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1. Immediately after the effective date of the ordinance codified in this chapter the commission shall organize by electing one of its member's chairperson. The commission then shall hold regular meetings, at least once a month, and such additional meetings as it finds are required for proper discharge of its duties.

2. The city manager shall assign at least one city employee to perform such work as is required to support the Civil Service Commission and to perform the functions of Civil Service Commission secretary/examiner. The functions of Civil Service Commission secretary/examiner shall be to keep the records for the commission, preserve all reports made to it, superintend and keep a record of all examinations held under its direction, and perform such other duties as the commission may prescribe. Maintenance of records and reports shall be consistent with and in cooperation with the system of files and records centrally maintained by the Department of Finance and Administration.

3. Any employee assigned to function as Civil Service Commission secretary/examiner may be required by the commission to be assigned from a list of qualified candidates established prior to beginning the assignment by the commission. The commission shall provide by rule those qualifications which are to be examined and the circumstances in which a test will be required. An employee assigned to perform the functions of Civil Service Commission secretary/examiner shall not be disciplined for following any directive of the Civil Service Commission.

4. 

A. The commission shall make suitable rules and regulations to implement this chapter and which are not inconsistent herewith. Such rules and regulations shall provide the manners in which examinations may be held, and in which appointments, promotions, transfers, reinstatements, demotions, suspensions and discharges shall be made. The rules and regulations and any amendments thereto shall be available for free public distribution. Such rules and regulations may be changed from time to time by action of the commission in open meeting.

B. All examinations shall be practical and shall consist only of subjects which will fairly determine the capacity of persons examined to perform duties of the position to which appointment is to be made.

C. The rules and regulations adopted by the commission shall provide for veterans' credits as provided by law.

D. The commission may make investigations concerning all matters relating to the enforcement and effect of the provisions of this chapter, and of its own rules and regulations. It may inspect all institutions, departments, offices, places, positions and employments affected by this chapter, to ascertain whether this chapter and its rules and regulations are being obeyed.

In addition, the commission may make like investigation upon the duly verified petition of a citizen, stating that irregularities or abuses exist in the administration of the civil service system and setting forth the concise language, in writing, the necessity for such investigation; provided, however, before conducting any such investigation on petition of a citizen, the petition shall have been referred to the city manager for a report and recommendation.

In the course of any investigation which it makes under this chapter, the commission shall have the power to administer oaths, subpoena and require the attendance of witnesses and the production of books, papers, documents and accounts pertaining to the investigation, and also to cause the deposition of witnesses residing within or without the state to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for like depositions in civil actions in the superior court. The oaths administered and the subpoenas issued hereunder shall have the same force and effect as if administered or issued by a superior court judge. The failure of any person so subpoenaed to comply with the provisions of this section shall be deemed a violation of this chapter, and punishable as such. The commission secretary/examiner may be given the authority by rule to administer oaths and issue subpoenas on behalf of the commission.

E. All hearings and investigations before the commission shall be governed by this chapter and by rules to be adopted by the commission. In the conduct of hearings and investigations the commission shall not be bound by technical rules of evidence. No informality in any proceedings or hearing, or in the manner of taking testimony before the commission, shall invalidate any order, decision, rule or regulation made, approved or confirmed by the commission.

F. The commission shall hear and determine appeals or complaints respecting the work of the examiner or of the personnel department relating to administration of civil service, including appeals for the rejection, correction or remedying of any examination.

G. The commission shall provide for, formulate and hold competitive tests to determine the relative qualifications of persons who seek employment in any class or position. It shaft establish eligible lists for the various classes of positions, based upon the results of such exams. Its rules also shall provide that employees laid off because of curtailment of expenditures, reduction in force, or for like causes, shall head the applicable eligible list in the order of seniority, to the end that they shall be the first to be reemployed.

H. When a vacant position is to be filled, the commission shall certify to the appointing authority, on written request the names of persons highest on the eligible list for the class consistent with its rules and Section 2.57.065 of this chapter.

I. The commission shall make provision in its rules for provisional or temporary appointments which may be made in the event there is a need to fill a position for which there is no eligibility list. No such temporary or provisional appointment shall exceed a period of six months in duration; provided, if such an appointment is to a position other than fire lieutenant or fire captain, the acting appointment may be extended by the commission for not to exceed an additional six months if it cannot determine prior to the expiration of the initial appointment that the position being filled by temporary or provisional appointment will in fact become vacant. Such extensions can be considered by the commission in instances such as positions being vacant due to an officer on disability leave under the LEOFF Act. (Ord. M-2768 §3 (part), 1988)