Ordinance No. 08-14

Introduced: March 6, 2014
Public Hearing: April 3, 2014
Status: Adopted

An ordinance amending and replacing Section 2-328, Promotional Process for Sergeants and Lieutenants, of the revised ordinances of the Township of Randolph

WHEREAS, pursuant to N.J.S.A 40 A:14-118, the governing body of a municipality is empowered to create and establish, as an executive and enforcement function of municipal government, a Police Department; and

WHEREAS, ordinances regulating Police Departments are subject to modification due to changing needs of a municipality and to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the operations of a Police Department; and

WHEREAS, the Township of Randolph desires to amend Section 2-328, Promotional Process for Sergeants and Lieutenants, of the Revised Ordinances of the Township of Randolph to include a personnel file review component to the promotional process for sergeants and lieutenants.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the Governing Body of the Township of Randolph, County of Morris, State of New Jersey as follows:

SECTION ONE. Section 2-328, Promotional Process for Sergeants and Lieutenants, of the Revised Ordinances of the Township of Randolph is hereby deleted in its entirety and replaced by the following:

Sec. 2-328. Promotional process for sergeants and lieutenants.

(a) Eligibility.

(1) To be eligible for promotion to the rank of sergeant, an individual shall meet the below stated criteria of the date of the written examination:

a. Five years of service as a police officer with the Randolph Township Police Department; Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; or

b. Five years of service as a police officer with the Randolph Township Police Department; two years of active military duty; 60 credits from an accredited college or university; or

c. Eight years of service as a police officer with the Randolph Township Police Department; 60 credits from an accredited college or university; or

d. Eight years of service as a police officer with the Randolph Township Police Department; two years of active military duty; or

e. Fifteen years of service as a police officer with the Randolph Township Police Department.

(2) To be eligible for promotion to the rank of lieutenant, an individual shall have a minimum of two years of service at the rank of sergeant on the Randolph Township Police Department and shall have attained a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university.

(b) Notification. The township manager or his/her designee shall notify all eligible candidates, in writing, no less than eight weeks in advance of the pending selection process.

(c) Selection process.

(1) The selection process for the promotion of candidates to the position of sergeant and lieutenant shall be comprised of the following components:

a. A written examination.

b. An oral examination.

c. A four year personnel file summary review.

d. Education.

e. Seniority at highest ranking grade.

f. A psychological screening (pass/fail) if no such evaluation of the candidate has occurred within a five-year period.

(2) The above-stated components shall be defined and ranked as follows:

a. Written examination: Candidates who achieve a passing score on a written examination shall be competitively ranked based upon their performance.

The written examination shall be administered by the New Jersey Chiefs of Police Association or other organization including, but not limited to, private sector consultants specializing in the police promotional process.

The candidate with the lowest passing score shall receive a ranking of 1. Said rankings shall progress sequentially (i.e. 2, 3, 4, etc.) to the candidate with the highest score except that candidates with equal scores shall be ranked equally.

b. Oral examination: Candidates must achieve a passing score on the written examination as a prerequisite to participating in the oral examination. Candidates who pass the written examination shall be competitively ranked based upon their performance.

The oral examination shall be administered by the New Jersey Chiefs of Police Association or other organization including, but not limited to, private sector consultants specializing in the police promotional process.

The candidate with the lowest passing score shall receive a ranking of 1. Said rankings shall progress sequentially (i.e. 2, 3, 4, etc.) to the candidate with the highest score except that candidates with equal scores shall be ranked equally.

c. Personnel file summary review: Candidates who achieve a passing score on the written examination and the oral examination shall be competitively ranked based upon their job performance. To determine that ranking, the chief of police shall conduct a review of the contents of the personnel file of each passing candidate for a four year time period which shall conclude thirty days prior to the date of the written examination and shall compile a score for each passing candidate based upon the following components:

1. Sick Time: The candidate using the most sick time shall receive a score of 1 and scores shall increase sequentially (i.e. 2, 3, 4, etc.) to the candidate using the least amount of sick time. Leave taken pursuant to the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (“FMLA”) will not be calculated into the sick time usage when determining total sick time hours used.

2. Commendation Letters: Candidates shall receive a score of +1 for each letter of commendation received from the chief of police or a lieutenant in the Randolph Township Police Department.

