OFFICE OF CIVIL SERVICE
Mrs. Linda E. Walker, Civil Service Director
City of Opelousas
Municipal Plaza
105 North Main Street
Opelousas, Louisiana 70570
Phone: 337-948-2532
Fax: 337-948-5219
Email: lwalker@cityofopelousas.com
The primary purpose of the City of Opelousas Civil Service Department is to represent the public's interest in personnel matters and Human Resources Administration. The Civil Service System was created for the City of Opelousas to (1) Establish personnel guidelines for the administration of human resources within city government, (2) Establish uniform job descriptions and equitable pay ranges, (3) Administer employment tests to insure that all appointments and promotions shall be made on the basis of merit and fitness, (4) Establish and implement a fair base pay and merit pay policies, (5) Hear appeals of discipline, termination, or denial or any right under the Municipal Civil Service Rules and Regulations without just cause, (6) Eliminate political pressures on employees in the performance of their job or their voting rights.
The Civil Service Department receives annual funding for salaries, administrative expenses, office space, furnishings, and equipment in order to carry out the department's function under the rules and regulations. The department consist of a classified civil service director, who is the executive head of the department, staff personnel, and a civil service board, which is policy making and quasi-judicial in nature.
Municipal Civil Service Commission
Commissioners:
- Richard M. Hollier, Jr., Chairman
- Deborah Mayo, Member
- Wilbert J. Levier, Member
- Sydalese B. Jackson, Member
- Michael J. Landry, Member
The following information is available to interested parties:
ONLINE FORMS
APPLICATION PROCESS
Application forms may be obtained from the Municipal Civil Service Office in City Hall, 318 N. Court Street, Opelousas, Louisiana 70570 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Applicants must certify that all statements made in the application are true and correct and returned to the office. Any misrepresentation of information on the application may cause rejection of the application, removal from the eligible list, or dismissal from city employment. If a formal announcement of a vacancy has been published, applications must be returned to the Civil Service Office before the deadline date and time specified on the job announcement. No applications will be accepted after the deadline.
CIVIL SERVICE EXAMINATIONS
All applicants must successfully pass a pre-employment physical examination including a drug screen for chemical or other analysis upon the offer of employment before the final appointment is made. All employees are subject to monthly random drug screens. All job appointments will be contingent to applicant successfully passing all required pre-employment examinations.
Applicants are notified by mail or telephone of the date and time of the examination whenever the test is scheduled for vacancies by the Civil Service Office. All applicants must appear for the examination or they must contact the Civil Service Office twenty-four hours prior to the examination to offer a legitimate reason for not appearing as scheduled. Applicants who are excused from taking the examination will have to wait until the next scheduled exam is held. Examinations may include the following methods: written, performance, rated experience and training, oral, or any combination of these methods deemed advisable for the class being tested, or the most practicable method that is in the best interest of the city service.
Applicants are notified of exam results by mail as soon as it is completed by this office. No grades are given over the telephone, only by mail. All candidates with a final grade of 70% or higher will be placed on the Municipal Civil Service Register in the order of highest grades to lowest grades and shall be eligible for appointment when his or her name appears in the list of the top three eligibles willing to accept employment for a vacancy. The term of eligibility on the register shall be for twelve calendar months beginning with the date on which the applicant's name is entered on the register. All new employees must satisfactorily complete a six-month working test period before permanent status is attained.
EMPLOYMENT BENEFITS
All Municipal Civil Service employees enjoy the following benefits: annual leave, sick leave, municipal employees retirement, workmen's compensation plan, paid holidays, and leave bonuses. A portion of the city's medical and hospitalization insurance premium is paid for by the employer. The employer also pays a $20,000 life insurance policy on each employee. City employees do not contribute to Social Security; but must participate in the Municipal Employees Retirement System of Louisiana plan. Employees currently enjoy twelve (12) paid holidays per year. Earning of annual leave varies from number of years of service beginning with earning eight (8) hours per month and credited to annual leave after completion of the six months probationary period.
RESIDENCY REQUIREMENTS
All applicants must be citizens of the United States. Examinations are open to registered voters living within a twelve-mile radius of the city limits of Opelousas, unless residency requirement is specifically waived on the job announcement.
