HomeMy WebLinkAbout16 District Code Revision Agenda ItemTRUCK #
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Workshop
To: Board of Directors
From: Nancy Waters, Human Resources Administrator
Date: March 19, 2008
Subject: Proposed Revision of District Code, Title 4 Personnel
1. WHY THIS MATTER IS BEFORE THE BOARD
The District's Code provides rules and regulations intended to convey a comprehensive
descripton of the manner is which the District operates and serves its customers. The
Code shall be followed and adhered to by all employees, Board members and entities
doing business with the District.
Periodically, the Code should be reviewed and updated to conform to District Board
policies and new applicable laws and regulations.
2. HISTORY
At the meeting of January 4th, 2008, staff presented the Board with a prioritized list of
Code sections for review and possible revision. Title 4, containing the District's
personnel policies, is the second section to be reviewed and revised. The current
version contains resolutions, ordinances, and minute orders dating back to the early
1980's. Over the years, these Board actions have been inserted into this Title in various
chapters creating a lack of organization and making policies hard to find.
3. BACKGROUND and NEW INFORMATION
The draft revision to Title 4 includes many minor changes to almost every chapter, as
well as a few with major changes and the addition of new policies. The orgranization of
the Title is improved by arranging the policies into chapters, and includes a Table of
Contents to help locate subjects.
State and federal labor and employment laws are continually changing. Many of the
proposed changes in Title 4 are proposed to bring the District's personnel polices into
compliance with current laws. New policies include Cellular Telephones, Tobacco-Free
Workplace, and Workplace Violence.
Listed below are the proposed changes to the existing Title 4 that have significant
changes.
Chapter 4.01 Civil Service (1982) revised to Chapter 1.1. This section is revised to
remove reference to a civil service system. The Public Utilities Code requires the District
to have a civil service system", meaning that the District is required to have written
policies and procedures for hiring, promotion, discipline and discharge of employees. All
of these requirements are included in our policies and procedures.
Chapter 4.08.024 Nepotism (1990) revised to Chapter 5.3. The existing policy is long
and cumbersome to read and is outdated. The revised version is rewritten to state that
the purpose of the policy is to avoid conflicts of interest in employment, as well as
business and financial relationships.
Chapter 4.16 Disciplinary Procedures (1983) revised to Chapter 10.1. This chapter has
many changes. The proposed revisions include: expanded list of causes for discipline,
detailed description of the progressive discipline process, including Skelly notices and
Skelly meetings. In addition, the Skelly process will be changed to have the General
Manager act as the hearing officer with a follow-on option of binding arbitration available
to the employee.
Chapter 4.47.100 Drug-Free Workplace revised to Chapter 12.7 Drug and Alcohol-Free
Workplace. This policy was revised to add alcohol, as well as drugs, are prohibited in the
workplace.
Chapter 9.3 Cellular Telephones - This is a new policy outlining acceptable procedures
for use of District issed cell phones and includes reference to the new state law taking
effect in July that prohibits the use of cell phones while driving a vehicle.
Chapter 12.4 Tobacco-Free Workplace — This is a policy that incorporates the California
law prohibiting smoking in public buildings, as well as in District workplaces and
vehicles.
Chapter 12.5 Workplace Violence —This is a new policy that defines and prohibits
workplace violence and states that the District is committed to providing a safe and
secure workplace for employees and the general public and will not tolerate any type of
behavior that is threatening or violent in nature.
Attachment 1 is a revised Title 4 with the changes described above. Attachment 2 is a
copy of the current District Code, Title 4.
4. RECOMMENDATION
Review this report and provide comments. An action item on this matter is expected to
be brought to the Board at the meeting on April 2,2008.
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Nancy Caters, HR Administrator Michae�DHo�lley, Gen ra anager