GIRARD Fire captain appointed to serve as acting chief

Four fire captains are eligible to take the civil service test for chief.
TIM YOVICH
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
GIRARD --Mayor James Melfi has appointed fire Captain Frank Capella as acting fire chief.
Melfi took the action because of the March 17 retirement of Chief Dan Merwin, who had served the department for 37 years.
Cappella and Capts. Tim Britt, Howard Jacobs and Sal Ponzio are eligible to take the civil service test for the chief's post.
Serving as acting chief doesn't give Cappella, a 16-year veteran, an advantage in securing the job, as it goes to the captain who scores the highest on the test .
Daniel T. Clancy and Associates of Cleveland has been hired by the city civil service commission to administer and grade the exams, first for chief, and then for captain and firefighter to replace those who are promoted.
Clancy will also inform the captains what materials they should study. Clancy is being paid $800.
When Merwin retired, Frank Rich, the city's safety and human resources director, took Merwin's place so he could learn about the fire department.
Members replaced: Melfi said he has replaced two members of the three-member civil service commission because of a possible conflict of interest because one works for the city and the other is an elected official.
The mayor explained that the city law director, Atty. Mark M. Standohar, made the recommendation.
Megan Griffith of Griffith Agency Inc. and Atty. Kurt Latell, son of state Rep. Anthony A. Latell of Girard, D-67th, replace David Hall, part-time city engineer, and Leo Grimes, city council president.
Griffith's term expires Dec. 31, 2005, and Latell's expires Dec. 31, 2003.
The third commission member is Richard Ross, a retired city police officer.