These rules and regulations shall govern and regulate all appointments,
promotions, reductions in ranks, suspensions, removals and other disciplinary
actions in regard to the present and future paid civil service employees of
the Borough of Aldan, including members of the Aldan Borough Police Department.
A. The following words, when used in these Rules and Regulations,
shall have the meanings ascribed to them in this section:
COUNCIL
Borough Council of Aldan Borough.
CHIEF OF POLICE
The Chief Executive Officer of the Borough of Aldan Police Department
or his designee.
COMMISSION
The Civil Service Commission of the Borough of Aldan.
COMMISSIONER
Refers to a member of the Civil Service Commission unless otherwise
specified.
ELIGIBLE LIST OR REGISTER
The list of persons who have qualified through examination and are
eligible for appointment to the classified service. The list shall be arranged
in order of the relative percentages of such persons from higher to lower.
EXAMINATION
The group of tests given to candidates to determine their qualifications
for a position in the regular police force.
FURLOUGH
The temporary separation of an employee from a classified police
civil service position because of reduction in personnel, resulting in the
placement of the furloughed employee's name on a reemployment list.
POLICE FORCE
The Police Department of the Borough of Aldan, including those employees
who devote their normal working hours to policy duty or duty in connection
with the Borough agencies and service-connected police protection work and
who are paid a stated salary or compensation for such work by the Borough
of Aldan, except as follows:
B. Any special police appointed by the Mayor to act in emergencies.
C. Any person appointed solely for parking meter enforcement
duties.
D. Any special school police.
E. Any extra police serving from time to time or on an hourly
or daily basis.
F. Any auxiliary policeman appointed under the Act of January
14, 1952 (P.L. 2016).
G. Wherever the term "he," "his," "him" or "himself" is
used, the same shall include the female gender.
A. There is hereby created in the Borough of Aldan a Civil
Service Commission, hereinafter referred to as the "Commission." The Commission
shall consist of three Commissioners who shall be qualified electors of the
Borough and shall be appointed by the Borough Council initially serve for
the terms of two, four and six years and, as terms thereafter expire, shall
be appointed for terms of six years.
B. Any vacancy occurring in the Commission for any reason
whatsoever shall be filled for the unexpired term within a period of 30 days
after such vacancy occurs, by a majority vote of Council.
C. Each member of the Commission, before entering upon the
discharge of the duties of his office, shall take an oath or affirmation to
support the Constitution of the United States and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
and to perform his official duties with fidelity.
No Commissioners shall at the same time hold an elective or appointed
office under the United States government, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
or any political subdivision of the commonwealth, except that one member of
the Commission may be a member of Borough Council and one may be a member
of the teaching profession.
A. The Commission first appointed shall organize within
10 days of its appointment and shall elect one of its members as the Chairman
and one as the Secretary. Two members of the Commission shall constitute a
quorum, and no action of the Commission shall be valid unless it shall have
the concurrence of at least two members.
B. The Commission shall meet on the first Monday in February
each year to prepare progress reports to be presented to Borough Council at
the Council general meeting in March. The Commission shall meet in September
to prepare progress reports to be presented to Borough Council at the Council
general meeting in October. Additional meetings are to be held as deemed necessary
by the Commission. Each Commissioner shall be notified of each and every meeting.
C. If any Commissioner shall miss two consecutive meetings
without reasonable cause, the remaining Commissioners shall have the authority
to declare the Commissioner as having resigned. The Commissioner will so notify
the Commissioner in writing within three days of the meeting and will request
that Borough Council refill the vacancy. The Commissioner so dropped from
membership may appeal the decision of the Commission to Borough Council in
writing within 10 days.
The Borough shall furnish the Commission, on its requisition, such clerical
assistance as may be necessary for the work of the Commission. The Borough
shall provide a suitable and convenient room for the use of the Commission.
The Commission shall order from the Borough the necessary stationary, postage,
printing or supplies, and the elected and appointed officials of the Borough
of Aldan shall aid the Commission in all proper ways.
The Commission shall have the power to prescribe, amend and enforce
rules and regulations for carrying into effect these provisions and shall
be governed thereby. Before any such rules and regulations are in force, the
same shall first be approved by Borough Council. When such rules and regulations
have been so approved, they shall not be annulled, amended or added to without
the approval of Borough Council. All rules and regulations and modifications
thereof shall be printed for public distribution at the expense of the Borough.
The Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings and records of
examinations and other official actions. All recommendations of applications
for appointment received by the Commission shall be kept and preserved for
a period of five years, and all such records and all written causes of removal
filed with the Commission shall be subject to reasonable regulation and open
to public inspection.
The Commission shall have power to make investigations concerning all
matters touching the administration and enforcement of the civil service rules
and regulations adopted thereunder. The Chairman of the Commission is hereby
given power to administer oaths and affirmation in connection with such investigations.
A. The Commission shall have the power to issue subpoenas
over the signature of the Chairman to require the attendance of witnesses
and the production of records and papers pertaining to any investigation or
inquiry. The fees of such witnesses for attendance and travel shall be the
same as for witnesses appearing in court and shall be paid from appropriations
for the incidental expenses of the Commission.
B. All officers in public service and employees shall attend
and testify when required to do so by the Commission.
C. If any person shall refuse or neglect to obey any subpoena
issued by the Commission, he shall, upon conviction thereof in a summary proceeding,
be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed $100 and, in default of payment of
such fine and costs, shall be imprisoned not to exceed 30 days.
D. If any person shall refuse or neglect to obey any subpoena
issued by the Commission, it may apply by petition to the Court of Common
Pleas of the county for its subpoena requiring the attendance of such persons
before the Commission or the Court, there to testify and produce any records
and papers necessary, and in default thereof shall be held contempt of court.
The Commission shall make semiannual (March and October) reports to
the Borough Council containing a brief summary of its work during the year,
which shall be available for public inspection.
The Civil Service Commissioners of the Borough shall receive no compensation.
Communications and requests to the Commission shall be made in writing,
and their substance and the action of the Commission thereon shall be noted
in the minutes.
The Secretary of the Commission shall record in the minutes the time
and place of each meeting of the Commission and the names of the members present;
all proceedings and official acts of the Commission, including records of
examinations; the vetoes given by members except when the action is unanimous;
and, when requested, a Commission members' dissent with his reasons;
and shall cause the minutes to be written up forthwith and presented for approval
or amendment at the next regular meeting. The minutes, or a true copy thereof,
certified by the Commission, or by a regular majority thereof, shall be open
with the other records of the Commission as provided by law.
It shall be the responsibility of the Chairman to:
A. Convene and conduct all meetings of the Commission.
B. Maintain the official records of the proceedings of the
Commission and have charge of and be responsible for the safekeeping and storage
of the books, records, papers and other property of the Commission in the
Municipal Building in the Borough of Aldan.
C. Notify the Commissioner when examinations are necessary
and dates when they may be held.
D. Certify the eligibility to the appointing authority.
E. Prepare for submission to the Commission, and subsequently
to Borough Council, reports covering the work of the Commission.
F. Arrange for additional clerical assistance when required
by the Commission.
It shall be the responsibility of the Vice Chairman to:
A. Act in the absence of the Chairman.
B. Cause examinations to be prepared; certify to the Commission
the eligibility of applicants for examinations, based upon their written applications
and the admissability of applicants when they appear for examination.
C. Direct work of proctors or other subordinates and take
care to secure accuracy and uniformity and justice in all proceedings; report
the results of examinations to the Commission.
D. Audit all bills for expenses before certifying them to
the Borough Treasurer for payment.
All recommendations of applicants for appointment received by the Commission
shall be kept and preserved for a period of five years, and all such records
and all written causes of removal filed with the Commission shall be subject
to reasonable regulation and open to public inspection. The Secretary of the
Commission shall, subject to supervisory action of the Commission:
A. Delegate routine tasks to and supervise the work of clerical
assistants furnished to the Commission.
B. Generally take the minutes, carry on correspondence and
other designated secretarial work of the Commission.
C. Maintain records of hired applicants and prepare eligibility
list. These records are to be held for five years.
D. Notify Commission members in writing of all meetings
at least 24 hours in advance.
Semiannual meetings will be held in February and September to prepare
progress reports for Borough Council. Regular meetings shall be held as required
at the discretion of the Commission. Each Commissioner shall be made aware
of all meetings in writing and personally contacted by the Secretary as to
the time and place. The person requesting the meeting will be responsible
for making that contact.