Change in hire policy studied

By David Skolnick

Council members want to discuss the legal results of changing the test policy.

YOUNGSTOWN — Before approving it, city council members want more information on a proposed policy change as to how the city hires firefighters and police officers.

For several years, the city used two lists — one for white men and one for minorities and females — to hire firefighters and police officers.

The city’s policy was to hire one minority and/or woman for every two white men it hired for those two departments.

Because of a federal-court decision declaring the use of two lists by Shreveport, La., to be unconstitutional, Youngstown needs to get rid of its separate lists, Mayor Jay Williams said.

The mayor wants the city to have one list of every person who passes tests given for those jobs and eliminate ranking them by the top written scores on the exams.

Council members are agreeable but said Wednesday that they want to discuss the issue further with the city’s law department before approving Williams’ proposal.

Council members said they’re concerned about lawsuits’ being filed by those adversely impacted by the policy change.

“We want to know the legal ramifications of keeping the two lists or going to one list,” said Councilman Paul Drennen, D-5th.

Williams pointed out that the city’s current law is unconstitutional. If a lawsuit is filed, the proposed new policy would eliminate a defense that the rules are unconstitutional.

“We’re almost always going to be sued over hirings, but we’re legally defensible” with the proposal, added Anthony Farris, an assistant city law director.

Because of recent retirements and resignations, the fire department needs to hire nine to 11 firefighters sometime next month, Williams said.

The new policy wouldn’t rank those who passed the firefighter written test — applicants also must pass a physical-agility test — by the top scores, Williams said.

The current policy ranked potential employees by the top written score, as long as they also passed the agility test. Those in the top 10 could be selected for the jobs.

Of the 185 applicants who signed up to take a firefighter test earlier this year, 78 passed. The top minority finished 51st.

By eliminating a top 10, the city can continue “our policy of having a qualified and diverse work force,” Williams said.

Those taking the written test needed a score of at least 70 to pass.

Williams said the passing grade could be increased by five to seven points.