Civil Service Board changes rules for promotional exams at WCSO

A change was made to Rule 6. The rule in question said going into the meeting, "Examinations for promotional positions, all of which are currently located in the Walker County Sheriff's Department, shall be open to existing employees of the county employed in the Sheriff's Department. Examinations for entry-level positions other than said promotional positions within the Walker County Sheriff's Department shall be open to all citizens of the United States."

The change approved that day opened up all the positions to U.S. citizens, eliminating the limitations for only the sheriff employees. They also removed altogether a provision that called for two types of examinations, open and promotional. The latter was given for sergeant, investigator and captain in the Sheriff's Office and sergeant, lieutenant, captain and jail administrator within the jail. It noted promotional examinations were given only to those employed by the Sheriff's Office, although they were still open examinations and given to U.S. citizens.

Another provision was removed dealing with eligible registers after a promotional exam was given, as far as when the eligible register would expire. The register will expire at the time of the filling of the position, or the end of the 60th day following provision of the eligible register to the hiring authority. If no action is taken to fill the position within 60 days after the provision of the eligible register, the position must be reposted.

Another provision under Rule 7 was removed saying a promotion under a promotional exam could only be made if a promotional exam is passed.

Another section was removed, saying, "With the prior approval of the Civil Service Board of Walker County, a hiring authority or department head may temporarily reassign an employee under his or her supervision to a position which is different from the position held by the employee. No such authorization shall be granted for a period of time exceeding 120 days in any one year period.

"Reassignment shall not be approved if the employee is thought to be reassigned outside his or her department, office or district, or if the employee lacks the qualifications to fill the position to which he or she has sought to be assigned. If a temporary assignment under this section is to a position with a higher rate of pay, then the employee shall be compensated at the higher rate of pay during such temporary assignment. If a temporary assignment under this section is to a position with a lower rate of pay, then the employee shall receive his or her regular rate of pay and the pay shall not be lowered on the account of the temporary assignment."

Asked after the meeting what the changes were about, Chairman Eddie Miller said, "We're putting it back like it was for all employees. We've had some complaints. This was a promotional exam within the Sheriff's Department only. We're putting it back so the probate judge people, they'll have to do like they did. We're either going to have to leave it that way or move it back, we felt like, to let everybody do it. We felt like changing for one would be better than changing for all departments."

He said anyone can take the test, including the ones in the Sheriff's Office. He noted about two months earlier no one qualified for a lieutenant position in the jail. "Our hands were tied," he said. "This eliminates that. Now anyone can come in from the public and take it. And if we don't have nobody who qualifies at the Sheriff's Department, either deputies or jail, then they get it."

Those from the public would still have to meet the qualifications for the position, he said.

In other action, the board:

• acknowledged a grievance filed by Linda K. Farley on March 24 against Solid Waste Director Rodney Cain and common laborer Nicole Nuss. Miller said, "We need this to go to the chairman (Walker County Commission Chairman Steve Miller) since a department head is involved with Miss Farley and let them see if they can work it out. If they can't, they can bring it back to the board." Attorney Russ Robertson, who is the board's attorney, said the Civil Service Act allows if the board determines that the good of the board will not be served by a trial, and the charges of a minor nature, they may be referred by the board to the proper department head who shall investigate and make a recommendation to the board.

The public agenda also mentioned correspondence that required no action. This included:

• noted investigator Bryant Parkhurst and investigator Darrell Mote resigned effective March 28, while investigator Nick Moseley resigned effective March 30, all from the Sheriff's Office.

• posted in-service/transfer for three deputy sheriffs in the Sheriff's Office and posted in-service/transfer for three jailers in the Sheriff's Office. One signed for deputy, Manuel Ruiz, was also in-service/transferred to a sheriff's deputy position effective March 17. In addition, Antonio (Tony) Reid was promoted to a full-time captain in the Sheriff's Office, effective March 17; Johathan Edwards was hired from the eligible register for a jailer position effective March 19; and Jason Darty was hired from the eligible register as a sheriff deputy effective March 19.

• posted in-service/transfer for one business license administrative assistant in the probate office. One signed, Angie Locke.

• posted in-service/transfer for one journeyman mechanic in District 4, with one signed, Harolyn Scott.

• noted Tianna Shepherd-Ollie was hired from the eligible register as a probate clerk in the Probate Office, effective April 2.

• noted Justin Curington and Benjamin Holmes were in-service/transferred to driver/operator positions in the Solid Waste Department effective March 17.

• noted a new application was posted for entry-level clerk.