To: Board of Supervisors
From: Monica Nino, County Administrator
Report Title: Advanced Step Placement - Deputy County Administrator-Exempt (Position # 20031)
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
APPROVE placement of incumbent (Position #20031) to the position of Deputy County Administrator - Exempt (ADH1) at Step 4 of the salary range, with no change to the current anniversary date, effective August 16, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Total annual costs of $20,128, of which $3,654 is related to the employer share of pension costs; 100% General Fund. Following the retirement of the incumbent Legislative Coordinator, this cost impact will be fully offset from cost savings related to that position.
BACKGROUND:
On June 13, 2024, the County Administrator’s Office launched a recruitment for the position of Senior Deputy County Administrator - Exempt to serve as the County’s Legislative Coordinator. This is following an announcement by the current incumbent of a scheduled retirement at the end of the calendar year.
On July 5, 2024, the recruitment concluded with 29 applicants meeting the minimum qualifications. The County Administrator’s Office invited 10 applicants for interview and, ultimately, interviewed nine (9) applicants. One (1) applicant declined interview upon finding separate employment.
Upon completion of the interview process, it was determined that an internal candidate currently in the position of Deputy County Administrator - Exempt was best suited for appointment to the position having previous federal and state legislative experience; however, the candidate had not previously served as a County Legislative Coordinator. For that reason, the department believed the best course of action would be to offer the position to the candidate at the current job classification level of Deputy County Administrator - Exempt with a roadmap to developing the experience necessary to promote to the level of Senior Deputy County Administrator - Exempt.
Due to the nature of this appointment, Section 4.10 of the Salary Regulations treats this situation as a transfer within the same job classification even though the underlying process was a competitive recruitment. This is due to the unique situation of the successful candidate being 1) an internal County employee, and 2) being in the same job classification as is being recommended for appointment even though, once appointed, the candidate would be responsible for a completely different set of job duties.
Specifically, Section 4.10 of the Salary Regulations states the following:
4.10 Salary on Transfer-Same Class: An employee who is transferred from one position to another position in the same class shall be compensated at the same step in the salary range as he previously received. (Ord. 1727; prior code §2442(f); Ord. 1351; Ord. 1285; prior Ord. Code §36-4.1202)
Based on the unique circumstances related to this appointment and the desire to provide a higher salary step placement to the candidate that successfully participated in an open, competitive recruitment process, the County Administrator’s Office is recommending that the incumbent of position # 20031 receive an increased step placement from Step 2 to Step 4 in the classification of Deputy County Administrator - Exempt effective August 16, 2024 with no change to the incumbent’s anniversary date of February 1, 2025.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
The successful candidate would be required to remain at the current salary step following a competitive recruitment for the critical position of Legislative Coordinator.