§ 26-85. Administration.

(a)

The board of county commissioners shall by majority vote approve the civil service rules and regulations for Broward County, Florida. A five-sevenths vote of the full board shall be required to amend the civil service rules and regulations.

(b)

The county shall use hearing officers to hear civil service disputes in accordance with this article and the civil service rules and regulations.

(c)

Reserved.

(d)

The county administrator shall have final responsibility for implementing and carrying out an equal employment opportunity program. These responsibilities shall include:

(1)

Appointment and continuing supervision of a top level policy making staff member who will serve as director of the office of equal opportunity.

(2)

The granting of sufficient authority and resources to the director of the office of equal opportunity to carry out and to implement the provisions of an affirmative action plan to be adopted by resolution.

(e)

The county administrator shall have the power and authority to order the payment of back pay to any county employee who was reinstated after suspension, demotion, or dismissal and, upon a decision by a hearing officer pursuant to this chapter and the civil service rules and regulations, to award such compensation.

(f)

The civil service rules and regulations for Broward County, Florida, shall become effective September 1, 1975, thereafter notice of subsequent additions or changes to said rules and regulations shall be given to all affected county employees prior to enactment by the board of county commissioners. All amendments to the civil service rules and regulations shall be by resolution of the board of county commissioners as provided in subsection (a), and when enacted shall have the force and effect of law.

(g)

The policies of the board of county commissioners, Broward County, Florida, shall provide for:

(1)

The classification of all positions, based on duties, authority and responsibilities of each position; and a grouping into classes of similar positions which are approximately equal in difficulty and responsibility, which call for the same general qualifications, and which can be compensated equitably within the same range of pay under similar working conditions;

(2)

A pay plan for classified civil service position;

(3)

Announcement of position vacancies and acceptance of applications for employment;

(4)

Preparation and administration of competitive examinations, assembled and unassembled, as appropriate, for initial appointments and for promotions;

(5)

Establishment and use of eligibility lists for filling vacancies by initial appointment and promotion.

(6)

Filling vacancies on the basis of merit and without regard to political affiliation, race, religion, color, national origin, disability, age or sex, except where age or sex is a bona fide occupational qualification;

(7)

Establishment of a uniform probationary period to be served by all employees prior to final appointment or promotion;

(8)

Establishment of merit promotion policies and procedures;

(9)

Transfer, demotion and reemployment procedures;

(10)

Periodic performance evaluations of employees, including those in probationary periods;

(11)

Separation of employees from the classified civil service by resignation, suspension, dismissal, layoff or incapacity to perform required duties;

(12)

Grievance and appeal procedures;

(13)

Establishment of hours of work, holidays, vacations, leave regulations and procedures;

(14)

Regulation of outside employment of county employees;

(15)

Development of employee morale, safety and training programs;

(16)

Such other matters as may be necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this article.

(h)

The director of human resources is responsible for the administration of the Broward County human resource system according to the approved civil service rules and regulations and shall direct all of its administrative and technical activities, subject to review by the director of the Finance and Administrative Services Department and the county administrator. The director of human resources may designate any staff member of the division of human resources to assist in carrying out these activities. The director of human resources' duties shall include, but not be limited to, the following:

(1)

Encourage and exercise leadership in the development of effective human resource administration practices within Broward County, Florida.

(2)

Administer the civil service rules and regulations and issue operating instructions and interpretations of the rules to employees.

(3)

Publicize through appropriate channels job vacancies to be filled by initial appointment or by promotion and the required procedure for applying for same. Develop and administer such recruitment and examination programs as may be necessary to obtain an adequate supply of competent applicants to meet the needs of the service.

(4)

Based on written or other examination, as appropriate, rate and rank candidates for initial appointment and for promotional vacancies and submit a list of the best qualified eligibles to the appointing authority for selection, in accordance with the civil service rules and regulations.

(5)

Establish and maintain registers of eligible persons who have successfully qualified through the competitive process for appointment to the classes of positions involved.

(6)

Approve all appointments made to positions in the classified service in accordance with the approved civil service rules and regulations.

(7)

Establish and maintain comprehensive personnel records for each employee of the county, including for each employee the class title of the position held, salary or pay rate, date of employment, and any other relevant data as may be deemed desirable or useful to produce significant factors pertaining to human resource administration.

(8)

Prepare or cause to be prepared up-to-date job descriptions for all positions in the classified civil service, with copies maintained and available in the offices of the division of human resources.

(9)

Foster and develop programs for the improvement of employee effectiveness, including training, safety, health, welfare, fringe benefits, supportive services and other appropriate areas.

(10)

Administer the pay plan, including the periodic study of wage and salary levels in the labor market, and make recommendations to the county administrator for amendments to the pay plan.

(11)

Investigate periodically the operation and effect of this article and the policies made thereunder and report pertinent findings and recommendations to the county administrator, as appropriate. Advise the county administrator on matters affecting the most effective use of human resources. The actions described herein are to be channeled through the director of the Department of Finance and Administrative Services.

(12)

Prepare and recommend to the county administrator such amendments to the civil service rules and regulations as may be advisable to carry out the intent and purposes of merit principles in personnel administration.

(13)

Make periodic reports to the county administrator regarding the status of the personnel administration program.

(14)

In consultation with the county attorney's office, and the hearing officer(s), prepare rules of procedure for the conduct of evidentiary hearings. The rules shall be consistent with the civil service rules as well as federal, state and county laws. Upon approval by the county administrator, those rules shall govern the conduct of evidentiary hearings by the hearing officer(s).

(15)

Perform such other duties and activities with reference to human resource administration, not inconsistent with federal, state or county acts, laws or regulations, as may be necessary or desirable to enforce the provisions of this article and the civil service rules and regulations.

(Ord. No. 75-20, § 5, 6-18-75; Ord. No. 76-62, §§ 1.01—10, 11-9-76; Ord. No. 83-18, § 1, 5-10-83; Ord. No. 90-27, § 18, 9-11-90; Ord. No. 91-32, § 1, 9-11-91; Ord. No. 95-30, § 16, 7-11-95; Ord. No. 1999-53, § 1, 9-28-99)