Chapter 3.32
PROCEDURE FOR FILLING VACANT, ELECTIVE, NONPARTISAN OR INDEPENDENT COUNTY POSITIONS
Sections:
3.32.010 Purpose.
3.32.020 Vacancies.
3.32.030 Use of personnel system.
3.32.040 Public announcements and recruiting.
3.32.050 Filing applications.
3.32.060 Evaluation of applicants.
3.32.070 Disqualification of applicants.
3.32.080 Screening committee.
3.32.090 Interviews.
3.32.100 Severability.
3.32.110 Effective date.
SOURCE: ADOPTED:
Ord. No. 437, 1991 10/29/91
3.32.010 Purpose.
Clallam County Home Rule Charter, Article IV, Other Elected Officials, Section 4.10 Composition, provides that all elected officials shall be nonpartisan except the Commissioners and Prosecuting Attorney. Clallam County Charter, Article VII, Elections, Section 7.50 Vacancies, provides for filling of vacant elective partisan positions. There is no provision in the Charter which specifies procedures for filling vacant, nonpartisan, or independent, elected positions.
It is the purpose of this chapter to establish a procedure for filling nonpartisan or independent elected positions resulting from death, resignation or removal of the officer, or for other causes. Establishing this procedure enables Clallam County to better serve the needs of the citizens.
3.32.020 Vacancies.
All vacancies due to death, resignation or removal of the officer, or for other causes in the elected, nonpartisan, or independent offices shall be filled as set forth herein.
3.32.030 Use of personnel system.
The Board of Clallam County Commissioners shall utilize the County personnel system in recruitment, screening and selection of appointee to the vacancy. Appointments shall be made without examination and be based upon an assessment of professional qualifications, administrative skills, management skills, experience, and an interview.
3.32.040 Public announcements and recruiting.
Notice of a vacant, nonpartisan or independent, elected position shall be forwarded to the County Personnel and Risk Management Department. The Director shall cause to be prepared a recruitment announcement of the position opening which sets forth the general duties and the compensation of the position; the minimum qualifications required; the date, place and manner of making application for the position; and other appropriate information. Public announcements of recruitment for the vacancy will be distributed for the purpose of receiving applications and to establish a list of qualified candidates.
3.32.050 Filing applications.
All applications shall be submitted to the County Personnel Department on forms provided by the County for general employment recruitment and must be filed or postmarked before midnight prior to the last date for filing as stated in the announcement. Applications filed with the County become the property of the County. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of an application; however, a resume may be used to supplement the application form.
3.32.060 Evaluation of applicants.
Applicants for appointment to the vacant elected position shall possess the minimum statutory qualifications and other requirements as stated in the recruitment announcement. Selection criteria must be job related and may be written, oral, physical in the form of demonstrated skills, and will evaluate training and experience. Consideration will be given to education, experience, aptitude, capacity, knowledge, character, physical fitness as reasonably related to the qualifications for the position, length and quality of related experience and other qualifications to determine the relative fitness of the applicants. The Board of Clallam County Commissioners shall direct pre-employment inquiries as deemed necessary to verify past employment records and general fitness to serve in the capacity of public trust.
3.32.070 Disqualification of applicants.
Applicants may be refused eligibility at the sole discretion of the Board of Clallam County Commissioners for any of the following reasons:
(1) Failure to meet the standard requirements for the position for which application is made;
(2) Failure to furnish true statements of material facts;
(3) Practice or attempted practice of fraud or deception in connection with filing of application;
(4) Physically or mentally unfit to perform effectively the duties of the position;
(5) Failure of applicant, after notification, to be promptly present at the time and place designated for any portion of the application process;
(6) Use or attempted use of political pressure or bribery to secure an advantage in the appointment.
3.32.080 Screening committee.
The Board of Clallam County Commissioners shall appoint a subcommittee of not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) individuals to assist in the screening process by reviewing and evaluating all applications. Screening criteria shall be established at the direction of the Board of Clallam County Commissioners. The screening committee shall recommend to the Board of Commissioners a maximum of three (3) candidates who best qualify for the position.
3.32.090 Interviews.
Interviews shall be conducted by the Board of Clallam County Commissioners. The Board of Commissioners may interview a portion or all of the applicants as it deems appropriate. The appointment will be made by majority vote of the Board of Commissioners.
3.32.100 Severability.
If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase of this chapter is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, such invalidity or unconstitutionality shall not affect the validity or constitutionality of the remaining portions of this chapter; it being herein expressly declared that this chapter and each section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause or phrase thereof would have been adopted irrespective of the fact that any one or more other sections, subsections, paragraphs, sentences, clauses or phrases be declared invalid or unconstitutional.
3.32.110 Effective date.
The effective date of this chapter shall be ten (10) days after adoption.