No test for new worker

By DAVID SKOLNICK
CITY HALL REPORTER
YOUNGSTOWN -- For the first time, Youngstown will hire a civil service employee without giving a written test.
Instead the city will use an evaluation system based on qualifications, education and experience.
The civil service commission adopted the policy to be used for some technical jobs and will use it on a case-by-case basis, said Jennifer Labatte, the commission's administrator.
"We'll use this new system for positions that are difficult to fill using a written test," she said. "Each will be decided individually."
The commission recently adopted a policy developed by Cleveland that establishes minimum criteria for anyone applying for certain jobs and then gives them points for various levels of education and experience and for holding professional licenses, Labatte said.
The first job to be filled under the new system is the assistant commissioner of engineering in the city's public works department.
Because of the complexity and uniqueness of this public works department job, more than a written test is needed, said Labatte and Carmen Conglose Jr., the public works' deputy director.
Also, it would be difficult to create a written test for this position, they said. The job has been vacant for about a decade, Conglose said.
This system won't be used for positions such as police officers, firefighters, street and water department workers, Labatte said.
Only applicants meeting minimum requirements of the jobs under the new system would be considered, she said.
The applicants then receive points for having various college degrees, years of experience and having professional licenses leaving no room for a subjective decision that would favor one person over another, she said.
Also, applicants with degrees, experience and licenses in the field directly related to the job receive more points than those who have degrees, experience and licenses in other fields, Labatte said.
Each applicant must submit a r & eacute;sum & eacute;, college transcripts and copies of licenses to the commission, which is on the seventh floor of city hall, 26 S. Phelps St., no later than 4 p.m. Friday.
Commission staff will start verifying the information May 7, and will interview the candidates shortly thereafter, Labatte said.
A ranking of the candidates using the point method will be given to Williams. As he can with written tests, Williams can hire anyone who finishes in the top 10.
The mayor and Conglose will review the candidates' paperwork and interview them before hiring someone for the job in June or July.
Like other civil service jobs, candidates for this post will receive an increase of 20 percent of their score for honorable military experience, Labatte said.
The assistant commissioner of engineering hasn't been filled for years because the city didn't have the money to fund it, Conglose said. But Conglose said because of his probable departure and perhaps others from public works, the job needs to be filled.
This impending hire is consistent with other employment decisions made by Williams since he took office as mayor in January 2006. He hired a deputy finance director and promoted someone as deputy economic development director; two jobs that were vacant for a number of years.
skolnick@vindy.com