Columbus, Georgia

AN ORDINANCE



NO. __________



An ordinance authorizing the establishment of the Class Titles and Pay Grades

of Deputy Sheriff, Grades 9A and 9B; Police Officer, Grades 9A and 9B;

Firefighter or Firefighter/EMT, Grades 9A and 9B; and, Deputy Marshal, Grades

9A and 9B in the Public Safety Position Classification Plan of the Columbus

Consolidated Government.

_____________________________________



THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY ORDAINS:



SECTION 1.



That the Human Resources Department is hereby authorized to establish the new

Class Titles and Pay Grades of Deputy Sheriff, Grades 9A and 9B; Police

Officer, Grades 9A and 9B; Firefighter and Firefighter/EMT, Grades 9A and 9B;

and, Deputy Marshal, Grades 9A and 9B in the Public Safety Position

Classification Plan of the Columbus Consolidated Government.



SECTION 2.



The educational level required for Public Safety Officers hired at Pay Grade 9A

shall be the completion of high school by diploma or GED; the educational level

required for Public Safety Officers hired at Pay Grade 9B shall be 45 quarter

hours or 30 semester hours of post secondary education at a college or

university accredited by the Southern Association of Schools and Colleges, or

its equivalent. Individuals hired into the new Pay Grade 9A shall have 48

months from date of hire and individuals hired into the new Pay Grade 9B shall

have 36 months from date of hire in which to earn an associate degree or its

equivalency as described in Ordinance 00-31; namely a total of 96 quarter hours

or 63 semester hours of post secondary education from a college or university

accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools, or its

equivalent, and if said course work meets or exceeds the Core Curriculum

requirements for an Associate in Science in General Studies degree, Areas A-E,

as listed in the Columbus State University 1999-2000 catalog. Employees hired

under this provision who fail to attain the required educational standards

shall be terminated except for Sheriff?s deputies who will be removed from Pay

Grade 9A or 9B, Deputy Sheriff and placed in Pay Grade 9, Correctional

Officer. Current Public Safety personnel hired under a previous exception

program, not meeting the requirements of said program and facing termination of

their employment, may transfer to this program at the appropriate grade and

salary. Employees hired at Pay Grade 9A who earn 45 quarter hours or 30

semester hours of college credit will be elevated to Pay Grade 9B. Employees

who earn an associate degree or the equivalency hours herein described will be

elevated to Pay Grade 10. Employees must earn an associate or higher degree to

be eligible for promotion above the rank of Pay Grade 10.



SECTION 3.



The starting salary for Pay Grade 9A shall be identical to the existing

Pay Grade 9 and any revisions thereof; and, the starting salary for Pay Grade

9B shall be the mid-point between Pay Grades 9 and 10.



SECTION 4.



The efficacy of this program will be evaluated at the end of one year;

at which time the Columbus Council may leave the program in place unchanged, or

adopt an ordinance modifying or canceling the same.



SECTION 5.



This ordinance shall be effective immediately upon adoption by Columbus Council.



SECTION 6.



All Ordinances and parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.

___________________________________________________



Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held on

the _________day of __________, 2004; introduced a second time at a regular

meeting of said Council held on the _________day of __________, 2004, and

adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of ______ members of said

council.



Councilor Allen Voting_____________________________.

Councilor Anthony Voting __________________________.

Councilor Davis Voting____________________________.

Councilor Henderson Voting________________________.

Councilor Hunter Voting___________________________.

Councilor McDaniel Voting_________________________.

Councilor Rodgers Voting__________________________.

Councilor Suber Voting____________________________.

Councilor Pugh Voting_____________________________.

Councilor Woodson Voting_________________________.





_______________________ _________________________

Tiny B. Washington, Clerk Robert S. Poydasheff, Mayor





Agenda Item #



Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting



May XX, 2004



Agenda Report #



TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: Position Classification Plan and Pay Plan Amendment



INITIATED: Request of Public Safety Director







Recommendation: Approve an Ordinance amending the Position Classification Plan

and Pay Plan of the Columbus Consolidated Government by creating the Class

Titles and Pay Grades of Deputy Sheriff, Grades 9A and 9B; Police Officer,

Grades 9A and 9B; Firefighter or Firefighter/EMT, Grades 9A and 9B; and, Deputy

Marshal, Grades 9A and 9B.



Background: Ordinance No. 96-79 created a requirement that individuals

receiving entry level appointment as a Public Safety Officer, must possess an

associates or higher degree. Subsequently, Ordinance No. 00-31 authorized the

acceptance of the educational equivalency of an associates degree for hiring

purposes only, specifying that an associates or higher degree was still

required for promotion. The Public Safety Director requests the creation of

the Class Titles and Pay Grades of Deputy Sheriff, Grades 9A and 9B; Police

Officer, Grades 9A and 9B; Firefighter or Firefighter/EMT, Grades 9A and 9B;

and, Deputy Marshal, Grades 9A and 9B. The educational level required for

Public Safety Officers hired at Pay Grade 9A shall be the completion of high

school by diploma or GED; the educational level required for Public Safety

Officers hired at Pay Grade 9B shall be 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours

of post secondary education. Individuals hired into the new Pay Grade 9A shall

have 48 months from date of hire and individuals hired into the new Pay Grade

9B shall have 36 months from date of hire in which to earn an associate degree

or its equivalency. Employees hired under this provision who fail to attain

the required educational standards shall be terminated except for Sheriff?s

deputies who will be removed from Pay Grade 9A or 9B, Deputy Sheriff and placed

in Pay Grade 9, Correctional Officer. Current Public Safety personnel hired

under a previous exception program may transfer to this program at the

appropriate grade and salary. Employees hired at Pay Grade 9A who earn 45

quarter hours or 30 semester hours of college credit will be elevated to Pay

Grade 9B. Employees who earn an associate degree or the equivalency hours

herein described will be elevated to Pay Grade 10. Employees must earn an

associate or higher degree to be eligible for promotion above the rank of Pay

Grade 10.



Analysis: There will be no budgetary impact. There will be a small initial

savings when new employees are hired at Grade 9A or 9B, but it is anticipated

that these employees will attain an associate degree and then move up in pay.



Legal: Approval of the Columbus Council is required.



Financial Considerations: No financial considerations other than listed in

Analysis.



Recommendation/Actions: Request of Public Safety Director.