Agenda - 10-05-2004-7b - Laserfiche WebLink

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Attachment 2 Transfer of Animal Control Positions and Employees O to the New Animal Services Department The Orange County Animal Control Division presently is located in the Orange County Health Department. The Animal Control Division has eight permanent positions, including the Animal Control Director, five Animal Control Officers, one Administrative Assistant and one Office Assistant Effective with the implementation date of the new department, the Animal Control Division, including all employees and positions, will transfer organizationally from the Health Department to the new Animal Services Department. With the transfer, the Animal Control Director will report to the proposed new Animal Services Director. Under State law, employees of the Orange County Health Department are covered by the requirements of the State Personnel Act, With the transfer, the Animal Control employees will no longer be covered by the State Personnel Act. In terms of the State Personnel Act requirements and the County's personnel policies, there are three changes resulting from this transfer that potentially impact employees: Any decision as to dismissal, disciplinary suspension or disciplinary demotion of an Animal Control employee would be made by the Ccunty Manager rather than the Health Director, Presently these decisions are made by the Health Director, Any employee appeal of a dismissal, disciplinary suspension or disciplinary demotion would be to the County's Personnel Hearing Board rather than to the State Personnel Commission. Presently the appeal is to the State Personnel Commission. After hearing an employee appeal, the Personnel Hearing Board's recommendation would be made to the County Manager and the final decision on the appeal would be that of the County Manager. Presently the State Personnel Commission's recommendation is made to the Health Director and the final decision on the appeal is that of the Health Director. Since the County already has a substantial equivalency arrangement with the State in terms of job classification, pay, recruitment and other key personnel policies and since each permanent Animal Control employee who will transfer will continue to have a "property right" in his or her job under the County's Personnel Ordinance -the same right as under the State Personnel Act -there is no impact on the employees of moving from coverage under the State Personnel Act to coverage under the County's policies other than the changes in the disciplinary responsibility and appeal process described above. Later this fall, the Personnel Director plans to meet with the Animal Control employees to explain the transfer process and impacts as well as answer any questions, At that time, she also will provide written information to each employee describing the change.