Youngstown will stay with two-hiring-list policy

YOUNGSTOWN — Despite concerns by the mayor about lawsuits if Youngstown doesn’t change its policy on hiring firefighters, city council voted today to maintain the status quo.

“I wanted a change to minimize the potential for litigation,” Mayor Jay Williams said.

Williams wants to eliminate the policy of two lists — one for white men and one for minorities and females — to hire firefighters and police officers.

The city typically hires one minority and/or female for every two white men it hires for jobs with its police and fire departments.

Council made it clear at a Jan. 25 safety committee meeting that it didn’t support changing the longstanding policy for now.

Council members backed up their previous statements with a unanimous 7-0 vote today to hire nine firefighters using the two lists.

Williams said he is concerned about a lawsuit because a federal-appeals-court decision declared the use of two lists by Shreveport, La., to be unconstitutional. The use of two lists in that city is identical to what is used in Youngstown, he said.

Williams wanted to temporarily change the policy to put everyone who passed the test on one list and still hire qualified minorities, and study the matter to come up with a permanent solution.

Fire Chief John O’Neill said the city will hire six white men and three minority males no later than Feb. 13.

Three women passed the written civil service test to be a firefighter, but all failed the physical agility test.

For the complete story, read Thursday’s Vindicator or Vindy.com