Mendocino County Civil Service Commission approves reclassification and adopts rule amendments

The Mendocino County Civil Service Commission on a unanimous roll-call vote approved three personnel and rule actions during its meeting.

Human resources staff told commissioners that an incumbent in the Department of Social Services has taken on expanded fiscal and supervisory duties, including oversight of accounts-payable processes, coordination with auditors and leadership across fiscal units. Staff recommended reclassifying the position from Staff Services Administrator to Administrative Services Manager I; the commission approved the reclassification by voice and roll-call vote with Commissioners Rose, Wy and Slater recorded as voting yes.

Giovana Argues, HR analyst, presented proposed updates to the Program Specialist series. "The item before you is the modifications of program specialist series," Argues said, describing revisions to classification specifications and minimum qualifications for Program Specialist I, Program Specialist II and Senior Program Specialist intended to better align with current practices and improve recruitment. The commission moved and seconded to adopt the specification changes, and the measure passed unanimously.

Denise Bertlamé, assistant HR director, reviewed posted amendments to the civil service rules, noting the changes were posted on March 5 to comply with the 10-day public posting requirement in Civil Service Rule 16. "You have before you the proposed amendments that were presented and approved with edits for posting at the February 25th commission meeting," Bertlamé said. After asking for further comments and receiving none from the public or commissioners, the commission voted to adopt the amendments as posted.

Patrick Hickey reported there were no comments from SEIU Local 1021 during the employee-organization opportunity. The clerk confirmed that minutes from the February 25, 2026 special meeting were approved earlier in the session.

The commission also announced an adjournment to closed session at 9:03 a.m. to consider a public employee performance evaluation under Government Code section 54957(b). No actions arising from closed session were reported in the public record during this meeting. Human resources reported no additional items and the meeting concluded with no other business.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (Feb. 25, 2026 special meeting): unanimous approval by commissioners present. - Item 6A — Reclassification (Staff Services Administrator → Administrative Services Manager I), Department of Social Services: approved; Commissioners Rose, Wy and Slater: yes; outcome: approved. - Item 6B — Classification specification modifications for Program Specialist I, Program Specialist II and Senior Program Specialist: approved; outcome: approved unanimously. - Item 7A — Adoption of posted amendments to civil service rules (posted March 5 to meet Rule 16 posting requirement): approved; outcome: approved unanimously.

Next steps: HR and the Department of Social Services will implement the approved classification and specification updates; the commission recorded no additional follow-up dates during the meeting.