The Wilmington morning star. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1909-1990, 1945-01-18
CIVIL SERVICE.
PLAN SUPPORTED
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/ AkzlV UOk ! VAx LII
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voiced reasons for objection to the
revision-bill which conceded in es-
sentials with those stated before
the council by 1t. Ethcridge. &c
also pointed out, in rebuttal of re-
cent assertions in Council that IN
most comparable cities the City
Manager is arciter in departmental
promotions and discharges, that
in Charlotte the Civil Service board
has handled such matters salts
factorily since 1929.
Although averring that "protec-
tion'' was a word ne disliked to
use, Mr.. Bradley said that City At
torney Campbell's revision would
deprive Fire and Police depart
ment members of the protection of
the Civil Service BOARD and, in
fact, Of any appeal whatever from
decisions of their. chiefs and the
City Manager.
Seconding the fortnight state
ment of L. E. Skies, police radio
dispatcher, the Rev. Mr.. Bradley
implied that the appoiniive COM
bination Of the City Manager. the
departmental chiefs and the Coun-
ell would be more vulnerable tn
political pressure than the Civil
Service Board as currently cor
stituted. .
The revision-bill reversed the
appointive functions If the two
groups, giving the Civil Service
Board only the power 20 confirm
or reject appointments and plac-
ing the initiative in the hands o.
the City Manager. Here before the
Commission has picked three eli
gibles from which one was chosen
by the departmental head for the
since the passage Of the cuent1h
position to be filled, and eigibles
hadto be departmental career-men
The department chiefs have nos
denied, Mr.. Bradley said, that they
have enjoyed the best disciplinary
conditions in their agencies mis-
tory since the passage of the cur
rent bill in 1941. r.
Among the reasons laid dow,
yesterday by Lieut. Etheridge fol
objection to the new and revised
Civil Service bill were:
"tD It cuts the Commission tt
a three-man Commission.
"(2) 1t gives the City Manager
authority to employ, without test
persons for membership in either
department, in the absence Of
eligibles, for a period OF so days;
go 1t designated City Man.
ager to submit TO the Civil
Service Commission the names Of
men he wants promoted. We don't
feel like the chiefs, who would be
appointed by the City Manager,
would feel free to make recon-
mendations for promotions to the
City Manager, as provided:
900 1t would bring the police
and fire chiefs in from the out
side, because of appointment by
City Manager, and confirmation by
the Council. They now come from
the personnel of the departments
and are appointed by the City
Council, subject to approval by the
Civil Service Commission.
"(5) If you use the word City
Manager, and in the future should
change the form of government,
it would leave us out in the cold I'M
der the new bill.
"(6) Also Section 7 on elections
is written too strongly. We can
not take part in elections except
to exercise the right to vote.
There is a provision for dismissal
if we don't obey. Does this mean
that we can't discuss politics out
on the street corner?'
Pvt. Roy Bagwen and Pvt. Will
bur Cherry, of the fire depart
ment, were the other members
Of the committee appearing before
the Council, which met in special
session to consider the waterWorks
docket.
After Mayor Ronald Lane had
assured the group that the matter
would "be taken under considera-
tom, and they had departed. Fire
Chief j. Luddie Groom, Who called
himself a spectator, arose to
speak.
yet" City Attorney Campbell said
yesterday. 'It retains for the Civil
Service Commission all authority
which it needs to completely han.
die, and makes rules for handling
examinations, choice Of original
employees, certification of all eli.
gible persons for employment
right to pass upon all discharges.
At the same time, it clarifies ad.
ministrative authority for the City
Manager and Council and in no
sense adversely affects the civil!
service right and status of any
member of either department"
In the round-table discussion
that ensued the departure of the
committee, Councilmen generally
expressed the opinion that mo.
body is hurt under the new bill.
and that no real objections to it
had been projected by the fire
and police group.
City Attorney Campbell explain
ed to Councilmen that 'they are
telling you that they don't want
to say under Council jurisdiction
because of politics, that they feel
thew have haf%ar onpor+,.;4; 49,