COLUMBIANA Civil service group to form

Council is seeking applicants for the three-member commission.
By NANCY TULLIS
VINDICATOR SALEM BUREAU
COLUMBIANA -- Village officials are looking for residents willing to serve on the civil service commission for this soon-to-be-city.
The village charter states that when Columbiana population is sufficient to warrant city status, a three-member civil service commission will be formed, with members appointed by council.
Village Manager Keith Chamberlin said Columbiana will be officially recognized as a city once the state notifies village officials of the change. The U.S. Census 2000 lists Columbiana population at 5,635.
John Mahoney, deputy director of the Ohio Municipal League, said the primary duties of any civil service commission are to administer civil service testing of employees and hear unfair labor practice complaints.
Mahoney said establishing civil service in Columbiana will be a case of "the local democratic process at work".
"The city will set its own civil service guidelines according to the charter," Mahoney said. "They can design it like they want to best meet their needs."
Developing rules: Chamberlin said he and Law Director Dan Blasdell have been working with a consultant to establish civil service guidelines. Council must approve those guidelines before they take effect, he said.
According to the guidelines, civil service commission members must be city residents and be able to devote as much time to commission service as necessary, Chamberlin said.
The commission will set its own agenda regarding how often it will meet, whether regularly or on an as-needed basis, he said.
The village charter states the initial commission will consist of one two-year term, one four-year term and one six-year term. The two- and four-year terms will become six-year terms when they expire, so the commission members will serve six-year terms that expire at different times, Chamberlin said.
Any Columbiana resident interested in serving on the civil service commission must send a r & eacute;sum & eacute; and letter of interest to village hall, Chamberlin said.