Marksville has to re-do Civil Service appointments

All appointees to a higher position in city government made by the Marksville City Council or Mayor John Lemoine in the last four years will have to re-apply and go before the Civil Service Board.

Mayor Lemoine and the council decided, during the council’s January 8 meeting, to make all the appointees re-apply in an effort to follow guidelines of the Civil Service Board.

The issue bubbled to the surface recently when a new chief of detectives for the Marksville Police Department had been appointed by the mayor. A complaint was filed saying the proper hiring process was that candidates first must go before the Civil Service Board.

Mayor Lemoine told council members he was told when anyone who had a lower class position with the city applied for a higher classification, they must be interviewed by the Civil Service Board. The board would interview all candidates who applied and then make a recommendation of three of those candidates to the city department head. The department head would then make a recommendation for approval by the mayor and council.

“That is the process we are being told to follow,” Mayor Lemoine said. “In the past and in other administrations that has not been followed. I want the process to be fair and uniform.”

Lemoine felt everyone who has received appointments since he became mayor would have to go through the Civil Service process.

Councilman Mike Gremillion estimated there could be 30 or more positions that would have to be interviewed. He felt it was unfair to the people who have held the position for several years.

Councilman Elliott Jordan said the process has to be fair to everyone involved in being hired by the city. Jordan made a motion to accept the mayor’s recommendation. He said the current positions would be temporary appointments until everyone interviewed with the Civil Service Board.

“Do it legal for everyone,” Councilman Richard Tassin said. “You can’t be wrong if it is done right.” Tassin then seconded Jordan’s motion.

“We didn’t know we were not following the proper procedure,” Mayor Lemoine continued. “We were in violation.”

Gremillion questioned why the city was going to go back almost four years on appointments. He questioned if the entire process was being done for political reasons.

Lemoine did say city attorney Derrick Whittington would research state law concerning how far back the council had to go in making workers go back before the Civil Service Board. Lemoine said there may be a time period from which the appointments would be official.

The council voted 4-1 with Gremillion being the only no vote on sending all the promotions back to the Civil Service Board.

On the issue of the chief of detectives, Eric Jacobs was named to the position by a vote of 4-2 of the council at their regular meeting on January 8 after being recommended by the Civil Service Board last week.

Jacobs had been appointed by the mayor without going before the Civil Service Board in November. A grievance was filed about how Jacobs had previously been appointed by the mayor. Two other candidates and Jacobs were interviewed before the Civil Service Board last week.

“Jacobs is doing a good job and deserves to continued in the position,” Councilwoman Joyce Prier said just before the vote of the council on January 8.

Tassin and Gremillion voted no to approve Jacobs while Mayor Lemoine, Jordan, Prier and Linda Adams voted yes. Jacobs thanked the council for their support and assured the council the “job will get done.”