Madera County Civil Service Commission approves broad set of reclassifications, creates two director-level communications roles

The Madera County Civil Service Commission on June 17 approved a package of personnel actions that reclassified several county employees, adopted multiple merit-system job classifications and created two new countywide communications director positions.

The changes approved at the commission's civil service meeting include individual reclassifications in Social Services and the Clerk-Recorder's Office; voluntary demotions for two employees; adoption of multiple Merit System Services (CalHR) classifications used by county departments; creation of a Director of Communications and a Director of Public Safety Communication; and the abolishment of the Public Information Officer classification. Commissioners voted unanimously on each item.

Why it matters: the actions centralize and expand county communications capacity, add higher-level public-safety communications staffing, and finalize a large group of classification adoptions that departments use to recruit and manage positions. Several items also affected individual employees' titles and status and included pay-step clarifications.

Reclassifications and employee-specific items - Administrative assistant 3 (Social Services): Human Resources recommended reclassification of Mr. Velarde to Staff Services Manager after a duties review. Sabrina Mendez of the Department of Human Resources introduced the item. The commission approved the reclassification by roll-call vote (Commissioners Perez, Rios and Frey — yes). - Clerk-Recorder office: the commission approved three changes requested by the Clerk-Recorder. Sabrina Mendez said the Clerk-Recorder requested a review and recommended reclassifying the Clerk Recorder Manager (Miss Luna) to Deputy Director of Clerk Recorder Services, reclassifying the Elections Manager to Deputy Director of Elections, and reclassifying a Senior Deputy Clerk Recorder to Elections Manager. Each motion passed unanimously. - Library office assistant: the commission approved reclassification of Mariana Cook (Library) from Office Assistant 1 to a lateral classification with direct and permanent status. Library Director Krista Riggs told the commission, “There will not be any holes with this reclassification. Mariana's been doing a great job in this position. She'll continue doing what she's already been doing.” HR explained the reclassification reflects duties (including heavier lifting) that exceed the Office Assistant classification limits. - Voluntary demotions: the commission approved written requests from Eliana Ochoa (from Eligibility Worker 1 to Office Assistant 2) and Maria Rogers (from Social Worker Supervisor 2 to Social Worker 4). HR said each employee will be paid at the step closest to their prior monthly salary, “except that the salary shall not be higher than the amount previously received.”

Adoption of classifications and Merit System Services titles The commission adopted a group of Merit System Services (CalHR) classification specifications to make them available for county use, including: Information Systems Analyst I–III and Senior Information Systems Analyst; Services Support Assistant levels 1–3; Social Services Aid; and other related titles. HR staff said the classifications are standard state/MSS job descriptions used by departments including Social Services and Child Support Services and that unions will review them. Deborah Martinez, Director of Social Services, said the changes will have “no negative impacts on any existing staff.”

Communications and public-safety positions Human Resources proposed and the commission approved two new, higher-level classifications: - Director of Communications: HR described the role as established “to enhance the presence and transparency of Madera County” and to centralize outreach about county programs, services and events. HR staff said the county currently uses a contracted public information officer and a distributed public information team and that the new classification would replace the contracted role when implemented. Shanika Dixon, Human Resources, introduced the item. - Director of Public Safety Communication: developed in collaboration with the Sheriff's Office, HR said this role would oversee strategic planning and management of sensitive public-safety communications such as evacuation warnings, wildfire information, AMBER/Silver alerts and other crisis messaging. Both motions passed by unanimous roll call. HR told the commission that salary recommendations for both positions will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for approval.

Abolishment of Public Information Officer classification Following the adoption of the two new director classifications, the commission approved abolishing the existing Public Information Officer classification. HR said the job duties previously under that classification will be absorbed by the two new positions; the classification had been vacant for some time, and HR told commissioners no current employees would be displaced.

Votes at a glance - Consent calendar: approved (Commissioners Perez, Rios, Frey — yes). - Reclassify Administrative Assistant 3 to Staff Services Manager (Mr. Velarde): approved (3–0). - Reclassify Clerk Recorder Manager to Deputy Director of Clerk Recorder Services (Miss Luna): approved (3–0). - Reclassify Elections Manager to Deputy Director of Elections: approved (3–0). - Reclassify Senior Deputy Clerk Recorder to Elections Manager: approved (3–0). - Reclassify Office Assistant 1 (Mariana Cook) to lateral classification with direct and permanent status: approved (3–0). - Voluntary demotion: Eliana Ochoa (Eligibility Worker 1 → Office Assistant 2): approved (3–0). - Voluntary demotion: Maria Rogers (Social Worker Supervisor 2 → Social Worker 4): approved (3–0). - Adopt Information Systems Analyst I–III and Senior Information Systems Analyst (MSS/CalHR titles): approved (3–0). - Adopt Services Support Assistant levels 1–3 (MSS/CalHR titles): approved (3–0). - Adopt Social Services Aid classification (MSS/CalHR): approved (3–0). - Adopt Director of Communications classification: approved (3–0). - Adopt Director of Public Safety Communication classification: approved (3–0). - Abolish Public Information Officer classification: approved (3–0).

What the commission said and next steps HR explained that salary recommendations for adopted classifications will be forwarded to the Board of Supervisors for later approval. Deborah Martinez summarized department-level effects and told commissioners the MSS adoptions would not negatively affect current staff: “We're using the titles and the job descriptions from MSS as we're required to, but it's not gonna have a negative impact on any employee, current or future.”

The commission also received a staff report noting a final order and decision drafted by counsel related to an earlier appeal; the commission president reviewed and signed the document and copies were distributed to the parties. Commissioners adjourned after the staff report.