Title
Personnel Policy Updates - Alignment with Merit System Rules
Discussion/Direction/Action: Motion to direct the County Administrator to update Personnel Policies 8-108 (A) and (D) and 8-119 (Z)(9), BOS Policies D 23.3 (6) and D 23.9, and any other relevant County personnel policies to ensure alignment with Merit System Rule 2.2, which states that, “The purpose of these Rules is to establish a system of personnel administration in compliance with federal and state laws,” and specifically, with Merit System Rule 2.2 (F), which states that, “Employees have the right to participate in partisan political activities, but such activities shall not influence or interfere with the conduct of official County business or activities.” (Merit System Rule 2.2 (F)). This Merit System Rule is in place, in part, to protect all employees’ First Amendment rights.
In making the necessary updates to these policies, County Administrator shall:
(a) Strike any references to the following: “County employees shall not: a) make a political contribution, and/or b) solicit or collect political contributions for any candidates for any elected County office.”; and
(b) Eliminate any prohibition on a county employee being able to continue serving in their employee role while running for elected office, so long as their campaign for office does not “influence or interfere with the conduct of official County business or activities,” as per Merit System Rule 2.2 (F). (District 2)