Narrative:

The Westchester County (WC) Department of Parks, Recreation and Conservation (PRC) operates within the framework of Civil Service Law of New York State with the majority of established policies and procedures developed and managed by the WC Human Resources Department (HR). Key documents including WC Personnel Policies and Procedures, WC Civil Service Rules, the WC Employee Handbook, and collective bargaining agreements with the Civil Service Employees Association (CSEA) and Teamsters are available on the website.

Upon hire, all professional and nonprofessional employees are required to attend orientation sessions covering personnel policies and receive and acknowledge receipt of a hardcopy of the WC Employee Handbook, last revised in July 2023. In addition, the PRC Administration Manual, last revised in January 2023, is given to employees upon hire and accessible on the intranet and posted at all facilities.

1. Selection, hiring,

PRC recognizes that its workforce is its most valuable asset and is committed to attracting, developing, and retaining skilled and diverse employees. The selection process aims to fill vacancies with the most appropriate candidates and is contingent on sufficient funding. Civil Service Law requires filling competitive vacancies from eligible examination lists, with applicants needing to score in the top three positions to be considered for hire. When no list is available, vacancies are posted for ten days on the website and on bulletin boards, and applicant credentials are closely examined to identify meeting minimum qualifications, followed by interviews.

and dismissal;

Progressive Discipline, as outlined in the NYS Manual of Procedure in Disciplinary Actions, Civil Service Rules, the bargaining agreements, the WC Employee Handbook, and the PRC Administration Manual guide dismissal procedures. Supervisors play a vital role in advising, guiding and teaching employees, emphasizing counseling to resolve performance issues before considering discipline or dismissal.

1. Benefits including retirement, insurance, leaves, and other benefits;

Comprehensive information is provided during orientation, accessible on the website, found in the WC Employee Handbook, and annual notices are sent out for open enrollment.

1. Salary Schedule;

This is presented during new hire orientation, emailed annually, is accessible on the intranet and found in the WC Employee Handbook.

1. Incentive System;

The system is stipulated in union bargaining agreements with employees eligible for a salary increment each year. Increments are not automatic and earned based on job performance.

1. Staff Development Program;

PRC values its workforce and is committed to considering them for promotion or for annual positions before hiring from the outside. It is dedicated to developing its employees and expects them to work toward their full potential in delivering quality services. This is demonstrated in the PRC Development Program, WC Employee Handbook, and Civil Service Rules.

Note: The agency will be referred to as PRC throughout Standard 4.