Jewish Community Relations Council, Boston, Massachusetts

              social
relation s^ WSLETTER
Cli.ln.wi of III. Cosaltt*. on L.gl.l.tlon
Mr..  Ninon  H.   H.rva,
Ch.ir.an  of   th. 0.».rtM«t Of   Soel.l   ».l.llon.    ,r#p,r#<     „,   ,,. UGIJLATIVC COttUTTtt
t».   aam   a.   0I4TJ,   II. of  |h#   jocial  ta.TIOHS OtfARIXDlT of
tk. MASSACHUSETTS  C0U1CII  Of  CHURCHES
Uircetor of Deter istent of  Social   *>l.tiont
Tnl   *(>.   T[>   ta.rU s.  3-2771
1»  (.aeon  Str».t.   Bolton a,  h....
H.rch.   I«66
CIVIL SERVICE REFORM
H 266      For reorganizing the personnel administration of the Commonwealth modifying certain
fiscal  procedures relating to personnel and establishing a merit system of public
employment.
Massachusetts needs a new merit rating system for of  least  three  reasons.     One,  public
welfare  services ore  for  the sake  of  those  in  real  need; employees should be as highly  skilled
and os well   trained as possible.     Yet,   seventy-one   percent   of public welfare appointments ore
made on a non-competitive basis.     Second,   these appointments should be as free as possible from
"political  favoritism."     To gain  political  power at  the  expense of  the  poor and the  needy  is one
of  the worst forms of  corruption.     Civil  Service  requirements which  the state  now  has are avoided
by appointing   "friends"  on a   "temporary"  or   "emergency"  basis.     This  "temporary/emergency"
basis may run into several years or be  converted into tenure by special  legislative acts.    Third,    t
such practices cause qualified persons to look elsewhere rather than apply here.
M 266    would provide the following:
1 - A new   "Deportment of  Personnel" to reploce the present  "Civil   Service  Division."
2 - A  "Merit  Rating   Division" within the   Department  to assure appointments ond promotions on
o merit basis,   replacing the present bi-partisan Commission with a  non-partisan one ond
requiring a professional  personnel expert as Administrator.
3 - Formal educational  requirements which could be substituted only by passing equivalent
examinations.
4 - A recruitment program to attract qualified young people  to public service.
5 -   Limit  "temporary" appointments to one year ond prohibit such appointments to unqualified
persons.
6 - End control  by Ways and Means Committee over specific  jobs in appropriation acts.
Before Stole Administration Committee Hearing Anarch   16 Support
HOUSING
The  Low-income  Housing bills left over from  lost year (see  last month's Sociol  Relations
Newsletter) need strong  support.     Write your  Representative and  Senator and  Speaker  Dovcten
and President  Donahue . *
CIVIL RIGHTS
H 564      To repeal   racial  imbalance  low
Before the  Education Committee
Heard on March 7
Oppose