Civil Service
History:
In 1998-2000 a comprehensive classification review was
undertaken by the Capital Region Board of Cooperative
Services (BOCES) and the Municipal Services Division of the
NYS Department of Civil Service in order to classify the
employees of the agency. During the end of the process, in
late-2000, a new Personnel Officer, Daniel Leyden, was
appointed by the Albany County Department of Civil Service,
and the study was never completed. At the time of Mr.
Leyden's appointment, a tentative classification plan was
complete and draft job specifications were under review by
Capital Region BOCES. It is unclear why the classification study
did not proceed further at that point.
In 2004, the NYS Department of Civil Service conducted an
audit of the operations of the Albany County Department of
Civil Service and indicated in the audit that the
classification study, largely complete, was never adopted.
In the late 2004, this issue was brought forward to the
attention of the BOCES by the new Personnel Officer at the
time, Caitlin Morgan Frederick. Since Autumn 2004, both
BOCES and the Albany County Department of Civil Service have
been taking preliminary steps to ensure that the
classification study is completed appropriately.
In the last few months, much of the discussion has centered
on the examination activities that will be required once the
study has been adopted. In an attempt to permit existing
employees the opportunity to gain examination experience,
the County has ordered and has had scheduled a number of
examinations appropriate or nearly appropriate to the titles
identified by the draft classification plan. Candidates who
take those examinations will have the opportunity to achieve
permanent status depending on the outcome of the
classification study and their examination results.
One component of the discussion has been the availability of
using a single test result to allow appointments to
different titles. Civil Service Law Section 52.7 does permit
this type of process for purposes of promotional appointment
in certain instances. However, since few employees of the
BOCES have permanent status in their titles, this section of
law cannot apply until permanent appointments are made.
A second component of the discussion has centered on the use
of a unique examination process. A beta-version of this
examination process was drafted by the examiners at the NYS
Dept. of Civil Service; however, because of the passage of
time and the loss of resources, it is uncertain whether this
process can be implemented for use in the Capital Region
BOCES. Because the other BOCES around the state have been
making appointments using traditional local examination
methods, it is likely that this will continue to be the case
upon adoption of the classification study for Capital Region
BOCES.
Employee Concerns:
Initial reaction by employees to the renewal of the
classification study with BOCES has been one of grave
concern. Employees fear job loss and feel demoralized that
their current tenure with BOCES is devalued. The Albany
County Department of Civil Service will be making every
effort to ensure that all employees affected by the study
have every available opportunity to successfully complete
the examination requirements; however, employees must
understand that their assistance and cooperation is needed,
and that the activities undertaken are required under State
Civil Service Law, law which cannot be superseded
by any local action.
As noted above, Albany County Department of Civil Service
has held and has scheduled a number of BOCES-related
examinations. The BOCES Department of Human Resources has
been coordinating the distribution of the announcements to
employees who may be serving in an appropriate title.
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