As used in this article, unless the context indicates otherwise, the following words, terms, and phrases shall have the meanings ascribed to them:
(1) APPOINTING AUTHORITY. Depending upon the context, either the mayor, who shall appoint all department heads, or the department heads, who shall appoint all other covered employees pursuant to the provisions herein.
(2) APPOINTMENT. Depending upon the context, selection by the appointing authority to a covered job or selection by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or the Speaker of the House of Representatives of this state of a person to serve on the board.
(3) BASE PAY. The regular compensation for covered employees as most recently established or authorized by city ordinance, not to include overtime pay, job assignment pay, incentive pay, bonuses or any other special, temporary, supplemental, or conditional pay. Base pay is usually expressed annually, but may also, if so indicated, be expressed biweekly or hourly.
(4) BOARD. The personnel board created by this article.
(5) CITY. A Class 4 municipality electing to participate in the personnel system provided for in this article.
(6) CITY COUNCIL. The governing body of the city.
(7) COVERED EMPLOYEE OR JOB. Regular status or probationary status employees or jobs covered by the personnel system herein established shall include any individual or job, including department heads, employed or required to be employed full time in the service of the city in a department on a regular basis for at least 32 hours in a workweek established by the city or the equivalent hours for a public safety individual who is assigned to work a work period pursuant to 29 U.S.C. §207(k). The term does not include individuals employed by the city in temporary or part-time jobs. The conditions of employment for these individuals shall be established by the city council. Temporary and part-time employees may not be moved directly into the personnel system as established by this article, but may apply, along with other qualified applicants, for any vacancy which exists in the personnel system.
(8) DEMOTION. Selection of a covered employee to a job classification with a lower pay grade either voluntarily or involuntarily.
(9) DEPARTMENT HEAD. Any employee designated by the city council or general state law as head of a major activity or department of the city. Employees functioning as department heads on March 15, 2006, shall remain as department heads subject to this article.
(10) FIREFIGHTER. A firefighter of the city fire department who has satisfied the requirements of Section 36-32-7, and the rules and regulations adopted by the Alabama Firefighters' Personnel Standards and Education Commission and certified by that commission as a firefighter.
(11) JOB. A funded position of a department within a job classification.
(12) JOB CLASSIFICATION. Covered jobs separated into a group or class having one or more common factors.
(13) PART-TIME EMPLOYEE. Individuals employed on an on-going basis who are normally scheduled to work less than 32 hours in the established seven calendar day workweek, or less than the equivalent hours for those public safety individuals who are assigned to a work period pursuant to 29 U.S.C. §207(K).
(14) PERSONNEL SYSTEM. The personnel system created pursuant to this article.
(15) POLICE OFFICER. A sworn police officer of the city police department who has satisfied the requirements of and has been certified by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission pursuant to Article 3, commencing with Section 36-21-40, of Chapter 21, Title 36 and who is classified as police patrol officer.
(16) PROBATIONARY STATUS. A condition of employment which a covered employee must successfully serve to completion of the established probationary period to achieve regular status. Those individuals who are currently employed by the city on March 15, 2006, but have not completed the probationary period required by this article shall be required to complete the remainder of the probationary period before being granted regular status in the personnel system. A probationary status employee shall not be entitled to the privileges and protection of that afforded regular status employees by this article.
(17) PROMOTION. Selection of a covered employee to a job classification with a higher pay grade or reclassification to a higher pay grade.
(18) REGULAR STATUS. A condition of employment that covered employees are afforded upon the successful completion of the established probationary period. A regular status employee shall be entitled to the privileges and protection afforded by this article. Employees who, on March 15, 2006, have previously completed the required probationary period for the job he or she holds shall be given credit for previous probationary service and granted regular status. In addition, any former full-time, at-will employees who have completed one year of employment with the city shall be given credit for previous service and granted regular status.
(19) TEMPORARY EMPLOYMENT. An individual employed in a job for a period of no more than 180 calendar days. If warranted, temporary employment may be extended by the appointing authority for an additional 90 calendar days.
(20) TRANSFER. Assignment of a covered employee from one job to another job within the same job classification.
(21) VACANCY. A covered job which has not been filled by the appointment of an individual.
Last modified: May 3, 2021