tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909873906945302299.post2032124799881505624..comments2023-06-04T08:20:57.435-04:00Comments on Port Reporter Unlimited: I found my spine re: the Planning DirectorGillian Swarthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16075628273664457571noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909873906945302299.post-52517748189913115272009-11-02T15:01:03.088-05:002009-11-02T15:01:03.088-05:00Gillian,
As it is currently constructed, civil se...Gillian,<br /><br />As it is currently constructed, civil service effectively limits the applicant pool. Right now, the pool can be internal and the three top scoring candidates on the civil service exam are the pool; or the pool can be opened up and the three top candidates from wherever are the pool. I'm not an expert on the process, but it doesn't make a lot of sense to me. There will be committee meetings on this, so it will be an interesting discussion.<br /><br />Speaking personally, I will be pushing for a defined screening process in City ordinance so politics is pulled out. The hiring shouldn't be done solely by a future Mayor (or City Manager) without broader input. Other communities have done this by having a hiring committee (which could include members or designees of other City departments, Council, School Committee, public safety officials from other local communities) to narrow down the candidates. <br /><br />I also think the contract length should be 3-5 years which would encourage candidates to apply and also give more stability to the respective department than a shorter contract.<br /><br />Ed CameronECChttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10022281860257146989noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-909873906945302299.post-15076099055305289512009-11-02T13:13:05.111-05:002009-11-02T13:13:05.111-05:00I'm remembering this from about 30 years ago, ...I'm remembering this from about 30 years ago, so the details may be wrong, but the overall story is true.<br /><br />In the City of Brockton, the Police Chief was appointed by the Mayor. The Mayor changed, so the new one appointed a new chief. The old chief went back to being a Lieutenant. Since the new chief didn't like some of the things the old one had done, he gave him an undesirable job (evidence room clerk). Since the old one only had a few years until retirement, he took it.<br /><br />The next mayor appointed a Sergeant as Chief. You can imagine what rippled out from that one! I lost track what happened after that, but I was told that this sequence had been going on for years. It impressed me as a very bad way to run a department.Dick Monahannoreply@blogger.com