43
Youngstown to give firefighter written test on March 7
YOUNGSTOWN
Though there are currently no vacancies in the city fire department, a civil service test for firefighters will be given March 7.
Fire Chief John J. O’Neill Jr. said he expects two or three firefighters to retire in the coming months.
The department has 130 members — its minimum staffing number. The city and its firefighters union recently agreed to lower the minimum number, through attrition, from 138 as part of a compromise to keep all the department’s trucks on the road as the administration looks to reduce costs this year.
The city’s civil service commission is accepting applications for those wanting to take the test between Feb. 17 and 27.
The commission will take no more than 300 applications for the test, said Jonathan Huff, civil service commissioner.
The test given two years ago attracted 220 applicants. Of those, 15 were hired including six city residents, O’Neill said.
Applications can be obtained on civil service page of the city’s website — cityofyoungstownoh.org — under “forms,” or at the commission office on the 7th floor of city hall, 26 S. Phelps St.
All completed forms must be returned to the commission.
Those who pass the written test will later take a physical fitness and agility test.
Of the 220 who signed up in 2013, only 77 passed both the written and physical tests.
Entry salary for firefighters is $24,600 annually.
“The starting salary is low, but it’s a good career and some firefighters have a second job as it’s 24 hours on [duty] and then 48 hours off,” Huff said. “There are good [health-care] benefits.”
The city wants more Youngstown residents at the department, but because of state law, it can only hire from among the top 25 percent of those who pass both tests, O’Neill said.
“One of the problems that’s starting to come to light is noncity residents, I’m not saying anything about their ability to fight fires, but they’re not familiar with the city,” he said. “A landmark or a well-known building isn’t familiar to them, and they need maps.”
Also, O’Neill said city residents “are more likely to stay Youngstown firefighters for longer periods of time because this is where they’re from” than those living outside the city.
The chief said it’s difficult to get city residents interested in taking the test to be firefighters.
City voters approved a charter amendment in 2011 that gives Youngstown residents a 15 percent bonus on the written civil service test. That means city residents who get a 70 — the written test’s minimum passing grade — would see their score increase to 80.5. [Also, 20 percent bonuses are given to military veterans and those with Level 2 firefighter certification.]
The challenge to hire Youngstown residents, particularly minorities and women, has increased since the Ohio Supreme Court struck down home-rule authority in June 2009, city officials say.
The court ruled it unconstitutional for municipalities to have laws requiring their workers to live in those cities and villages as a condition of hiring.
Those who work for Youngstown can live anywhere in Mahoning County or a county that borders it.