Article VI
CITY OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

Sections:

6.01    Merit Basis of Appointment.

6.02    Personnel Officer.

6.03    Personnel Policy.

6.04    Retirement, Disability, Pension, and Death Benefit Plans.

6.05    Prohibitions – Political Activities – Penalties.

6.06    Exclusion.

6.01 Merit Basis of Appointment.

All appointments and promotions of city officers and city employees shall be made on the basis of merit and fitness.

6.02 Personnel Officer.

The manager shall serve as personnel officer of the city unless, pursuant to this Charter, he shall appoint another person to this office. The personnel officer shall administer the personnel system of the city in accordance with the personnel policy adopted under this article, and shall perform any other duties prescribed by the Council which are not inconsistent with his duties under this policy.

6.03 Personnel Policy.

The personnel officer shall prepare and recommend to the Council rules governing city employment. After a public hearing on such rules, the Council by ordinance or resolution shall approve or reject them in whole or in part, or may modify them and approve them as so modified. Rules and amendments thereto shall become effective when approved by the Council. Thereafter the Council shall have the power to amend, repeal, or add to the rules on the recommendation of the personnel officer or on its own initiative, subject to the requirement of a public hearing. These rules shall provide for:

A. The classification of all city positions, which classification shall be based on the duties, authority, and responsibility of each position, except that the personnel officer with the approval of the Council, may designate specific city positions as unclassified;

B. Salary and wage plans for all city positions;

C. Methods for determining the merit and fitness of candidates for appointment, retention, and promotion in the classified service, which methods shall include, insofar as practicable, competitive examinations;

D. The order and manner in which layoffs may be effected;

E. The procedures for removal and suspension of, and disciplinary action against officers and employees;

F. Procedures for review of actions taken under (C), (D), and (E), of this section by a personnel board, which may make recommendations based on its findings, such recommendations being advisory only, unless otherwise required by general laws;

G. Hours of work, attendance regulations, and provision for sick and vacation leave;

H. Other practices and procedures necessary to the administration of the city personnel system.

6.04 Retirement, Disability, Pension, and Death Benefit Plans.

The Council may by ordinance establish or adopt retirement and pension plans for superannuated officers and employees of the city, and plans for payment of sickness and death benefits and disability benefit plans to cover permanent, partial, or temporary disability incurred by officers and employees of the city. Any plans thus provided shall be financed jointly by the city and the members.

6.05 Prohibitions – Political Activities – Penalties.

No person in the city service nor any person seeking employment therein shall:

A. Take part in campaigns involving the election of any city official, other than to cast his vote and to express privately his opinions;

B. Give or cause to be given any money or other thing of value to any person in connection with an appointment to or promotion in the city service;

C. In any manner solicit or be concerned with soliciting any contribution for any political purpose from any city employee;

D. Commit any fraud or deceit in connection with any appointment to or promotion in the city service or tending to defeat the purpose of this article.

Any person violating any provision of this section shall, in addition to other penalties provided by law, be ineligible for appointment or employment in the city service for a period of five years, and shall, if he be an officer or employee of the city, immediately forfeit such position.

6.06 Exclusion.

Except for Section 6.05 (B), (C) and (D), the provisions of this article shall not apply to the office of councilman.