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A. Immediately after appointment, the commission shall organize by electing one of its members chairperson and hold regular meetings at least once a month, and such additional meetings as may be required for the proper discharge of their duties. It shall be the duty of the Civil Service Commission:

1. To make suitable rules and regulations to implement this chapter which are not inconsistent with the provisions thereof. Such rules and regulations shall provide in detail the manner in which examinations may be held, and appointments, promotions, transfers, reinstatements, demotions, suspensions and discharges shall be made. The rules and regulations and any amendments thereof shall be printed, mimeographed or multigraphed for free public distribution. Such rules and regulations may be changed from time to time;

2. All tests shall be practical and shall consist only of subjects which will fairly determine the capacity of persons examined to perform duties of the position to which appointment is to be made, and may include tests of physical fitness and/or of manual skill;

3. The rules and regulations adopted by the commission shall provide for a credit of ten percent in favor of all applicants for appointment under civil service, who, in time of war, or in any expedition of the armed forces of the United States, have served in and been honorably discharged from the armed forces of the United States, including the army, navy, and marine corps and the American Red Cross. These credits apply to entrance examinations only;

4. The commission shall make investigations concerning and report upon all matters touching the enforcement and effect of the provisions of this chapter, and the rules and regulations prescribed hereunder; inspect all institutions, departments, offices, places, positions and employments affected by this chapter, and ascertain whether this chapter and all such rules and regulations are being obeyed;

5. Such investigations may be made by the commission or by any commissioner designated by the commission for that purpose. Not only must these investigations be made by the commission as aforesaid, but the commission must make like investigation on petition of a citizen, duly verified, stating that irregularities or abuses exist, or setting forth in concise language, in writing, the necessity for such investigation. In the course of such investigation, the commission or designated commissioner, or chief examiner, shall have the power to administer oaths, subpoena and require the attendance of witnesses and the production by them of books, papers, documents and accounts appertaining to the investigation and also to cause the deposition of witnesses residing within or without the state to be taken in the manner prescribed by law for like depositions in civil actions in the superior court; and the oaths administered by a superior court judge in his judicial capacity; and the failure upon the part of any person so subpoenaed to comply with the provisions of this section shall be deemed a violation of this chapter and punishable as such;

6. All hearings and investigations before the commission, or designated commissioner, or chief examiner, shall be governed by this chapter and by rules of practice and procedure to be adopted by the commission, and in the conduct thereof neither the commission, nor designated commissioner, shall be bound by the technical rules of evidence. No informality in any proceedings or hearing, or in the manner of taking testimony before the commission or designated commissioner, shall invalidate any order, decision, rule or regulation made, approved or confirmed by the commission; provided, however, that no order, decision, rule, or regulation made by any designated commissioner conducting any hearing or investigation alone shall be of any force or effect whatsoever unless and until concurred in by at least one of the other two members;

7. To hear and determine appeals or complaints respecting the administrative work of the Personnel Department, the rejection of an examination and such other matters as may be referred to the commission pursuant to the duties outlined in subsection A.1 of this section;

8. Establish and maintain in card or other suitable form a roster of employees covered by civil service;

9. Provide for, formulate and hold competitive tests to determine the relative qualifications of persons who seek employment in any class or position and as a result thereof establish eligible lists for the various classes of positions as established by the City, and to provide that employees laid off because of curtailment of expenditures, reduction in force, and for like cause, head the list in the order of their seniority, to the end that they shall be the first to be reemployed;

10. When a vacant position is to be filled, to certify to the appointing authority, on written request, the name of the three persons highest on the eligible list for the class. If there are no such lists, the commission shall make provision in their rules for provisional or temporary appointments for such positions. Such temporary or provisional appointment shall not exceed a period of six months in duration but may be extended for up to an additional six months if for any reason it cannot be determined at the expiration of the initial appointment that the position being filled by temporary or provisional appointment will in fact be vacant, such as in the instance of a position vacant due to an officer on disability leave under the LEOFF Act, or for other good cause which in the discretion of the commission warrants an additional extension of such a provisional or temporary appointment;

11. Keep such records as may be necessary for the proper administration of this chapter.

B. The Personnel Department through the director or the director’s designee shall perform the duties of, and serve as, the Civil Service Commission secretary and chief examiner. The duties of the secretary and chief examiner shall be to keep the records of the commission, preserve all reports made to it, superintend and keep a record of all examinations held under its direction, and perform such other duties as the commission may prescribe. (Ord. 2581 § 3 (part), 2011).