City violated Civil Service Rules when hiring employees, Commission finds

The City of Stockton’s Civil Service Commission found City officials violated Civil Service Rules when hiring two employees into jobs for which they never tested or competed.

Earlier this year, the Administrative Services Department hired two new employees in the finance division as full-time Office Specialists. Although these employees had tested and competed for other civil service examinations, they were never on any hiring list for Office Specialist. The employees were hired from outside City employment at the same time several long-term SCEA members were actively participating in a promotional examination for Office Specialist. The appointments occurred just days before the promotional list for Office Specialist was certified by the Civil Service Commission.

Many of the long-term City employees on the promotional list have received layoff notices, but were never interviewed for the promotional opportunities in finance because those jobs were instead given to the two new employees from outside City service.

SCEA initiated the appeal to the Civil Service Commission in April 2011. A public hearing before the Civil Service Commission was held on June 1, 2011. The City was represented by Deputy City Attorney Marci Arredondo. SCEA and its aggrieved members were represented by attorney Joe Rose.  On June 16, the Civil Service Commission adopted its unanimous written decision finding City staff violated the Civil Service Rules and directing the staff to comply with the Civil Service Rules.

An audio recording of the hearing is available on the City’s website, as is the written decision of the Commission.