CIVIL SERVICE

Grand Rapids City Charter tit. VII

in effect

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 1 Commissioners—Who to be

Section 1. Commissioners—Who to be The Civil Service Board of the City shall be composed of five members, one of whom shall be a member of the City Commission to be appointed on the first Monday in May in each year, by the Mayor. The remaining four members shall be resident taxpayers of the City of Grand Rapids, distributed among the several wards of the City as nearly as is practicable, and shall neither hold nor be a candidate for any other public office or position, and shall not be an officer or employee of any political or party organization. They shall be appointed by the City Commission on the first Monday in May and shall hold office for four years. The first appointments of citizen members however, shall be for terms of one, two, three and four years, and one member shall be appointed annually thereafter. All members shall serve without compensation. The first Board to act under the provisions hereof shall be appointed on the first Monday in May, 1940, and shall succeed to all the rights and duties and become possessed of all records, files, and matters pending before the present board as soon as acceptances of office are filed and an organization meeting is held. Three members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business but no rule shall be adopted nor shall an employee be dismissed except by the affirmative vote of a majority of the members-elect. (3-5-34; 4-1-40)

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 2 Classification

Section 2. Classification The Civil Service of the City is hereby divided into the unclassified and classified service. (a). The unclassified service shall include: (a) All officers elected by the people, (b) The City Manager, (c) The heads of departments and members of appointive boards, (d) The deputy and secretary of the City Manager and the deputy of each department and the City Clerk. Classified Service. (b). The classified service shall comprise all positions not specifically included in this Charter in the unclassified service. There shall be in the classified service three classes to be known as the competitive class, noncompetitive class and labor class. Competitive Class. (c). The competitive class shall include all positions and employment for which it is practicable to determine the merit and fitness of applicants by competitive examination. Noncompetitive Class. (d). The noncompetitive class shall consist of all positions requiring peculiar and exceptional qualifications of a scientific, managerial, professional or educational character, as may be determined by the rules of the board. Labor Class. (e). The labor class shall include ordinary unskilled labor.

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 3 Civil Service Rules to be Adopted

Section 3. Civil Service Rules to be Adopted The board shall adopt, amend and enforce a code of rules and regulations providing for appointment and employment in all positions in the classified service, based on merit, efficiency, character, and industry, and the board is empowered to make rules and regulations providing for lay-off and recall, all of which shall have the force and effect of law; shall make investigations concerning the enforcement and effect of this title and of the rules so adopted. The City is not hereby prevented from reducing its work force which shall be entirely within the discretion of the proper administrative officials. Such lay-offs shall be in accordance with the board's rules and subject to the appeal procedure set forth in Section 9 of Title VII of the Charter. (11-4-58)

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 4 Chief Examiner—Filling of Positions

Section 4. Chief Examiner—Filling of Positions The chief examiner shall provide examinations in accordance with the rules and regulations of the board and maintain lists of eligibles of each class of the service of those meeting the requirements of said rules and regulations. Position in the classified service shall be filled by the City Manager from the three persons standing highest on the eligible list. As positions are filled the board shall certify the fact by proper and prescribed form to the City Treasurer and City Comptroller and the head of the department in which the vacancy exists.

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 5 No Discrimination

Section 5. No Discrimination No person in the classified service or seeking admission thereto shall be appointed, reduced or removed, or in any way favored or discriminated against because of his or her political or religious opinions or affiliations.

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 6 Temporary Appointments

Section 6. Temporary Appointments To prevent the delay of public business or to meet extraordinary exigencies the City Manager, with the approval of the board, may make temporary appointments to remain in force not exceeding thirty days, and only until regular appointments under the provisions of this title can be made.

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 7 Promotions—How Regulated and Made

Section 7. Promotions—How Regulated and Made The board shall provide by rule for promotions to all positions in the classified service, based on merit, efficiency, character, conduct and seniority.

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 8 Probation Period

Section 8. Probation Period An appointment or promotion shall not be deemed complete until a period of probation not to exceed six months, has elapsed and a probationer may be discharged or reduced at any time within the said period of probation upon the recommendation of the City Manager and the department director.

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 9 Removal—Discharge—Suspension

Section 9. Removal—Discharge—Suspension No employee under the classified service shall be discharged or reduced in rank or compensation until he has been presented with the reasons for such discharge or reduction specifically stated in writing, and has been given an opportunity to be heard in his own defense. The reason for such discharge or reduction and any reply in writing thereto by such employee shall be filed with the board. Any employee of any department in the classified service who is suspended, reduced in rank or dismissed, may appeal to the Civil Service Board, which shall define the manner, time and place by which such appeal shall be heard. The judgment of such board shall be final and not subject to review in the courts.

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 10 Certain Acts Prohibited

Section 10. Certain Acts Prohibited No person shall wilfully or corruptly by himself, or in co-operation with other persons, defeat, deceive, or obstruct any person in respect to his or her rights to examination or promotion or corruptly or falsely mark, grade or report upon the examination promotion or proper standing of any person examined, or aid in so doing, or make any false representation concerning the same or concerning the person examined, or furnish to any person any special or secret information for the purpose of either improving or impairing the prospects of any person examined or to be examined, of being appointed, employed, or promoted.

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 11 Commission to Receive no Gifts

Section 11. Commission to Receive no Gifts No member of the Civil Service Board shall receive any money or other valuable consideration or any present of any nature for any purpose whatsoever from any City official or City employee, or from any candidate for appointment or for examination, or from any other person whomsoever, for or on account of the appointment or proposed appointment or promotion or proposed promotion of any other person.

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 12 Gifts for Examination or Promotion Prohibited

Section 12. Gifts for Examination or Promotion Prohibited No applicant for examination or appointment in the classified Civil Service shall give or promise to give, either directly or indirectly, any money or other valuable thing to any person whomsoever for or on account of his examination, appointment or proposed appointment. No officer or employee shall give or promise to give, either directly or indirectly, to any person any money or other valuable thing whatsoever for or on account of his promotion.

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 13 Appropriations

Section 13. Appropriations The City Commission shall appropriate each year a sufficient sum to carry out the Civil Service provisions of this Charter.

Grand Rapids City Charter, tit. VII, § 14 Employes to Retain Places

Section 14. Employes to Retain Places All persons in the employ of the City holding positions in the classified service, as established by this Charter at the time it takes effect, shall retain the same during good behavior and acceptable service.

Source: City of Grand Rapids, Michigan, City Code and City Charter (Municode Library, library.municode.com)URL: https://library.municode.com/mi/grand_rapids/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=PT1CH_TITVIICISEFetched: 11/7/2026