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Letter of Support:  Lincoln Civil Service Commission outmoded

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To the editor:

The City of Lincoln established the Civil Service Commission by ordinance on June 2, 1975, and adopted the current Civil Service Rules on September 8, 1976. The Commission currently serves as the hiring mechanism for the Street Department and the City Clerk’s office, excluding appointed positions.

A Civil Service Commission is a government agency that is constituted by legislation to regulate the employment and working conditions of civil servants, oversee hiring and promotions. Its role is roughly comparable to that of a human resources department.

Currently, testing for positions covered by the Civil Service takes place every two years. The results of those tests are what is used to create the eligibility list of candidates. A minimum score of 70% is required to be added to the eligible register. Whenever a vacancy is to be filled, the department head submits a request to the Commission to fill the vacancy. The commission then will certify, to the department head, the highest ranked candidate on the register. In the event of a tie, the Commission may appoint a committee to interview the top ranked candidates. I will note it is difficult to keep an active Commission since there isn’t a lot of activity or people willing to serve on this Commission.

Although our departments don’t experience many vacancies, the Civil Service doesn’t provide the best option for hiring the best and most qualified candidates for positions. Rules don’t allow the option to interview other top candidates, consider past work history or performance. Someone being able to take a general knowledge written test, and score well, doesn’t mean that person is a good candidate for the position.

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There are several reasons why this change is needed. As it stands, the city must follow the state statute as it is written since Lincoln is a Non-Home Rule Community. The City cannot modify its Civil Service Rules to allow more flexibility to consider or interview other top candidates on the certified hire list.

No other cities in Central Illinois, comparable to the City of Lincoln, use the Civil Service process. There are three communities that do use it that are Home Rule communities; Springfield, Decatur and Urbana. These Cities can modify their rules and are able to consider candidates other than just the person who scored best on a written test. Of these three, the Springfield city code specifies that you aren’t covered under the Civil Service until you are hired.

The goal is to replace the Civil Service with a more common process that allows more flexibility allowing the consideration of other top candidates. This would include the ability to check references and conduct interviews of all qualified candidates. Hiring will be a step-by-step process which will be listed in the City’s Policy and Procedures Handbook. The job will be advertised with a job description and applications will be accepted. All candidates that meet the minimum qualifications will go through an interview process. A committee of three to five people will be formed to review applications, conduct interviews and select the successful candidate to fill the vacant position.

This proposition to abolish the Civil Service Commission will benefit the people of the City of Lincoln, if approved by the voters on June 28, 2022.

Walt Landers
City of Lincoln Street Superintendent

[Posted June 14, 2022]

 

 

 

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