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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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