FARGO, N.D. – The City of Fargo’s civil service hiring process was called into view at Monday night’s Fargo City Commission meeting.
The process in question relates to the current hiring process involving the chief of the Fargo Police Department. City Commissioner Michelle Turnberg introduced a motion Monday that would have named Interim Chief Travis Stefonowicz, who served as Assistant Chief under former chief David Zibolski, as the full-time chief of the department, forgoing the process outlined in the Fargo Municipal Code.
“The City of Fargo’s civil service system, outlined in Chapter 7 of the Municipal Code, is designed to ensure fair, merit-based employment practices across City departments,” the city said in a statement provided to Flag Family News. “The practices apply to all regular full-time City employees, including department heads such as the Police Chief.”
Instead of following the process that has been in place for department heads, Turnberg’s motion would have fast-tracked the hiring, something not permissible under current Municipal Code laws.
“As required by its own ordinances, the City is following the Fargo Municipal Code, and Chapter 7, in the hiring of its next Police Chief,” the statement read. “There is no scenario that the Police Chief could be selected outside of this process barring a change to the applicable ordinances.”
Even if a change were made in the ordinances, the appointed individual ‘would still be subject to, and benefit from, civil service protections upon attaining regular full-time status.’ The protections include due process in disciplinary matters and rights to appeals.
City Commissioners, members of commissions and boards appointed by the City Commission, employees who haven’t completed their probationary period, part-time non-benefitted and contracted positions are not subjected to the City of Fargo’s civil service coverage.