3. Awards: Candidates shall receive a score of +2 for each award received from the chief of police.

4. Disciplinary Action: Candidates shall receive a score of -1 for each verbal/oral reprimand, -2 for each written reprimand, -3 for each suspension of 39 hours or less and -4 for each suspension of 40 hours or more.

5. Evaluations: Candidates shall receive a score of +2 for each "AA" rating, -1 for each "NI" rating and a -2 for each "U" rating.

The scores of all of the above-stated components shall be added to determine the cumulative score of all components in the personnel file summary review. The candidate with the lowest cumulative score shall receive a ranking of 1. Said rankings shall progress sequentially (i.e., 2, 3, 4, etc.) to the candidate with the highest cumulative score except that candidates with equal scores shall be ranked equally.

d. Education: Candidates who achieve passing scores on the written examination and the oral examination shall be competitively ranked based upon the level of education attained. Ranking shall be as follows:

e. Seniority: Candidates achieving a passing score on the written examination and the oral examination shall be ranked against competing candidates based upon seniority at grade. Seniority at grade shall mean total years of service in the current grade held with the Randolph Township Police Department. The most senior candidate shall receive the highest ranking, while the least senior candidate shall receive a rank of 1. Candidates with equal seniority shall be equally ranked.

(3) Weight of components: The components for the selection process for promotion to the levels of sergeant and lieutenant shall be weighted in accordance with below-stated formula and following table:

a. Formula: Ranking x Weight = Value

b. Table:

c. Once the scores of all components are determined, the weighted values shall be added to determine the cumulative value of all components.

d. Promotions shall be granted in order of the highest cumulative value of all components. In any instance in which a resident and nonresident achieve the same total value, the resident will be given preference in accordance with N.J.S.A. 40A:14-122.6. In the event that two candidates achieve the same total value, the candidate with the highest ranking in the personnel file summary review will be given preference. If the candidates achieve an equal ranking on the personnel file summary review, the candidate who is most senior at rank shall be given preference.

e. Promotional lists shall be posted within 45 days after the completion of the oral examination.

f. The list of successful candidates for promotion shall be maintained for a two-year period from the date of the first probationary appointment for which the examination was held.

SECTION TWO. All Ordinances of the Township of Randolph which are inconsistent with the provisions of this Ordinance are hereby repealed as to the extent of such inconsistency.

SECTION THREE. If any section, subsection, clause, or phrase of this Ordinance is for any reason held to be unconstitutional or invalid by any Court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the remaining portions of this Ordinance.

SECTION FOUR. This Ordinance shall take effect as provided by law.

ATTEST

_____________________________
Donna Marie Luciani, Township Clerk

TOWNSHIP OF RANDOLPH

_____________________________
James Loveys, Mayor

LEGAL NOTICE
TOWNSHIP OF RANDOLPH, COUNTY OF MORRIS
ORDINANCE NO. 08-14

Notice is hereby given that an Ordinance entitled "An Ordinance Amending and Replacing Section 2-328, Promotional Process for Sergeants and Lieutenants, of the Revised Ordinances of the Township of Randolph" was submitted in writing at a regular meeting of the Mayor and Council of the Township of Randolph, County of Morris, State of New Jersey, held on March 6, 2014 and was introduced, read by title and passed on first reading. A Statement of Purpose of the Ordinance is contained below. The Governing Body of the Township of Randolph will further consider the Ordinance for second reading and final passage thereof at their regular meeting to be held on April 3, 2014 at 7 p.m. prevailing time, at the Municipal Building, 502 Millbrook Avenue, Randolph, New Jersey 07869, at which time and place a public hearing will be heard thereon by the Governing Body and all parties in interest and citizens shall have an opportunity to be heard concerning said Ordinance.

Statement of Purpose of Ordinance

The purpose of the above Ordinance is to amend Section 2-328, Promotional Process for Sergeants and Lieutenants, of the Revised Ordinances of the Township of Randolph to include a personnel file review component to the promotional process for sergeants and lieutenants.

A copy of the full Ordinance is available to any member of the general public, without cost, at the Township of Randolph, Municipal Building, Millbrook Avenue, Randolph, New Jersey, at the Office of the Township Clerk, between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.

_____________________________
Donna Marie Luciani, Township Clerk
Township of Randolph
County of Morris, State of New Jersey