§ 2-35. Selection procedures for the position control system.

The personnel director shall administer the efficient and fair selection of applicants for vacancies in the position control system pursuant to the policies and procedures set forth herein, in the employee handbook, and applicable laws.

(a)

Filling vacancies: A vacancy in the position control system shall be filled only by adherence to the policies and procedures adopted by the council and as required by law.

(b)

Position approval:

1.

The council retains the sole authority to create and appropriate funds for new positions.

2.

The council may delete any position, and any department head may delete any vacant positions in his department.

3.

The council shall receive the opinion of the personnel director relative to proposed changes in the position control system prior to any action being taken.

(c)

Advertising vacancies: The department head shall initiate the advertisement of a vacancy, or an anticipated vacancy, in his department. Department heads and the budget director shall verify budgetary authorization before any vacancy may be filled.

1.

The personnel director shall approve the form and content of each vacancy advertisement and shall ensure that a vacancy is advertised for at least fourteen (14) calendar days.

2.

The personnel director shall establish and modify as needed council employment application forms. He may refuse to process any incomplete application.

(d)

Screening and ranking applicants: The personnel director shall screen and rank applicants and shall forward the applications to the department head. The personnel director shall prominently identify those applications from veterans who are residents of the parish who meet the minimum qualifications to the department head. The department head shall select which applicant to hire, keeping in mind that it is the intent of the commission council that the veteran who is a resident of the parish shall be given preference when qualifications for the job are substantially equal.

(e)

Rejecting applicants: Any applicant selected by a department head for employment in the position control system who, in the personnel director's opinion, does not meet the selection criteria for that position or who is likely to cause injury or damage to the parish, shall not be employed, and no wage or other payments shall be made. A department head may challenge the rejection of an applicant before the council.

(f)

Physical examination: All applicants are required to pass a physical examination before starting work.

(g)

Transfers and promotions: Any promotion shall be announced and shall be advertised unless declared exempt by the council.

1.

When an employee is selected for an exempt promotion across departments, both affected department heads must approve the promotion.

2.

When a vacancy has been advertised, the permission of the department head of the department from which the employee will be transferred or promoted is not required provided that the affected department head receives a one-week notice of said transfer or promotion.

3.

The personnel director shall review all exempt promotions to ensure that position qualifications have been met.

4.

Any employee chosen by a department head for transfer, promotion, or demotion, for a position within his department who, in the personnel director's opinion, does not meet the selection criteria for the position or who is likely to cause injury or damage to himself or the parish should he assume said position, shall not be transferred, promoted or demoted. The department head may challenge the personnel director's action before the council.

(h)

Position substitution: A department head may modify the inventory of budgeted positions in his department by the substitution of a position with lower pay and lesser requirements in place of a position with higher pay and greater requirements when:

1.

Necessary to hire an employee even though applicants for a vacancy do not meet the minimum qualifications; and

2.

Current employees are not qualified for exempt promotion to fill the vacancy; and

3.

The substituted position is a position from which an employee can be promoted, by exempt promotion, to fill a vacancy when he meets the appropriate qualifications; and

4.

The substitution does not result in either an increase in the total number of positions budgeted or in a budgetary increase.

(i)

Permanent seasonal and temporary positions: All permanent seasonal and temporary vacancies shall be filled as described in this section. A temporary employee shall be terminated when the authorization for his position expires.

(j)

Filling vacancies temporarily: Upon approval of the personnel director, a vacant position may be filled immediately by a new employee for a period of not more than six (6) weeks, provided that:

1.

The new employee is hired pursuant to the procedures established in this section except for the requirements for advertisement; and

2.

The new employee is terminated before the position is permanently filled.

(k)

Notification: The personnel director shall immediately notify the department head, both verbally and in writing of any action, decision or opinion taken by him under paragraphs (c), (e), (g)-4, (h), (i) and (j), affecting his department.

(Ord. No. 633, § 4, 8-7-85; Ord. No. 698, § II, 10-1-86)