📋

Extracted from Consolidated Report

This investigation was originally published as part of a larger consolidated report containing multiple investigations. View the consolidated PDF for the complete document.

Santa Clara County Grand Jury • 2010-2011

Grand Jury Report: Rehiring of Pensioners: Bad Policy, Good Business or Both?

Published: September 01, 2011 7 pages

View PDF View Full Original

⚠️ Translation Notice: This content has been automatically translated. The original English text is the official version. Translation may contain errors.

⚠️ Este contenido ha sido traducido automáticamente. El texto original en inglés es la versión oficial. La traducción puede contener errores.

Findings 3 findings

In spite of public opinion, there are situations that warrant rehiring pensioners and often it makes good business sense to do so. All managers interviewed follow existing procedures, which allow rehiring of pensioners.

For over six years, the City of Santa Clara has filled a previously 24/7 type of management job with a part-time employee. Clearly, the job is not a temporary or limited-time-urgent-needs position and six years is more than sufficient time to find a replacement.

The fifteen towns and cities - Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Milpitas, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, AGS DEGG Saratoga, Sunnyvale - and the County may be inadvertently creating a demand to rehire pensioners because the public sector retirement age is relatively young at 50 (police and fire) or 55 (administrative positions).

Recommendations 3

R1

If the County or the City/Town of Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Milpitas, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sunnyvale desire to end the practice of rehiring pensioners, they should make that official by means of a policy decision. County Response to Finding 1 and Recommendation #1 The County of Santa Clara concurs with the finding that there are circumstances where it is prudent to hire pensioners. There are currently procedures in place that require such hiring to receive approval from the Office of the County Executive. While the County continues to Board of Supervisors: Mike Wasserman, George Shirakawa, Dave Coriese, Ken Yeager, Liz Kniss , co. County Executive: Jeffrey V. Smith Gary A. Graves, Chief Operating Officer August 11, 2011 evaluate such requests and approve only those that are necessary, there are currently no plans to end this practice.
R2

The City of Santa Clara should consider consolidating with another agency's fire department for fire services and eliminate the part-time fire chief position or fill the position with a permanent part-time employee. County Response to Finding and Recommendation 2 The finding and recommendation are not applicable to the County of Santa Clara.
R3

The fifteen towns and cities - Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Los Gatos, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Milpitas, Mountain View, Palo Alto, San Jose, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Sunnyvale - and the County should continue to pursue a higher retirement age with its public sector unions and associations. County Response to Finding and Recommendation 3 The reasons for hiring retirees have generally not been related to the age of the retiree. The County has hired pensioners as a temporary measure pending filling the vacant code on a more permanent basis. Among the reasons for such hiring is when the retiree does not provide adequate notice to recruit, when there is a lack of time for training a new hire due to the technical and unique requirements of the position or to assist in completing certain short-term assignments or projects that a retiree can complete quickly. Gary A. Graves, Chief Operating Officer August 11, 2011 While seeking a higher retirement age may be a feasible option in the future, the County does not agree that it would eliminate the hiring of pensioners. ÷ Jeff Smith, County Executive c: Pacotoa The foregoing instrument is a correct copy of the original. Maria Marinos ATTEST: Clerk of the Board guillo مححد BY: Deputy Clerk AUG 2 3 2011 Date: . .