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Article VII
Merit System

Section 7.010. There is established a system of personnel administration for the appointment of all county employees and appointive county officers, except as otherwise provided in this charter, on the basis of merit ascertained as nearly as practicable by competitive examination and for the retention of said employees and officers on the basis of merit and ability. It is also the purpose of the merit system to provide a plan for classification of positions whereby, in determining the rate of basic pay which an employee will receive, the principle of equal pay for substantially equal work will be followed and variations in rates of basic pay paid to different employees will be in proportion to substantial differences in the difficulty, responsibility, and qualification requirements of the work performed and to the contributions of employees to efficiency and economy. The merit system shall not apply to elected officers, heads of departments, the county auditor, the county counselor, the administrative director of the council and, if authorized by ordinance, one executive assistant and one secretary for each of them. The merit system shall not apply to the public administrator, members of boards and commissions, executive staffs of the council and the county executive. The officers and employees of the department of police shall be employed as otherwise provided in this charter.

Section 7.020. There shall be a civil service commission composed of three residents of the county appointed by the county executive subject to confirmation by the council. The members shall be known to be in sympathy with the merit system of public employment, shall hold no other public office and shall serve overlapping terms of four years except any appointed to fill a vacancy occurring during the term of a member. The personnel director shall be secretary for the commission, and shall attend its meetings but shall have no right to vote.

Section 7.030. The civil service commission shall from time to time recommend to the council and county executive policies for the operation of the merit system and shall also:

1. Recommend to the council and county executive, for establishment by ordinance, a basic monthly pay plan, including monthly flat rates for full time and part time personnel and session rates for positions to which the merit system applies;

2. Set up and revise a position classification plan, assign job classifications to pay ranges contained in the basic monthly pay plan, including flat rates and session rates, and establish and amend rules for examination, certification, payment of personnel within the appropriation of funds by the council and other necessary details of personnel administration;

3. Hear appeals as provided by ordinance in case of disciplinary actions by appointing authorities, and from decisions of the personnel director in cases involving examinations and examination ratings;

4. Promulgate a system of veterans' preference in examinations;

5. Promulgate rules prohibiting employees and officers under the merit system from engaging in political activities or being required to make any political contributions;

6. Exercise such other powers and perform such other duties as may be authorized by ordinance.

Section 7.040. There shall be a personnel director who shall be appointed by the county executive under the merit system and who shall administer the merit system and exercise those powers and perform those duties required of him by ordinance. He shall appoint such other assistants and employees as are necessary to carry out his duties and functions and as may be authorized by ordinance. He shall be the chief administrator for the merit system and shall certify all additions, deletions and changes in payrolls of employees subject to the merit system. Unless otherwise provided by ordinance the personnel director shall be in the department of administration.

Section 7.050. The adoption of this charter shall not affect the merit system status of any employee subject thereto at the time this charter takes effect, except as otherwise provided by this charter.