Agenda - Council - 10/10/2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I I I I I I I I I I i I I I I I PC CASE CONSIDER AMENDING PERSONNEL POLICY REGARDING HIRING PROCEDURES By: Rhonda Heryla, Human Resources Manager Background: In recent months, the City of Ramsey has seen a flurry of activity in the area of personnel as staff has been busy recruiting and hiring new employees. In discussions between City Council and staff, the question has been asked whether there is a way to streamline the hiring process and save time - especially when it involves posting for a vacated position or resuming the recruitment process when a job offer has been declined. Currently staff must wait until the next Council meetings to receive authorization to post for a vacated position or resume the hiring process when a candidate declines a job offer. Sometimes days or even a week may pass before staff has approval to continue the recruitment process. Observations: Realizing the City of Ramsey is an administrative form of government, the City Council retains the right to hire or fire City employees. Likewise the Council must approve the creation of any new positions before any kind of recruiting can begin. Staff is proposing an amendment to the personnel policy only in situations where an existing position is vacated and needs to be filled once again or in situations where a job offer has been declined and staff needs to determine whether to go further down the list of applicants or re-advertise for the job opening. Personnel Policy is set forth in section 3.20 of the City Code. In addressing the issue of appointments, section 3.20.03 states: Every appointment to City service shall be made by the appointing authority on the basis of merit and fitness for the position. When required by law or by the Council, merit and fitness shall be ascertained by written, oral, or other examinations designed to evaluate the ability of the candidate to discharge the position for which the examination is held. Based on discussions with Council, staff is recommending the addition of the following language, either within the same section or under a new section 3.20.035 titled Recruitment and Selection: For an existing position, administrative staff may post a job opening when a position is vacated and then bring the information to the City Council at the next scheduled meeting. Furthermore, when a position has already received approval from the City Council and an offer is made to a candidate who then declines, administrative staff and the Department Head may use their judgement in reviewing the list of applicants or re-advertising for the same position. -93-