No new appeal rights for Fulton courts employees

A proposal to give Fulton County courts employees the right to appeal disciplinary actions if they advance up the ladder couldn’t get enough votes from county commissioners to pass. Commissioner Bill Edwards asked that Superior Court, State Court and Superior Court Clerk’s Office workers who get promoted not lose their right to appeal to the personnel board should they be fired, demoted or suspended. The vote was 3-1, and it takes four votes to pass.

After hearing complaints of lackluster employees being impossible to fire, the commission voted in June to make new hires in those departments unclassified, meaning they have no appeal rights. The policy would also affect currently-employed classified workers who get promoted to higher positions.