OHIO HOUSE Measure to affect policy for hiring

This is the first bill introduced by the freshman legislator.
By DAVID SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR POLITICS WRITER
YOUNGSTOWN -- The late state Sen. Charles Carney once gave Kenneth Carano some advice that the state representative took to heart.
"He told me, 'Carano, if you ever come down to the Statehouse, remember, bide your time. Watch what's going on before you do anything. Keep in mind that every time someone tries to pass a bill, it could cost people money.'"
Carano of Austintown, D-64th, said he has done just that since he took office in January.
He has co-sponsored a number of bills, but Carano introduced his first House bill Tuesday.
"I bided my time and now it's time for me to start moving on things that have been requested by my constituency," Carano said.
Purpose of bill: Carano's bill would give the ability to adopt a civil service policy similar to that of cities to townships that have home rule government and use civil service testing to fill employment positions.
Home-rule townships with civil service testing can hire only the person who receives the highest score on the written tests, Carano said.
Under his proposal, those townships can select any of the top three scorers on the written test and use other indicators such as employment history and references when making hiring decisions.
"The current law is so restrictive," he said.
Only one: Boardman is the only township in the state that would be affected. There are no other home-rule townships in Ohio that uses civil service testing, he said.
Home-rule townships are allowed to create their own civil laws affecting issues such as zoning and public health concerns instead of having to rely on state and/or county laws, Carano said.
The bill has been referred to the House Local Government and Townships Committee, which counts Carano as a member.
The bill stands a strong chance of being approved, Carano said. Among the bill's co-sponsors are the Republican chairman of the Local Government Committee and another Republican on that committee.
skolnick@vindy.com