Study criticizes Watervliet civil service appointments process
For release: Immediate, Monday, October 20, 2008
A New York State Civil Service Commission review indicates the City of Watervliet Civil Service Commission has been generally ineffective in making appointments that complied with the Civil Service Law and Rules. The Watervliet Commission has jurisdiction over a total of 144 employees—86 employed by the City, 46 by the School District and 12 by the Housing Authority. Of these, 71, or 49 percent, are in the competitive class and are selected by competitive examination.
The study lists 13 specific actions that should be taken to come into compliance. In most instances appointing authorities placed persons in positions without submitting the individuals' applications to the Watervliet Civil Service Commission so that it could determine whether the person satisfied the minimum qualifications.
In addition the percentage of competitive-class positions filled by provisional appointment of persons who have not taken an examination is 7 percent, nearly double the statewide average for city civil service agencies. One reason is the failure of the Watervliet Commission to order an examination from the State Department of Civil Service within a month of making a provisional appointment, as Civil Service Law requires.
The New York State Department of Civil Service periodically conducts reviews of local jurisdictions to ensure that the merit system is administered in accordance with Civil Service Law and Rules. These reviews assess practices in one or more of the following areas:
- adopting and enforcing rules regarding employment
- properly allocating positions to a jurisdictional class
- classifying positions
- conducting an examination program
- administration of the appointment process
- maintenance of required records
- reviewing and certifying payrolls
The State directed the Watervliet Commission to submit a detailed plan and timeline for rectifying each of the deficiencies. The State agency's Municipal Services Division will provide assistance.
"The New York State Department of Civil Service is committed to ensuring that municipal civil service commissions are implementing the Civil Service Law and Rules in a credible, trustworthy, fair, and efficient manner," said State Civil Service Commissioner Nancy G. Groenwegen. "We are dedicated to assisting jurisdictions in accomplishing this goal."
Review the complete report:
Appointment Process Administration by the City of Watervliet Civil Service Commission
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