New York (State). Dept. of Civil Service. Personnel Council.

A three member Personnel Council was established by executive order on June 4, 1945, to develop greater uniformity in and to promote understanding of personnel policies and practices throughout State government.

The Governor appointed to the Council a department administrator, the Administrative Director of the Department of Civil Service (D.C.S.), and an official from the Division of the Budget. Although technically an independent agency, the Personnel Council reported to the Civil Service Commission, was staffed by D.C.S., was included in the Department's budget, and was popularly considered part of the Department.

The Council operated on two levels. Its three members held meetings monthly or bi-monthly to plan the agenda for conferences with departmental representatives, to consider problems concerning employee relations and personnel policy, and to plan new projects. Until the Personnel Relations Board was established in 1950, the Personnel Council received and approved agency grievance procedures, referred employee complaints to department personnel officers, and heard appeals of grievances unresolved on the department level. The Council also convened monthly meetings (except in July and August) with department representatives. At these meetings outside speakers and panel discussions were presented on personnel management and agency personnel problems were discussed. The Council's chairperson annually appointed committees from among the representatives to study specific personnel problems in the State service. The committees' conclusions and recommendations were presented and discussed at the department representatives' monthly meeting. If these proposals received a favorable vote, they were forwarded to the Personnel Council for consideration and referral to the appropriate agency.

In 1954 the Personnel Council was abolished on the recommendation of the Temporary State Commission on Coordination of State Activities ("Mahoney Commission"). The following year the New York State Council on Personnel Administration was established by the Civil Service Commission. This Council was a voluntary organization composed of state agency representatives. Its purpose was to analyze, discuss, and recommend personnel policies and practices for State government. The Council's elected chairperson chose four members to serve as an Executive Committee to direct and coordinate Council activities. Meetings were held once a month and the Executive Committee met as many times as necessary. The D.C.S. Division of Personnel Services acted as a secretariat to the Council and provided it with staff services.

In 1959 the Council voted to change its name to the State Personnel Council and to increase the Executive Committee to six members, three appointed by the chairperson and three elected by the Council. A year later a full-time D.C.S. staff person was assigned to the Council to serve as its Executive Secretary and as a liaison with the Department. Today the Council continues to be a functioning body within State government.

From the New York State Archives, Cultural Education Center, Albany, NY. Agency record NYSV86-A917