The following words and phrases when used in this article shall, for the purpose of this article, have meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, except when the context otherwise requires:

(1) APPOINTING AUTHORITY. All persons having the authority to hire employees for their department.

(2) CLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE. An individual who is assigned to an ongoing position, full- or part-time, authorized by the county commission, and whose salary is paid with funds allocated by the county commission, regardless of the source of those funds, and who must initially complete a probationary period.

(3) COUNTY. Escambia County, Alabama.

(4) COUNTY COMMISSION. The governing body of Escambia County or any succeeding governing system that may be established.

(5) DEPARTMENT. Personnel department.

(6) EMPLOYEE. Any individual who works for the county in a temporary, part-time, classified, or unclassified position whose salary is paid with funds allocated by the county commission.

(7) PART-TIME EMPLOYEE. An individual who works for the county on an on going basis and is regularly scheduled to work less than 30 hours per week.

(8) PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT. A department of the county commission authorized to carry out all personnel and related matters as designated by the county commission.

(9) TEMPORARY EMPLOYEE. An individual who works for the county for a predetermined time period that is no more than six months.

(10) UNCLASSIFIED EMPLOYEE. An individual who works for the county and whose employment is the same as a classified employee except he or she serves at the pleasure of an elected official. An elected official must request the approval of the county commission before hiring an unclassified employee.

(11) VACANCY. A position approved and funded by the county commission which is currently unoccupied.