(A) Step 1: suspension hearing.
(1) (a) The employee who has been recommended for suspension shall within five working days, not including the day of receipt of notice recommending suspension, request in writing a hearing before his or her department head/elected with a copy sent to the Human Resources Director.
(b) If an employee does not request a hearing, the department head/elected official shall issue a written notice to the employee and Human Resource Director imposing or not imposing the suspension without a hearing.
(2) (a) If an employee does request a hearing, and if he or she so desires, he or she may designate a representative to attend, but not participate in the pre-hearing, and the employee shall provide to the Human Resources Director the name of the employee’s representative at least one working day prior to the pre-hearing.
(b) After the employee has had the opportunity to meet with his or her department head/elected official and explain his or her side of the matter, the department head/elected official shall promptly render a decision in writing and forward a copy of the decision to the Human Resources Director. The decision shall include a statement as to the reasons the suspension or transfer was or was not imposed.
(B) Step 2: appeal.
(1) An employee, who after a hearing and written decision of his or her department head/elected official has been deemed suspended and does not agree with this written decision shall within ten working days of receipt of the department head/elected official’s written decision file a written request with the Human Resource Director for an appeal before the Administrative Law Judge. The Human Resource Director will forward the request to the Administrative Law Judge.
(2) The review and hearing of the appeal shall be conducted pursuant to the procedures adopted in Chapter 11 of this code.
(Ord. passed 6- -2019; Ord. 2023-03, passed 5-16-2023)