(A) The Chief Administrative Officer shall determine how many Personnel Hearing Officers are required for the efficient operation of the disciplinary appeal procedure and initiate the selection procedure prescribed in this article.
(B) Personnel Hearing Officers shall be selected based on competitive sealed proposals that contain a statement of the applicant's qualifications for the position and a writing sample. The city shall publish notice of requests for proposals in a newspaper of general circulation not less than ten days before the closing date for receipt of proposals. The Chief Administrative Officer shall name an ad hoc advisory committee to evaluate the proposals and submit a ranked list of applicants. The Chief Administrative Officer shall select Hearing Officer(s) from the names submitted by the committee, subject to the approval of the Council.
(C) A Personnel Hearing Officer shall be an attorney licensed to practice in New Mexico or a person experienced in employer-employee relations or personnel administration. Personnel Hearing Officers shall be subject to the Code of Judicial Conduct, Rules 21-001, et seq., NMRA 1998, and as it might be subsequently amended, as it applies to probate, part-time magistrate judges and municipal judges.
(D) A Personnel Hearing Officer shall provide services under a contract with the city and shall not be considered an employee of the city for any purpose. The term of a contract shall be no more than two years. The contract may provide for part-time services. The contract may not be terminated by the city for any reason except violation of the Code of Judicial Conduct. In the event the city does not have a contract with any Hearing Officer, the Personnel Board may appoint or the parties may agree to a Hearing Officer to hear a specific case.
(E) A Personnel Hearing Officer shall not be actively involved in the political affairs of the city.
(F) No person shall attempt to influence a Personnel Hearing Officer's findings and conclusions pursuant to this article except during a hearing or in the presence of a representative of the opposing party.
('74 Code, § 2-9-27) (Ord. 6-1987; Am. Ord. 29-1998)