A.
Commissioners (primary).
(1)
The Commission shall consist of three Commissioners who shall be
qualified electors of the Borough and shall be appointed by the Borough
Council initially to serve for the terms of two, four and six years,
and as terms thereafter expire shall be appointed for terms of six
years.
(2)
Any vacancy occurring in the Commission (primary) for any reason
whatsoever shall be filled by the Borough Council for the unexpired
term within the period of 30 days after such vacancy occurs.
(3)
Each member of the Commission (primary) created by this subsection,
before entering upon the discharge of the duties of his office, shall
take an oath or affirmation of office pursuant to 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 1141
(relating to form of oaths of office). The Civil Service Commissioners
shall receive no compensation.
B.
Commissioners (alternate).
(1)
The Borough Council may appoint no more than three qualified electors
of the Borough to serve as alternate members of the Commission. The
term of office shall be six years. An alternate shall be entitled
to participate in all proceedings and discussions of the Commission
to the same and full extent as provided by law for Commission members,
but shall not be entitled to vote as a member of the Commission unless
designated as a voting alternate member, pursuant to Section 1174[1] of the Borough Code and outlined in § A208-5B and C of these Civil Service Rules and Regulations. Alternate members shall hold no other office in the Borough.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 46174.
(2)
Each member of the Commission (alternates) created by this subsection,
before entering upon the discharge of the duties of his office, shall
take an oath or affirmation of office pursuant to 53 Pa.C.S.A. § 1141
(relating to form of oaths of office). The Civil Service Commissioners
shall receive no compensation.
No Commissioner 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 the Borough
Council and one member 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 its Chairperson
and one as its Secretary. The Commission shall thereafter meet and
organize on the first Monday of January of each even-numbered year.
Three 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.
If by reason of absence or disqualification of a member, a quorum
is not reached, the Chairman shall designate as many alternate members
of the Commission to sit on the Commission as may be needed to provide
a quorum. Any alternate member of the Commission shall continue to
serve on the Commission in all proceedings involving the matter or
case for which the alternate was initially designated until the Commission
has made a final determination of the matter or case. Designation
of an alternate shall be made on a case-by-case basis in rotation
according to declining seniority among all alternates. No action of
the Commission shall be valid unless it shall have the concurrence
of at least two members.
C.
For purposes of hiring and promoting police officers under these rules, each step of the hiring or promotional process requiring official action by the Commission shall be considered a separate "matter or case" under Subsection B, above, and each step of the hiring or promotional process need not be voted upon or approved by the same composition of Commissioners or Alternate Commissioners, as the case may be, provided that the quorum requirement has been satisfied.
The Chairperson, or in his or her absence, the Vice Chairperson,
shall preside at all meetings and hearings of the Commission, decide
all points of order or procedure and perform all duties required by
law including these rules and regulations.
The Vice Chairperson shall act in the absence of the Chairperson
in carrying out the duties of the Chairperson and shall be a voting
member.
The Secretary, under the direction of the Commission, shall
handle all official correspondence of the Commission, including the
recording of votes cast by the Commissioners, send out all notices
required by law including these rules and regulations, keeping a record
of each examination or other official action of the Commission, and
perform all other duties required by law including these rules and
regulations. The Borough Manager shall be available to assist the
Secretary when reasonably requested by the Commission.
Except for the annual organization meeting, all meetings shall
be held either at the call of the Chairperson or at the call of two
members of the Commission. The Commission shall have the discretion
to determine whether meetings shall be open to the public when not
specifically regulated by law or these rules and regulations. Each
Commissioner shall be notified in writing of each and every meeting.
In all cases regarding meetings, including scheduling, the board shall
follow the provisions provided for pursuant to 65 Pa.C.S.A. Ch. 7,
as amended and commonly known as the "Sunshine Law." The order of
business for all meetings shall be as follows:
The Borough shall furnish to the Commission, on its requisition,
clerical assistance that 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 stationery, postage, printing and supplies. The Borough
shall also provide the services of a solicitor for the Commission
to be appointed by the Commission and paid by the Borough. The Borough
shall have the authority to place a reasonable limit on the amount
allowed each year for the services of the Commission Solicitor. The
elected and appointed officials of the Borough shall aid the Commission
in all proper ways in carrying out the provisions of this subsection
relating to civil service.
A.
The Commission shall appoint experienced written examination, oral
examination administrators and physical agility examination administrators
to conduct appropriate examinations required by these rules and regulations.
The Commission shall reserve the right to accept or reject, for cause
in whole or in part, the recommendations of the regularly appointed
examining agency. The oral examination shall be the responsibility
of the Commission; providing, however, the Commission shall designate,
from time to time, such persons qualified in oral examining procedures
and techniques.
The Commission may amend, revise, void or replace these rules
and regulations for any reason by action of a majority of the Commission
Before any changes to these rules and regulations become effective,
those changes must be approved by the Borough Council. These rules
and regulations, and any amendments thereto, once approved by the
Borough Council, shall be made available to the public for distribution
or inspection, as amended.
The Commission shall keep minutes of its proceedings and records of examinations and other official actions. All recommendations of applicants for appointment received by the Commission shall be kept and preserved for a period of five years, and all records and all written causes of removal filed with the Commission, except as otherwise provided in § A208-26 shall be open to public inspection and subject to reasonable regulation.
The Commission shall have the power to make investigations concerning
all matters relating to the administration and enforcement of these
rules and regulations. The Chairperson of the Commission is authorized
to administer oaths and affirmations in connection with such investigations.
A.
The Commission shall have the power to issue subpoenas over the signature
of the Chairperson to acquire 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 the courts and shall be
paid from appropriations for the incidental expense of the Commission.
B.
All officers in public service and employees of Oakmont Borough shall
attend and testify when required to do so by the Commission. If any
person shall refuse or neglect to obey any subpoena issued by the
Commission, upon conviction of such refusal or neglect in a summary
proceeding, that person shall be sentenced to pay a fine not to exceed
$100, and default of the payment of such fine and costs shall be imprisoned
not to exceed 30 days.
C.
If any person shall refuse or neglect to obey any subpoena, the Commission
may apply by petition to the Court of Common Pleas of Allegheny County,
Pennsylvania, for its subpoena, requiring the attendance of such persons
before the Commission or the court to testify and to produce any records
and papers as necessary, and in default, shall be held in contempt
of Court.
A.
The Commission shall make an annual report to the Borough Council
containing a brief summary of its work during the year, and shall
make a full accounting for any expenditure of public monies. The annual
report shall be then available for public inspection.
B.
Such report shall be provided to the Borough Council on or before
the 31st day of January of each year. Such report shall further comply
with Section 1191 of the Borough Code[1] which provides that the report should not reference the
record of any hearing on a dismissal or reduction where such charges
have been dismissed as the Borough Code requires that such records
shall be sealed.
[1]
Editor's Note: See 53 P.S. § 46191.
