Approval and implementation of rules and regulations; classified services; reduction in compensation; order of layoff.

(a) All covered employees of the City of Muscle Shoals shall be subject to this part and the rules and regulations prescribed in or promulgated pursuant to this part.

(b) All implementing rules and regulations shall be approved by the city council, based upon applicable state and federal laws, and shall provide rules for examinations and appointment of new employees, reassignment of current employees, separations, disciplinary actions to include suspensions, demotions and dismissals, layoffs, leaves of absence with pay, leaves of absence without pay, and all other matters determined by the city council to be required to effectively implement the intent of this part. All approved implementing rules and regulations shall govern. The city council shall cause the approved rules and regulations and other components of the established Civil Service System to be reviewed and recommend changes prepared for approval as needed to keep the system responsible to the needs of the city, to meet all legal requirements, and to implement the intent of this part.

(c) The mayor shall develop and submit to the city council for approval job descriptions for the types of service to be performed in the departments of the city that are representative of the duties, activities, and qualifications, to include those of character, education, training, and experience for the appointees of each job class.

(d) Present employees determined to be regular status covered employees in accordance with this part and those who may hereafter be employed in the covered service and designated as regular status employees shall remain in their respective employment during good behavior, efficiency, availability of funds, need as determined by the city council, and obedience to this part and the implementing rules and regulations prescribed and promulgated in accordance with this part. No present covered employee shall be subject to any examination in order to hold his or her present position of employment. This part shall not be construed to prevent or preclude the removal of any employee, regardless of employment status, for cause in the manner hereinafter provided.

(e) Except in connection with a reduction in force or demotion in any one department, no regular salary or compensation of a covered employee may be reduced without the approval of the board. In the event a reduction in force becomes necessary in any department, the order of layoff shall be inverse to the order of appointment.

(Act 99-557, p. 1202, §3.)