Civil Service Commission

A Borough Civil Service Commission is an independent body that oversees the hiring, promotion, discipline, and other personnel-related matters for the Borough’s Civil Service Employees. This independence helps to ensure that decisions are made objectively and without political influence.

The purpose of Civil Service Commission’s is to ensure that the hiring and employment practices for certain positions are fair, impartial, and based on merit, rather than political influence or favoritism.

Civil Service Employees typically include individuals who work in public safety (like police officers and firefighters) and other essential government positions.

In Pennsylvania, the Civil Service Commission operates under the Borough Code (Title 8) and may also be governed by specific rules related to the Borough’s Civil Service System.

Key Functions of the Civil Service Commission

Personnel Rules and Regulations
The Commission develops and enforces rules governing the recruitment, selection, promotion, and discipline of civil service employees. These rules help ensure that hiring and promotion processes are based on qualifications, performance, and fairness.

Recruitment and Testing
One of the primary functions of the Commission is to oversee the recruitment and testing process for civil service positions. This may include creating job announcements, setting qualifications, and administering written exams, physical fitness tests, or oral interviews.

*For example, the Commission may oversee the hiring process for police officers or firefighters to ensure that candidates meet established qualifications and are selected based on merit.

Certification of Eligibility List
After conducting exams and evaluations, the Commission certifies a list of eligible candidates for employment or promotion. This list is then provided to the Borough or department heads to make final hiring or promotion decisions.

Promotions
The Commission also oversees the promotion process within the civil service, ensuring that promotions are based on merit, seniority, and qualifications.

Advisory Role
The Commission may provide recommendations to the borough government regarding policies, procedures, and practices related to civil service employment.

The Commission holds meetings, which may be open to the public, where it discusses issues such as rule changes, appeals, and other personnel matters. Freemansburg Borough’s Civil Service Commission meets on an as-needed basis.

A Civil Service Commission is usually composed of three to five members, who are appointed by the borough council or mayor. These members often serve for fixed terms (e.g., five years).

Freemansburg Borough’s Civil Service Commission is comprised of three (3) Commission Members:

Chairperson
Beth Zmijewski

Vice-Chairperson
Frank Gergar

Secretary
Anne Beebe

Solicitor Atty.
John Harrison