Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Calaveras County staff ask board to pursue leaving state merit hiring system to speed human-services recruiting
Summary
Human Resources told the Board of Supervisors it will prepare personnel ordinance changes and paperwork to seek approval as an approved local merit-systems agency so county Human Services positions can be recruited locally to shorten long posting delays and better match job duties.
Human Resources Director Judy Hawkins told the Calaveras County Board of Supervisors on March 24 that the county will move forward with steps to seek approval to withdraw Human Services positions from the statewide/state-federal merit employment system and to operate as an approved local merit-systems (ALMS) agency.
Hawkins said the change is driven by recruitment delays and inconsistent administration by the state merit system, which she said has taken weeks to months to post openings that county HR can open in 24 hours. She said the county wants more ability to tailor job descriptions, post locally and reduce the number of out-of-area applicants who accept interviews but do not appear for panels.
The presentation explained that becoming an ALMS agency requires staff to demonstrate recruitment, selection and advancement processes, compensation and training policies, performance-appraisal and corrective-action procedures, EEO safeguards, and records-retention systems. Hawkins said the county already uses an electronic recruiting system and is rewriting personnel ordinances to meet those requirements.
Marcus (Human Resources staff) and Hawkins told the board they have discussed the plan with labor groups and that management, line staff and unions are supportive of continuing the work. Hawkins said the change would not alter salaries but would increase HR workload to implement and maintain ALMS compliance and audits.
Board members asked about legal or contractual limits on withdrawing from merit systems and sought clarification about the federal and state funding implications. HR staff said each step will be brought back to the board: the board will adopt personnel policies, sign a letter to merit administrators, and certify readiness for audits. Members indicated preliminary support for moving forward and asked staff to return with formal documents and a timetable.
Next steps: HR will continue ordinance revisions, labor consultations and will return to the board with the formal documents and a proposed timeline for ALMS application and certification.
