Personnel committee approves a package of reclassifications, a temporary-trainee authority and a new clerk secretary

The Orange County Personnel and Compensation Committee on April 14 approved a set of personnel changes that included reclassifying a Senior Account Clerk (grade 7) to Associate Account Clerk I (grade 9), reallocating an assistant director's position from grade 15 to grade 17, creating a temporary/trainee appointment authority under Civil Service Law section 64, and establishing a confidential secretary position in the County Clerk's office (grade 15).

Committee members said the changes respond to workload and recruitment pressures across county departments. Lacey Trimble, Commissioner of Social Services and Mental Health, described the reclassification for the account clerk as necessary for work in Adult Protective Services, saying the post "is an integral position to the work that they do." The committee approved funding for that reclassification from existing budget legislative request number 095.

The panel approved a reallocation in Employment and Training that moves an assistant director from grade 15 to grade 17; the increase represents $6,124.77 annually, according to the department presentation. Steven Knapp, Director of Employment and Training, said the change reflects long-standing duties above the prior grade.

Langdon Chapman, Commissioner of Human Resources, explained the new temporary/trainee authority under Civil Service Law section 64 as a way to allow short-term appointments for up to roughly 90 days (and, in some circumstances, up to six months) to enable succession and hands-on training without converting experienced staff into contractors. "Typically 90 days, but it could be up to 6 months," Chapman said, summarizing the intended windows for trainee or temporary appointments. He said departments must still follow standard hire-request and budget checks and that money must be available in the relevant department budget lines.

County Clerk Cali Espoo requested and won approval to create a confidential secretary position (grade 15) to reflect duties already performed by the incumbent in that office; the executive secretary and administrative assistant positions will be abolished upon the incumbent obtaining permanent status in the new title (legislative request number 098).

All motions were carried by voice vote. Where recorded, the committee chair called for "all in favor," members answered "Aye," and the chair declared the motions carried. The motions were presented and approved during the meeting; the committee did not provide individual roll-call tallies in the transcript.

The package bundles several personnel moves that county officials said are aimed at retaining experienced staff and smoothing transitions when senior employees leave. Chapman said the temporary appointments are intended to reduce reliance on short-term contractor arrangements and to create clearer on-ramps for successors.