Commission posts proposed civil service rule amendments after questions over 'hearing officer' wording

The Mendocino County Civil Service Commission voted unanimously to post proposed amendments to Civil Service Rules 1 through 8 for at least a 10-day public comment period under Civil Service Rule 16.

Denise Bartlame, assistant human resources director, said the edits are intended to modernize language, improve readability and reduce the potential for misinterpretation. She asked the commission to approve posting so the amendments can be presented for final adoption at the March meeting.

Commissioners questioned the packet materials, saying redline versions were difficult to locate in their copies. Several commissioners raised a specific concern that the newly added definition of "hearing officer" appeared jumbled in the draft. Lindy Dunaway, senior HR analyst, retrieved a corrected printout to show the intended language. Bartlame read the corrected sentence that staff proposed for the rule: "An individual selected to act as the presiding officer at a disciplinary appeal hearing."

Commissioners also pointed out a sequencing/numbering gap on page nine and asked whether the term "referee," which appears in the rule, is defined elsewhere in county code. Staff said the term is used in the code without a discrete definition and that they will consider clarifying language.

Staff told commissioners that if additional edits are made after the posting period those edits would trigger a reposting for the required 10-day comment period. A motion to post the proposed amendments was moved, seconded and carried unanimously on roll call.

The item will be posted for public comment for a minimum of 10 days and returned to the commission in March for final consideration and potential adoption.