Title: STATE EX REL BRD OF PERSONNEL APP

State: montana

Issuer: Montana Supreme Court

Document:

No. 13567 I N T H E S U P R E M Z C O U R T O F T H E STATE O F M O N T A N A 1976 T H E STATE O F M O N T A N A ex r e l . T H E BOARD O F PERSONNEL APPEALS, Relators, T H E DISTRICT C O U R T O F T H E F O U R T H JUDICIAL DISTRICT O F T H E STATE O F M O N T A N A , I N AND F O R T H E C O U N T Y O F MISSOUTA, and T H E HON. JACK L. GREEN, Presiding Judge, Respondents. ORIGINAL PROCEEDING: Counsel of Record: For Relators : Jerry L. Painter argued, Helena, Montana For Respondents: Patterson, Marsillo, Harris and Tornabene, Missoula , Montana Charles J. Tornabene argued, Missoula, Montana Submitted: October 28, 1976 Decided : BOY Q 3 1 9 7 6 M r . Chief J u s t i c e James T. Harrison d e l i v e r e d t h e Opinion of t h e Court. This i s an o r i g i n a l proceeding wherein r e l a t o r s seek an appropriate w r i t t o review an order of October 6, 1976, entered by t h e respondent c o u r t i n a cause pending i n s a i d c o u r t e n t i t l e d : "Roger E. Bergmeier, P e t i t i o n e r , vs. The Montana S t a t e Board of Personnel Appeals; Brent Cromley, Chairman of s a i d Board; t h e Montana S t a t e Department of Admin- i s t r a t i o n ; Jack C. Crosser, Director of s a i d Department; and t h e Montana S t a t e Department of Natural Resources and Conser- vation, Gary Wicks, Director of s a i d Department, Respondents." Upon t h e f i l i n g of t h e a p p l i c a t i o n counsel was heard ex p a r t e and t h e matter taken under advisement. Thereafter an order was issued f o r an adversary hearing. Such hearing has now been held, b r i e f s f i l e d , counsel heard i n o r a l argument, and t h e matter submitted. It appears t h a t r e l a t o r s o b j e c t t o t h e order above re- f e r r e d t o because they contend it is contrary t o s e c t i o n 82- 4209, R.C.M. 1947. The f a c t s a s disclosed by t h e record before us is t h a t Bergmeier, a s t a t e employee, appealed h i s wage c l a s s i f i c a t i o n . Being d i s s a t i s f i e d with t h e decision of t h e Board of Personnel Appeals he p e t i t i o n e d t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t f o r a j u d i c i a l review a s provided i n s e c t i o n 82-4216, R.C.M. 1947. Subdivision ( 4 ) of t h a t s e c t i o n provides: " ( 4 ) Within t h i r t y (30) days a f t e r t h e s e r v i c e of t h e p e t i t i o n , o r within f u r t h e r t i m e allowed by t h e c o u r t , t h e agency s h a l l t r a n s m i t t o t h e reviewing c o u r t t h e o r i g i n a l o r a c e r t i f i e d copy of t h e e n t i r e record of t h e proceeding under review. By s t i p u l a t i o n of a l l p a r t i e s t o t h e review proceedings, t h e record may be shortened. A p a r t y unreasonably r e f u s i n g t o s t i p u l a t e t o l i m i t t h e record may be taxed by t h e c o u r t f o r t h e a d d i t i o n a l c o s t s . The c o u r t may r e q u i r e o r permit subsequent c o r r e c t i o n s o r a d d i t i o n s t o t h e record." Section 82-4209, R.C.M. 1947, provides i n subsection ( 5 ) : " ( 5 ) The record i n a contested case s h a l l include: " ( a ) A l l pleadings, motions, intermediate rulings. " ( b ) A l l evidence received o r considered, in- cluding a stenographic record of o r a l proceed- ings when demanded by a party. " ( c ) A statement of matters o f f i c i a l l y noticed. " ( d ) Questions and o f f e r s of proof, objections, and r u l i n g s thereon. " ( e ) Proposed findings and exceptions. " ( f ) Any decision, opinion o r r e p o r t by t h e hearing examiner o r agency member presiding a t t h e hearing. " ( 9 ) A l l s t a f f memoranda o r d a t a submitted t o t h e hearing examiner o r members of t h e agency a s evidence i n connection with t h e i r consideration of t h e case." Subsection ( 6 ) of t h e same s e c t i o n provides: " ( 6 ) The stenographic record of o r a l proceedings o r any p a r t thereof s h a l l be transcribed on request of any party. Unless otherwise provided by s t a t u t e , t h e c o s t of t h e t r a n s c r i p t i o n s h a l l be paid by t h e requesting party." The Board d i d not transmit t h e record within t h e 30 days set by law, nor f u r n i s h a t r a n s c r i p t i o n of t h e stenographic record, but did f i l e with t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t a tape recording. P r i o r t o t h e issuance of t h e order of October 6, t h e d i s t r i c t c o u r t had issued an order t o show cause t o t h e executive d i r e c t o r of t h e Board requiring him t o show cause why he should not pro- duce t h e record of t h e o r a l proceedings before t h e Board. A t t h e show cause hearing t h e Board contended it could not afford t o supply a t r a n s c r i p t . Following t h e hearing t h e c o u r t entered t h e following order: "In t h e above e n t i t l e d action, t h e hearing t o show cause why Robert R. Jensen, Administrator, Board of Personnel Appeals, should not be ordered t o produce t h e w r i t t e n t r a n s c r i p t of t h e above e n t i t l e d administrative proceedings, having come before t h i s Court, and t h e Court having duly considered t h e same; " I T I S HEREBY ORDERED, ADJUDGED AND DECREED t h a t t h e Board of Personnel Appeals provide t h i s Court w i t h a w r i t t e n t r a n s c r i p t of t h e o r a l proceedings before t h e Board of Personnel Appeals i n t h e above e n t i t l e d case." The Board argues t h a t t h e c o u r t has s h i f t e d t h e respon- s i b i l i t y of paying f o r t h e t r a n s c r i p t from t h e p a r t i e s involved i n t h e proceeding, p l a c i n g it upon t h e Board holding t h e hearing. However, t h e c o u r t ' s o r d e r makes no p r o v i s i o n f o r payment, it merely provides t h a t a w r i t t e n t r a n s c r i p t of t h e o r a l proceed- i n g s be f u r n i s h e d , a l l as r e q u i r e d by t h e s t a t u t o r y law. I n t h i s s i t u a t i o n t h e r e l i e f sought i s denied and t h e proceeding i s ordered d Chief J u s t i c e W e concur: