Pensacola Times

The Escambia County Board of County Commissioners is seeking Escambia County residents interested in volunteering to be considered for an appointment to the Escambia County Merit System Protection Board.

Escambia County residents interested in being considered for a possible appointment on the Merit System Protection Board are asked to submit a resume and letter indicating their desire to serve by the close of business on Monday, June 27. Resumes should be submitted to Shamara Jernigan, Program Coordinator, Board of County Commissioners, P.O. box 1591, Pensacola, FL 32502, or emailed to boardapply@myescambia.com.

Please be aware that resumes submitted to a BCC agenda for consideration will become part of the official minutes and are subject to public records requests.

Merit System Protection Board (MSPB)
This board was established by the Board of County Commissioners through adoption of Escambia County Ordinance No. 2005-38, enacted on August 18, 2005. Upon the legislative sunset of the Escambia County Civil Service Board, effective October 1, 2005, the MSPB was created to provide a fair and equitable mechanism for the expeditious review of appeals and grievances of the classified employees of the county before a non-partisan deliberative body. County Ordinance 2005-38 provides the means for a classified, permanent employee under the jurisdiction of the MSPB to appeal disciplinary actions, and that these employees may file an appeal or grievance for perceived violations of the ordinance or the rules. Presently, the classified employees under the jurisdiction of the Board of County Commissioners, the Sheriff’s Office, the Supervisor of Elections and the Santa Rosa Island Authority are covered under the MSPB.

The MSPB is composed of five volunteer members, each selected by the Board of County Commissioners. Each member serves a two-year term. MSPB meetings are typically held once per month but may occasionally meet a second time, if needed.  Meetings are normally held on the second Monday of each month at 5 p.m. On months in which a hearing occurs, the hearing is held at approximately 5:30 p.m. in the BCC meeting room at the conclusion of the business portion of MSPB meeting.
 
Qualifications of Board Members

No person shall be appointed to the MSPB as a member who:

1. Has not been a resident of Escambia County for two or more years preceding the appointment to the MSPB. 
2. Is holding an elective or appointive office in federal, state, county or municipal government provided that prior appointment as a member of the MSPB shall not disqualify a person from being reappointed.
3. Held political office in, or was a salaried or hourly employee of Escambia County, during the 12 months preceding appointment to the MSPB. 
4. Is a member of the immediate family of a current employee or elected official of Escambia County.
5.  Is a current officer of any union representing employees of Escambia County.
6. Is working for any vendor who has a current contractual agreement with any participating appointing authority.
7. Has been convicted of, or has had adjudication withheld of, a felony or any crime involving moral turpitude.

Qualifications must be maintained throughout the member's tenure, or the member must resign his position on the MSPB. 

Attendance

Any member of the MSPB shall be removed and replaced after being absent from more than three consecutive meetings during any calendar year. The MSPB shall determine whether any member's absence is unexcused.

Compensation of Board Members

The MSPB members shall serve on a voluntary basis and not be financially compensated for their service. 

Original source can be found here.