H729 Summary: Wilmington Civil Service Rewrite

• Rewrites the Civil Service Commission for Wilmington by changing from five members elected by various organizations to five regular members appointed through a mixed process (Fire/Police employees, City Council, Medical Society, and sitting Commission members with City Council confirmation).

• Limits Civil Service Commission jurisdiction to only hearing and deciding appeals of dismissals or demotions of civil service certified employees, removing previous duties related to employment examinations and hiring procedures.

• Clarifies that only full-time regular employees who have completed probation and maintain state certification as criminal justice officers (police) or firefighters/fire inspectors (fire) are covered by civil service protections; excludes chiefs and deputy chiefs appointed after enactment.

• Modifies dismissal and demotion procedures by requiring chiefs to obtain city manager approval before dismissing or demoting employees, with charges filed within five working days; employees have 10 working days to appeal to the Commission.

• Changes appeal procedures from bond requirements and superior court review under Administrative Code Chapter 150A to direct certiorari review, with hearings conducted in closed session unless the employee requests otherwise.