HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 02051991 - 2.3 . VV``
TO: - ' BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Contra
FROM: Phil Batchelor, County Administrator . Costa
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January 30, 19 91 ��;,: :.�" County
DATE:
STATE PERSONNEL COMMENDATION OF COUNTY'S PERSONNEL SYSTEM
SUBJECT:
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S)OR RECOMMENDATION(S)&BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDATION:
Accept the following report from the County Administrator
transmitting a letter' from the Merit System Services Division of
Cooperative Personnel Services.
BACKGROUND:
The Director of Personnel recently received the attached letter
from the Merit Systems Services Division of Cooperative Personnel
Services, which is a joint-powers agency of the California State
Personnel Board, the City of Anaheim, East Bay Municipal Utility
District, Hayward Unified School District, County of Sonoma and
County of Sacramento.
Each year, the Federal Government asks the State to conduct an
audit of the personnel policies and practices of merit system
counties, particularly in regard to the Social Services
Department and Office of Emergency Services. Compliance with
personnel policies for these departments which are consistent
with federal standards is essential as a condition of continuing
to receive federal funds for these programs.
The audit, which included several analysts who spent nearly a
week in the County, concluded that:
". . .Contra Costa County Personnel Department maintains
high standards in all their personnel operations and
v
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENP eS YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE VV
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S):
ACTION OF BOARD ON February 5, 1991 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED _2!S_ OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
Y I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS XTRUE
L UNANIMOUS(ABSENT ) AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
AYES: NOES: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: ATTESTED-
FEB 5 1991
County Administrator PHIL BATCHELOR,CLERK OF THE BOARD OF
Director of Personnel SUPERVISORS AND COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR
M382 (10/88)
BY ��� DEPUTY
our initial analysis indicates that rules and practices
are in accordance with Federal merit principles."
Of perhaps even more importance, however, was the gratuitous
comment that:
"MSS staff would like to take the opportunity to
comment 'on some areas that we found to be most
commendable."
The letter specifically comments on the career development
program as being progressive and innovative. In addition, the
. audit letter commends the Personnel Department staff because they
are:
". . .committed to doing the job the right way, including
a thorough job analysis each time a recruitment is
started."
These comments are all the more meaningful because the audit
covered every aspect of the Personnel Department' s functioning,
from recruitment and selection; through training and career
development and included employee/management relations,
grievances, and appeals. Also included were affirmative action
and equal employment opportunity.
It is somewhat uncommon for a County personnel department to
receive such high praise, which goes well beyond simply
indicating that the County meets the necessary minimum standards.
The extra effort which is required to achieve and maintain such a
level of professional excellence deserves to be high-lighted and
commended.
The Board of Supervisors has every reason to be pleased with the
performance of its Personnel Director, Harry Cisterman and his
staff in establishing and maintaining such a high level of
professional competence.
i
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COOPERATIVE PERSONNEL SERVICES
MERIT SYSTEM SERVICES
191 Lathrop Way ■ Suite A ■ Sacramento, CA 95815 ■ (916) 924-2253
January 18, 1991
Harry Cisterman, Director
Contra Costa County Personnel Department
3rd Floor, Administration Building
651 Pine Street
Martinez, CA 94553-1292
Dear Mr. a an:
This letter is to update you on the status of the compliance
review conducted in August and September 1990 by Merit System
Services. As you know, the purpose of the review is to see how
your personnel system and operational procedures comply with
Federal merit principles and Local Agency Personnel Standards
(LAPS) to ensure receipt of State and Federal funding for Social
Services and Emergency Services programs.
In our review, MSS staff found that Contra Costa County Personnel
Department maintains high standards in all their personnel
operations and our initial analysis indicates that rules and
practices are in accordance with Federal merit principles.
Our formal report , which is to follow, will identify all the
areas reviewed by MSS , and will specify what we determined to be
the County practice in each of these areas . The areas reviewed
were: recruitment and selection; classification; training and
career development ; employee evaluation; separation and layoff;
equal employment opportunity and affirmative action;
employee/management relations; appeals, complaints and
grievances; political rights and prohibitions; and employment
covered and exempt from standards.
MSS staff would like to take the opportunity to comment on some
areas that we found to be most commendable. First, the career
development and training program in you County is progressive and
innovative. Additionally, the selection process used by your
department not only follows the procedures outlined in Federal
Uniform Guidelines, personnel staff are committed to doing the
job the right way, including a thorough job analysis each time a
recruitment is started.
It also appears that the relationship between personnel and the
line departments that are covered by LAPS is a cooperative one
and you have worked out good resolutions to alleviate the
problems resulting from personnel staffing shortages.
A joint powers agency of: ■ City of Anaheim ■ East Bay Municipal Utility District ■ California State Personnel Board
■ Hayward Unified School District ■ County of Sacramento ■ County of Sonoma
The compliance review process was greatly facilitated by the
organization of your staff as well as their cooperation and
helpfulness. Not only did they provide us with information
requested, but also went one step further by providing us with
background information and explanations as to why certain rules,
procedures, or policies were in existence. MSS staff appreciated
the assistance we received.
As I stated earlier, a draft copy of the formal compliance review
report should be sent to you in the near future. Please feel
free to call me if you have any questions.
Sincerely,
Susan C. Helland
Senior Personnel Management Consultant
Merit System Services