Case ID: nys_115/html/0214-01.html
Source: Caselaw Access Project
Author: {"author": "WOODWARD, J.", "license": "Public Domain", "url": "https://static.case.law/"}
Date Created: 2024-08-24T03:29:51.129683

PEOPLE ex rel. KOEBER v. BENSEL, Commissioner.
    (Supreme Court, Appellate Division, Second Department.
    March 5, 1909.)
    Municipal Corporations. (§ 218) — Civil Service — Rules—Classified Empló'yés.
    Civil service rule 19 provides that the commission shall certify from the appropriate list the names of those standing highest thereon, and, except as therein provided, appointments shall be made as designated by rule 11 for positions in the competitive classes. Rule 11 declares that the person selected shall be duly notified, and on accepting and reporting for duty shall receive an appointment for a probationary period of three months. Held, that rule 19 has no relation to probationary appointments, but relates merely to the rule governing the selections to be made from the certified list, and not to the length of time for which they shall be appointed; and hence a person appointed in the noncompetitive civil service as water tender in the department of docks and ferries was subject to discharge for being absent without leave, as authorized by Greater New York Charter (Laws 1901, p. 636, c. 466) § 1543.
    [Ed. Note.—For- other cases, see Municipal. Corporations, Dec. Dig. S 218.*]
    Appeal from Special Term, Kings County.
    Mandamus by the People, on the relation of Charles Koeber, against John A. Bensel, as commissioner, etc. From a final order dismissing an alternative writ, relator appeals. Affirmed.
    Argued before HIRSCHBERG, P. J., and WOODWARD, JENKS, GAYNOR, and MILLER, JJ.
    Joseph R. Swan, for appellant.
    James D. Bell, for respondent.
    
      
      For other cases see same topic & § number in Dec. & Am. Digs. 1907 to date, & Rep'r Indexes
    
   WOODWARD, J.

The relator in November, 1905, was appointed as a water tender in the department of docks and ferries of the city of New York at a salary of $100 per month, this position being established and classified by the municipal civil service commission in September of that year. On the 4th day of November, 1905, the relator reported for duty and was set at work temporarily as an oiler; the record showing that this was due to an exigency of the service. The position of oiler was rated at $75 per month. The relator worked one tour of duty, from midnight of November 4th to 8 o’clock the following morning, and then left his work without leave of any one, and did not report again until the 9th, though he claims to have been looking for one Herrick, his superior, in order that he might protest against his work as an oiler, when he had been appointed to the position of water tender. On the 9th of November it appears that the relator found Mr. Herrick and made his protest, and that on the 13th he was dismissed from the service bn the ground, which was subsequently reported to the municipal civil service commission as required by subdivision 12 of rule 19, that he had left the service for a period of four days without leave.

The theory of the relator seems to be that under rule 19, which requires that the commission shall “certify, from- the appropriate list the names of those standing highest thereon, and except as herein provided, such certification and appointments or selections for appointments therefrom shall be made in the manner prescribed by rule 11 for positions in the competitive class,” he is entitled to a probationary appointment, which has a- secure tenure of existence during the term in a like manner as competitive appointees. Rule 11 provides that the “person selected shall be duly notified by the appointing officer, and upon accepting and reporting for duty, shall receive from such officer a certificate of appointment for a probationary period of three months"; and it is under this clause that the relator claims exemption from the rule laid down in section 1543 of the Greater New York charter (Laws 1901, p. 636, c. 466). As we read rule 19, it has no relation whatever to the matter of the probationary appointment. It relates merely to the rule governing the selections to be made from the certified list, and not to the length of time for which they shall be appointed. The language- is that the commission shall “certify from the appropriate list the names of those standing highest thereon,” and this certification “and appointments or selections for appointments therefrom shall be made in the manner prescribed by rule 11.” It is merely as to the certification of the commission as to those standing highest upon the appropriate list, and the “appointments or selections for appointments therefrom,” which are to be governed by rule 11, and it has nothing whatever to do with the terms of the employment. The Legislature and its creation, the municipal civil service commission, have not yet made it obligatory upon the municipality to retain in employment one who disregards the ordinary obligations of an employé in the simple duties of the noncompetitive civil service, and the relator, not being in the competitive class, and not being otherwise specially protected, comes within the provisions of section 1543 of the Greater New York charter, and .the order of the court at Special Term, dismissing the alternative writ of mandamus, is in accord with law and should be affirmed.

The order appealed from should be affirmed, with costs. All concur.