The push to reinstate the Civil Service Commission has begun.

In other news from the city we find a renewed effort to reinstate the Civil Service Commission that had existed for 43 years in the city. Here is the press release for this movement,

January 18,2006

(Conway, AR) – Larry Rathjen, a resident of Conway, Arkansas, is leading the initiative to reinstate the Civil Service Commission; which is an independent Board of appointed, non-partisan volunteers whose job it is to hear and decide appeals of public employees. The Commission is to ensure that employment decisions (hirings, firings, and promotions) are based on the relative ability, knowledge and skills of the public employee and that all individuals receive fair and impartial treatment.

Civil Service Commissions are designed to monitor the local government against perceived, or real, illegal political protection, intimidation, coercion or fraud. The Civil Service Commission was created in Conway in 1957 and existed for 43 years. Mayor Tab Townsell successfully led the charge to revoke the Commission in a Council meeting on December 12, 2000.

Mr. Rathjen has retained the services of local attorney Charles Finkenbinder who will defend the petition if the city challenges its validity. Mr. Finkenbinder just recently successfully defended two Conway Police Officers from wrongful termination.

Amendment 7 of the Arkansas Constitution allows the citizens of Conway to initiate laws. In this case, the signatures of 1,824 registered Conway voters must be collected on a valid petition. If the requisite numbers of signatures are collected, the city must place the initiative on the ballot at the next General Election, scheduled for November 7, 2006.

According to Mr. Rathjen, “Civil Service exists not only to protect the rights of the Police and Firefighters, but also the common citizen who can utilize the Commission to make sure complaints are investigated. The Commission protects citizens by ensuring that good Officers are not fired, or forced to resign, on the whim of the Chief or Mayor. When we lose good officers for no good reason our city becomes weaker and more vulnerable.”

When asked if he thought obtaining the requisite number of signatures would be difficult, Mr. Rathjen replied “During the December 12, 2000 City Council meeting, the courtroom was packed with Fire Fighters and Police Officers who were trying to save the Commission. They had collected over 2,000 signatures that the Mayor would not allow them to present. I’ll never forget the comments made back then by Theo Jones, a current City Councilman, who was a Civil Service Commissioner then. He said that decision was really going to hurt the employees because they need help and some recourse. I agree with Alderman Jones. They do need help and I’m confident we’ll see this issue on the ballot next November.”

Mr. Finkenbinder stated that “The current system creates an inherently intimidating environment for an employee to file a complaint. Six years ago the Police and Fire Departments fought like crazy to keep the Commission. If I’m right about the current environment, the same Police and Fire Fighters will now be too intimated to speak out in favor of the reinstatement of the Commission for fear of retaliation.”

We here at the City of Conway Blog support the effort and will keep you informed as to it’s progress.