Chapter 2.7 City Personnel System

2.7.10 Purpose of this Chapter

The purpose of this Chapter is to establish the personnel system for the City of La Habra Heights.

2.7.20 Unclassified Service

Persons in Unclassified Service have no property right in their position and serve at the pleasure of the appointing authority and may be terminated or demoted without cause or notice. The Unclassified Service positions include all offices and positions noted in this section.

A.    City Manager/City Clerk, the City Treasurer, the City Attorney, the Fire Chief, and Department heads.

B.    Members of appointed commissions and committees.

C.    Persons engaged as contractors to provide expert, professional, technical, internship or any other service and retained pursuant to an employment agreement.

D.    Persons retained under contract on a temporary, seasonal, emergency or casual basis.

E.    Volunteers.

F.    Persons not employed in permanent positions.

G.    Any position primarily funded under a State or Federal employment program.

2.7.30 Classified Service

Classified service refers to persons regularly employed in permanent budgeted positions hired for an indefinite term and regularly scheduled to work not less than one thousand (1,000) hours per fiscal year. Classified employees must have successfully completed a probationary period. Classified employees include all offices, positions and employment in the service of the City except for those noted under Section 2.7.20.

2.7.40 Adoption and Amendment of Rules for Classified Employees

Personnel rules prepared by the City Manager shall be submitted for approval by the City Council. If approved, such rules shall be adopted or amended by City Council resolution. The personnel rules may establish policies and procedures governing the personnel system, including:

A.    The preparation, installation, revision and maintenance of a position classification plan covering all positions in the classified service, including employment standards and qualifications for each position;

B.    The appropriate announcement of the selection process and acceptance of applications for employment;

C.    The preparation and conduct of tests and the establishment and use of employment lists containing names of persons eligible for appointment in the classified service;

D.    The certification and appointment of persons from employment lists, and the making of provisional appointments;

E.    The establishment of probationary periods;

F.    The evaluation of employees during any probationary period;

G.    The transfer, promotion, demotion, reinstatement, disciplinary action and layoff of employees in the classified service;

H.    The separation of employees from City service;

I.    The establishment and maintenance of adequate personnel records for purposes of accounting and legal requirements;

J.    The establishment of any necessary disciplinary appeal and grievance procedures; and

K.    The establishment of vacation, sick leave and other leaves.

2.7.50 Appointments and Dismissal

This Section indicates the rules governing appointment and dismissal procedures for Classified and Unclassified employees. Except for the positions of the City Manager, the City Attorney, and the City Treasurer, the appointing authority of employees is the City Manager.

A.    Procedures for Classified Employees. Appointments to positions in the classified service shall be made in accordance with the personnel rules. The City Manager shall have the authority to reprimand, reduce in pay, demote, suspend or terminate any regular classified employee for cause in accordance with procedures included in the personnel rules. The City Manager may delegate, in writing, the appointing authority to any other officer or employee of the City. The City Council shall have the sole authority to appoint the City Manager, the City Attorney, and the City Treasurer.

B.    Procedures for Unclassified Employees. The City Manager shall have the authority to hire unclassified employees at the direction of the City Council. The City Manager may delegate, in writing, the appointing authority to any other officer or employee of the City. Unclassified employees may be required to sign an employment contract that may terminate at will, by the City Manager.