Franklin County’s civil service commission resigned last month. This happened next
Two weeks after resigning, Franklin County has reappointed two members to a key volunteer commission that helps in the hiring of sheriff’s deputies and jailers.
All three members of the Civil Service Commission resigned at the end of June, after months of friction within the board. This week, the county commissioners unanimously voted to reappoint two of the board members.
Civil Service Commission members Mark Jansen and Rey Gomez had indicated willingness to come back if Chairperson Michelle Andres left.
They both resigned June 26. The next morning Andres announced her resignation.
Civil service commissioners are appointed by city or county leaders to test and recommend candidates for police departments, sheriff’s offices, jails and fire departments.
Typically they arrange and administer the civil service tests for candidates, then send a list of the top candidate recommendations to be hired.
Gonzalez told the Herald at the time that while Andres gave “1,000 percent” to the role, her resignation was the right move due to the conflict between her and the sheriff’s department, causing a slowdown in testing and recommendations.
‘Discord and dissention’
There has been tension in Franklin County since at least the beginning of the year regarding civil service exam testing.
Sheriff Jim Raymond even asked commissioners to move the chief examiner post out of the Human Resources Department into its own role, in order to get candidates approved more quickly.
That role was made an independent position, but had not yet been filled. Most recently, County Administrator Mike Gonzalez was overseeing testing process.
Andres apparently took exception to Gonzalez administering the test, but Franklin County Prosecutor Shawn Sant said last week that Gonzalez had the proper authority because he oversees the manager of the Human Resources Department.
In her letter of resignation, Andres cited her personal health and the county’s “toxicity.”
She said at recent county commission meetings that she had been recovering from some surgery but meeting minutes show she had continued to attend recent civil service meetings online over Zoom.
Gomez wrote that he was resigning because he had not expected it would be so difficult to conduct business during their meetings due to “discord and dissension” between the commission and sheriff’s office.
Jansen also pointed to difficulties conducting business, laying the blame on Andres.
“I feel the commission chairwoman is overbearing with a smothering attitude, which is causing dissension within the Commission, Sheriff’s Department and other support staff,” Jansen wrote.
Reappointment
Gonzalez said during this week’s meeting that he appreciated Gomez and Jansen’s willingness to come back.
“It’s nice to have Rey Gomez and Mark Jansen here, who were reappointed ... They’re going to get right to work because there’s a meeting today,” Gonzalez said. “I was glad those gentleman were willing to come back and serve our community, because both great men and really good people. We’re certainly lucky to have them.”
The commission members typically serve 6-year terms, aside from initial staggered terms when a new commission is created. The two men will be filling their original terms, which for runs through February 2025 for Jansen and February 2029 for Gomez.
Gonzalez told the Herald that the county is considering expanding the board from three to five members, but that will require an ordinance to be approved by county commissioners.
They also need to appoint a new chairperson once a third member is added. He said that the board must be cautious about taking action without a chairperson appointed, as the action could later be undone.
Gonzalez said they have had several people show interest in volunteering, and that he feels good about the direction the civil service commission is moving.
