[HISTORY: Adopted by the City Council of the City of Pottsville 2-14-1994 as Ord. No. 512. Amendments noted where applicable.]
A. 
The Third Class City Code, under §403(2) and (3),[1] empowers the City Council of the City of Pottsville to provide for the hiring of certain employees and to create bureaus and boards in aid of that function and for the good of the City of Pottsville.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 35101 et seq.
B. 
The City Council of the City of Pottsville desires to establish certain procedures for hiring which are uniform in nature and will promote the hiring of individuals based solely upon their qualifications for employment and without regard to any applicant's personal or political affiliations.
C. 
It is the purpose of this chapter to establish certain entities, as permitted by the Third Class City Code, in order to promote and promulgate fair hiring practices within the City of Pottsville.
A. 
The City of Pottsville Bureau of Hiring (hereafter referred to as the "Bureau of Hiring") is hereby established and shall be administered by the office of the City Clerk.
B. 
The Bureau of Hiring shall be charged with the following responsibilities:
(1) 
To assist the City of Pottsville Hiring Board (as hereinafter defined and referred to as the "Hiring Board"), in preparing and printing applications for employment with the City of Pottsville, which applications may from time to time be revised or amended at the direction of the City Council and the Hiring Board.
(2) 
To assist the Hiring Board, as directed by either the Hiring Board or the City Council, each in their sole discretion, in scheduling and conducting interviews with applicants for employment with the City of Pottsville.
(3) 
To maintain a filing system and keep on file employment applications from prospective employees (including existing employees of the City of Pottsville seeking to change their designated employment to another position within the city), which applications may from time to time be received by the City of Pottsville, and to assist the Hiring Board in soliciting applicants for employment with the City of Pottsville when vacancies under this chapter shall exist.
(4) 
To notify the Hiring Board, upon the direction of City Council, of the existence of vacancies in non-uniformed employment positions with the City of Pottsville, which vacancies are subject to the terms and conditions of this chapter and which are not specifically excluded hereinafter.
(5) 
To arrange for information to be provided to the Hiring Board, upon its request, regarding the job descriptions and qualifications necessary concerning any designated employment vacancies under this chapter.
(6) 
To assist the Hiring Board in contacting references and prior employers and to confirm information provided by applicants for employment vacancies under consideration by the Hiring Board.
(7) 
To make such other inquiries and investigations and to perform such other functions which the City Council or the Hiring Board shall deem appropriate.
A. 
The City of Pottsville Hiring Board is hereby established to be comprised of three (3) members.
B. 
The City Council shall appoint members of the Hiring Board upon the adoption of this chapter, and the members of the Hiring Board shall each serve for a term of four (4) years and until their successors are duly appointed and confirmed. Members shall be limited to service of one (1) four-year term, in addition to the balance of any unexpired term, if applicable. Subsequent members shall be appointed at the first regular meeting of the City Council every four (4) years thereafter, and each shall serve for a concurrent four-year term thereafter. Vacancies on the Hiring Board shall be filled by the Council for the unexpired term.
C. 
Members of the Hiring Board shall be citizens of the City of Pottsville.
D. 
The Hiring Board is hereby authorized and directed, upon notification by the Bureau of Hiring of an employment vacancy to be filled under the terms and conditions of this chapter, to direct the Bureau of Hiring to solicit the applications of qualified individuals for said vacancy and thereafter to examine the qualifications of each and every applicant for said vacancy in the following manner:
(1) 
By reviewing all applications for the vacant position.
(2) 
By scheduling interviews with any or all applicants, either at the express direction of the City Council or at the discretion of the Hiring Board.
(3) 
By utilizing the resources of the Bureau of Hiring in order to review applicants, to secure precise job descriptions or to determine any additional qualifications or facts regarding designated employment vacancies and otherwise to make such inquiries and investigations and to perform such functions consistent with the purposes and intent of this chapter.
E. 
The Hiring Board may establish procedures consistent with this chapter and approved by the City Council for the implementation of this chapter and the orderly conduct of its affairs and in order to make more uniform its practices.
F. 
It shall be the responsibility of the Hiring Board to consult periodically with the City Solicitor to ensure compliance by the Hiring Board with all applicable laws governing municipal corporations and the terms and conditions of this chapter.
G. 
The Hiring Board shall, after its evaluation as hereinabove set forth and within such period designated by the City Council, supply to the City Council a written report listing thereon the three (3) applicants for the employment vacancy who are, in the determination of the Hiring Board, best qualified to fill said employment vacancy. The Hiring Board shall not rank the qualified applicants, but may supply to the City Council a brief statement concerning each applicant's qualifications with its written report to the City Council.
Upon receipt of the list of three (3) qualified applicants from the Hiring Board, as provided hereinabove, the City Council shall, at its discretion:
A. 
Select and hire an individual from the list supplied by the Hiring Board; or
B. 
Determine that the City Council is in need of additional information in aid of its hiring determination concerning the list of three (3) qualified applicants provided by the Hiring Board or additional candidates for the position and shall in that event remand the matter to the Hiring Board with specific instructions that the Hiring Board obtain and supply the additional information or candidates to the City Council within such period as may be directed by the City Council.
A. 
The following city officers and employees shall be specifically exempted from the operation of this chapter:
(1) 
Officials of the city who may from time to time be appointed by the City Council to fill existing vacancies in elected positions.
(2) 
Appointed members of all boards, commissions and authorities.
(3) 
The City Engineer, the City Solicitor and the Assistant City Solicitor.
(4) 
The Fire Chief, Police Chief, Building Inspector, Health Officer, Code Enforcement Officer and all members of the Police, Engineering and Electrical Departments or any other positions which are now or may in the future be governed by the civil service provisions set forth in the Third Class City Code[1] or any other applicable provision of law.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 35101 et seq.
B. 
The Hiring Board shall possess no responsibility to set hourly wages or salaries for employment vacancies under this chapter, which responsibility will remain exclusively with the City Council.
C. 
Nothing herein shall contravene or conflict with any contracts which are now in existence or may from time to time be in existence between the City of Pottsville and its non-uniformed employees.