date shall be established upon the promotion date of an employee.

G.

Disciplinary demotions shall be handled under the guidelines and procedures established under Article X of the the county personnel ordinance. Upon disciplinary demotion, an employee shall be assigned to any step in the lower classification range which is at least five percent less than the salary received in the previous class. The employee shall lose all seniority rights in the previous class and the time served in the previous class shall be credited to the new class for the purpose of establishing seniority lists. All disciplinary demotions require approval by the department head. The personnel officer shall insure that disciplinary demotions are handled according to proper procedures. A new anniversary date shall be established upon the effective date of demotion.

H.

If an employee transfers to a different position in the same class, or to a different classification with the same salary range, no pay adjustments shall be made and the individual's anniversary date shall remain the same.

I.

Upon involuntary reappointment, the employee shall continue to receive the same rate of pay if that rate corresponds with a step in the new range. If the employee's rate of pay does not correspond with a step in the range for the new class, then the employee's rate of pay shall be reduced to the nearest dollar amount in the new range. If the employee's pay, prior to the involuntary reappointment is above the maximum step in the new range, pay shall be established at the maximum step in the new class. Under no circumstances shall an employee receive a salary increase upon an involuntary reappointment. The anniversary date of an employee shall remain the same upon an involuntary reappointment.

(Ord. 1087 §1(part), 1986)