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County Administrator's Report 13. 4.

BCC Regular Meeting

Discussion

Meeting Date:	07/07/2015
Issue: Amendments to the Administrative Code, Title 6, Part 3, Unclassified Service
From:	Jack Brown
Department:	County Administrator's Office
CAO Approval:

RECOMMENDATION:

Recommendation Concerning Amendments to the Administrative Code, Title 6, Part 3, Unclassified Service - Jack R. Brown, County Administrator

That the Board approve amendments to the Administrative Code, Title 6, Part 3, Unclassified Service, per the following:

A. Require that all unclassified position vacancies not be filled on a regular basis unless the position has been open to the public;

B. Provide a provision to allow the Board to approve an exception to public positing;

C. Eliminate the need to publish in the Pensacola News Journal;

C. Make other technical corrections to reflect current terminology;

D. Address language regarding the compensation of Commissioner Aides;

E. Eliminate references to lump sum payments consistent with Florida law;

F. Provide clarification regarding overtime pay and exempt personnel;

G. Clarify how department heads or directors are approved by the Board; and

H. Reduce any severance pay limit to an amount consistent with Florida Statutes.

BACKGROUND:

BCC Administrative Code, Title 6, Part 3 Unclassified Service provided broad powers to the County Administrator to assemble and maintain a management team. Included in these powers was the authority to fill unclassified positions without advertising or making the vacancy known to the public. While this is a very clear and specific power, the desire of this County Administrator and this Board to promote transparency is not served by this policy. Accordingly, the County Administrator has asked this part of the Administrative Code be amended to further goals of transparency.

The County has not published jobs on a regular basis with the Pensacola News Journal for some time as the use of various web sites has essentially surpassed the printed media for exposure and effectiveness. This publishing requirement is eliminated.

Many of the technical corrections are changing bureau chiefs to department head or director.

The revisions permit Commissioner Aides, who serve at the pleasure of each Commissioner, to have a top salary up to but not in excess of what the State law permits a Commissioner to be paid.

Lump sum payments were severely restricted by changes in Florida Laws in 2011. Elimination of lump sum payments is consistent with this law, as is the limiting of possible severance payments to non-contract employees to six weeks.

The provision of overtime pay for exempt personnel was clarified to assure it can only occur by Board action as has been the case under various emergency declarations.

Traditionally department heads or directors have been approved by the board by approval of the annual budget. This process is more clearly delineated. Additionally a department head or director may be approved by specific Board action.

BUDGETARY IMPACT:

N/A

LEGAL CONSIDERATIONS/SIGN-OFF:

N/A

PERSONNEL:

N/A

POLICY/REQUIREMENT FOR BOARD ACTION:

N/A

IMPLEMENTATION/COORDINATION:

N/A

Attachments
Administrative Code - Revised