Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Hiring Practices In Water Department Discussed

Hiring practices were again discussed, this time between the Water and Sewer Department manager and the Gurdon City Council.

Monday night, at the council's regular meeting, this issue was brought up again. It had been discussed at the January water commission meeting with Gurdon Mayor Rick Smith and Harold Hurst, the department manager, arguing about how hiring should be done.

Hurst, Monday night, maintained there has been no problem with the way he has operated the water department for the past 17 years, though he knows the mayor is concerned about protecting the city.

He said the water department has been following the municipal handbook as to hiring and firing as long as he has been with the department, and doing this with the council's approval.

Hurst asked Smith to apologize for his outburst at the Water and Sewer meeting, telling the council he (Hurst) had offered an apology to Smith at the time, but it was basically ignored.

He said the mayor needs to follow his own chain of command and not bring such issues out in public meetings.

Hurst said if the mayor would come to him with any complaints, the city can avoid further embarrassment in public meetings.

He continued, saying the way the system is laid out, the commission was set up to operate and maintain the department as it saw fit. If it has a problem, it can come to the council for help.

Smith did offer an apology to the water and sewer commission for his actions at their meeting, but said he's standing his ground on the hiring practices.

The personnel policy committee, he said, was originally formed in 1992 by then-Mayor Darrell Potratz.

Under the current administration, Smith said, all departments, including the water and sewer department, agreed to follow these guidelines in hiring and firing employees.

In fact, he added, one of the water commissioners is a member of the personnel committee.

Hurst, after admitting he hired the department's newest employee without advertising the position or informing the commission until after the fact, said the commissioners had given him the authority to hire and fire as he saw fit because they didn't want the responsibility.

"This is the way we've operated until now," he said. Hurst said there has never been a personnel policy in writing, though one was promised by Smith at the January water meeting for the February council meeting.

Smith said all other departments have been following the verbally agreed upon guidelines. He said when there was an opening in the Street Department, superintendent Jim Caldwell went through the committee, and, in fact, was hired through the committee for his job.

It was the same for the Gurdon Fire Department, Smith said.

Hurst argued this process takes too much time, and can cause problems because of delays in hiring.

Smith countered saying Hurst could hire people on a part time basis, as he has done in the past and does during summer months. Part time employees, Smith said, have no benefits or insurance.

City Marshal David Childres said Chris Harper, one of his officers, is a part time employee, yet the city "got onto him" about hiring the part timer without going through the committee.

Smith said the council felt the police officers need to be screened more than other employees because of their duties.

Hurst offered a suggestion to the council, asking if the water and sewer commission could be the department's personnel committee, operating independently from the city and council.

Smith said there is no reason for this department to be treated any differently than the others are where hiring is concerned.

He said if the water and sewer department wants to operate independently, it should be a totally independent entity.

This, he continued, would mean the employees of this department would not be eligible for any city benefits or the city's insurance.

As it currently stands, he said, the city's administrative offices handle all worker's compensation claims and insurance details, though the department pays its fees.

Hurst again argued his department follows the municipal hiring practices, which, he said, state the commission has the right to operate, maintain, hire, fire and regulate the purchase of equipment for the department. It cannot, though, enter into contract agreements or raise rates without the approval of the council.

Smith asked how the department and city could claim to be equal opportunity employers if positions aren't advertised and all interested parties aren't given the chance to apply for a job.

"As far as I'm concerned," Hurst said, "I made one mistake and you made one." He said the mayor's assistant position did not exist prior to Mary Burns being hired.

At the time she was given the part time job, it was not advertised. Hurst argued the hiring of part time employees without advertising openings could also be considered illegal.

Smith said Burns was hired on a part time basis to work four hours a day. She has no insurance, vacation time or city benefits with the post.

Burns spoke up saying she began working with the city as a volunteer and put in hundreds of hours with no pay.

However, she said, each time personnel is discussed, her position is brought up. Because of this, she said, she could no longer continue working with the city.

"I've done all I can," she said, "and have been used as a whipping post. I won't do it any longer."

Hurst offered her an apology, but Burns said the comparisons being made aren't fair and she wouldn't be treated in this manner any longer and tendered her resignation, effective immediately.

Smith passed a resolution for a personnel policy among the council members, saying they need to read and study it before it is brought up at the March meeting for possible approval.