§ 25.8-803. Personnel.

 A. Appointment of Heads of Departments, Offices, and Agencies. The head of each department, office, and agency shall be appointed by the Mayor with the approval of six (6) members of Council. Such officer shall serve under the supervision and control of the Mayor and shall be discharged by the Mayor with the approval of Council.

 B. Appointment of Subordinates. Each department head may appoint, suspend, or remove subordinate Township employees, provided that such decisions have received the final approval of the Mayor and that the Mayor has received a written recommendation from the Chief Administrative Officer.

 C. Merit Principle. All appointments and promotions of Township officers and employees shall be made solely on the basis of merit and fitness demonstrated by examination or other evidence of competence, regardless of sex, race, religion, or national origin.

 D. Personnel Director. The Chief Administrative Officer may appoint a personnel director to prepare and administer personnel rules and procedures.

 E. Personnel Rules. Within one (1) year’s time, the Mayor shall cause to be prepared a list of personnel rules which shall be submitted to the Council for adoption by ordinance, with or without amendment, as a part of the administrative code. These rules shall provide for:

   1. The classification of all Township positions, based on the duties, authority, and responsibility of each position, with adequate provision for reclassification of any position whenever warranted by changed circumstances;

   2. A pay plan for all Township positions;

   3. Methods for determining the merit and fitness of candidates for appointment or promotion;

   4. The policies and procedures regulating reduction in force and removal of employees;

   5. The hours of work, attendance regulations, and provisions for sick and vacation leave;

   6. The policies and procedures governing persons holding provisional appointments;

   7. The policies and procedures governing relationships with employee organizations;

   8. Policies regarding in-service training programs;

   9. Grievance procedures, including procedures for the hearing of grievances;

   10. Other practices and procedures necessary to the administration of the Township personnel system, including a mandatory retirement age for Township personnel.

 F. Legal Officer. There shall be a legal officer of the Township, appointed by the Mayor with the approval of six (6) members of Council, who shall serve as chief legal advisor to the Council, the Mayor, the Chief Administrative Officer, and all Township departments, offices, and agencies and shall represent the Township in all legal proceedings and shall perform any other duties prescribed by this Charter or by law. Any elected or appointed Township official or employee, department or agency requesting and receiving legal advice in writing from the legal officer regarding the official functions of such official, employee, department or agency, shall be bound to follow such advice and, when followed, the recipient shall not in any way be liable for so doing. Salary, benefits and other compensation for the legal officer shall be determined by Council.

   The provisions of this §  25.8-803 amended April 26, 1988, effective April 26, 1988. Immediately preceding text appears at serial pages (106818) and (106819).