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Policy On Hiring In Youngstown Police And Fire Departments Remains
Story from David Skolnick in the Youngstown Vindicator on 02/04/2010.

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

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

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 in its police and fire departments.

Minorities and women do not typically score as high on written tests to be firefighters and police officers as white men, Williams said. Just because they usually don’t score as high as white men, the minorities and women hired by the city are highly qualified to do those jobs, and it’s important to have diversity on the city’s fire department and police force, Williams said.

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 Wednesday 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 similar to what is used in Youngstown, he said.

The mayor wanted to temporarily change the policy to put everyone who passed the test on one list and still hire qualified minorities.

He proposed studying the matter further to come up with a permanent solution.

The Shreveport decision was in a federal court district that doesn’t have Youngstown in its jurisdiction.

Two lists are permissible under Ohio law.

Council members agree that the hiring policy for firefighters and police officers needs to be re-examined. But they said there’s no rush.

“We need to form a commission to work on this issue and get it right,” said Councilwoman Annie Gillam, D-1st.

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.

The current policy ranks potential employees by the top written score, as long as they also pass an agility test.

Those in the top 10 are at the top of the list in being offered the firefighter jobs, which have a starting annual base salary of $24,000.

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

Also Wednesday, council approved a three-year contract with its police patrol officers union.

The contract includes a salary freeze in annual base pay, and restructuring the salaries of future hires.

skolnick@vindy.com

Youngstown Family Escapes Fire
Story from WKBN TV27 Web Site on 01/31/2010. Photo from the WKBN TV27 Web Site.

A South Side family was forced from their home Saturday after flames began shooting through the roof of their house.

Firefighters were called to 251 Gaither Avenue just before Noon. When they arrived, smoke was coming from the roof of the home.
The people living there made it out okay.

The fire was contained to the attic and upper part of the home. No word yet on a cause.

City Council Stands Firm On Two Firefighter Lists
Story from Youngstown Vindicator on 01/25/2010.

YOUNGSTOWN — City council doesn’t support a change, recommended by the city administration, to the long-standing policy on hiring firefighters — at least for now.

Six of council’s seven members discussed the proposed change at a council safety committee meeting today. They agreed not to change it, and to study the options further.

Mayor Jay 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.

Law Director Iris Torres Guglucello said she recently discovered a 2006 federal-appeals-court decision declaring the use of two lists by Shreveport, La., to be unconstitutional.

If the city doesn’t change the policy to get rid of the two lists “we very well may be sued,” Williams said. There’s also the possibility of a lawsuit if the policy is change, he said.

Youngstown Council Wants More Info On How Firefighters, Cops Are Hired
Story from Youngstown Vindicator on 01/06/2010.

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

For several years the city used two lists ญ — 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 tonight 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.

Hiring Lists Will Be Used For Last Time
Story from David Skolnick in the Youngstown Vindicator on 01/05/2010.

The city has used the two lists for several years.

YOUNGSTOWN — The city will use two lists — one for white men, and one for minorities and females — to hire new employees for the last time.

The city has used the two lists to hire firefighters and police officers for several years. But a federal court ruling declaring the use of two lists by Shreveport, La., to be unconstitutional means Youngstown must do away with its lists.

Typically, Youngstown hired one minority and/or female for every two white men it hired for jobs with its police and fire departments as long as the applicants met all the requirements, said Mayor Jay Williams and Fire Chief John J. O’Neill Jr.

“We have a hiring pool that reflects the diversity of the community,” Williams said. Using the two lists “allowed us to achieve a diverse work force.”

On Wednesday, Williams is sponsoring an ordinance for city council’s consideration that would allow the fire department to hire nine to 11 firefighters from the two lists for the last time.

As for how many minorities and/or women would be hired, Williams said it could be one hire from that list for every two or three white male hires.

“All are qualified, and we’ll do this in a constitutional method,” he said. “We want to maintain our high standard of employees and give consideration to all applicants.”

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.

“As long as there’s not a separation [of lists], there’s no issue,” he said.

The old 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.

But Youngstown also had the second list, permissible under Ohio law.

That section refers to “the waiver of laws to avoid federally prohibited discrimination.” It reads: “The waiver, passed as an ordinance by city council, permits the legislative authority of a municipality to suspend or alter the appointment rules for minority hiring.”

Williams is working with the city’s civil-service commission to make other changes to the written test for firefighters and police officers.

Those wanting to be firefighters or police officers currently need a score of at least 70 on the written test.

That could be raised by five to seven points for future tests, Williams said.

(Firefighters also need to pass the physical agility test, which includes climbing a firefighter’s ladder, dragging a hose and simulating what to do during a fire. Police officers don’t need to pass a physical test.)

The new policy can’t go into place for the firefighter hirings because that test was given in June. Of the 185 applicants, 78 passed.

Of those who passed, the top minority finished 51st, O’Neill said.

The city’s current policy doesn’t sit well with Nate Janoviak of Newberry in Geauga County, who finished 43rd.

“I may have a decent chance for this time or perhaps the next round, but I’m getting knocked out by someone who did worse than me,” Janoviak said. “My test wasn’t different than anyone else. It’s reverse discrimination. The city is saying that they have enough white people” on the fire department.

When asked about charges of “reverse discrimination,” O’Neill said, “I don’t want to get caught in the middle of that.”

Williams said he doesn’t agree with the allegation, saying it’s important for the city to have a diverse work force.

skolnick@vindy.com

02/07/2010 @ 21:50 - I680NB @ 62/7 Split - Gas Spill - E3, 9

02/06/2010 @ 23:32 - 60 Duncan Lane - Car Fire - E6

02/06/2010 @ 19:00 - 90 Rutledge - UPD:Holding E6, all other cos CAIS

02/06/2010 @ 18:53 - 90 Rutledge - POSF - E6,7,12,S33,L22,B1,2

02/06/2010 @ 18:16 - 300 Kendis Circle - Car Fire near a Dumpster - E6

02/06/2010 @ 18:05 - - UPD:Corr B2 O/S. E15 is now out. E3 CAIS

02/06/2010 @ 18:04 - Chapel Hill and Hillgate - Car Fire - E15 - Req E3, come in off Chapel Hill. E15 is stuck. B1 also enroute. Req street dept ASAP

02/06/2010 @ 16:55 - 110 Lilburn - Vehicle Fire - E6

02/06/2010 @ 16:10 - Matta and Mahoning - Vehicle Fire - E15

02/06/2010 @ 15:53 - 34 LaBelle - Vehicle Fire - E2

02/06/2010 @ 11:03 - 2510 Hunter - Car Fire - E9

02/06/2010 @ 10:55 - 3410 FloLor - Assist with Ventilation - E15, L24 - Apt 2

02/05/2010 @ 20:22 - - Winter Storm Warning per NWS till noon Sat. 6-10 inches expected. Use caution

02/05/2010 @ 17:19 - 450 N Bonair - UPD:E3 O/S W/ W/F in a garage. 2nd co catching hydrant

02/05/2010 @ 17:11 - 450 N Bonair - Poss Garage Fire - E3,15,7,S33,L22,B1,2

01/28/2010 @ 09:37 - 1719 E Midlothian - Gas Odor - E9

01/28/2010 @ 09:26 - 976 W Scott Street - Gas Leak - E6 - E6 to assist Street Department

01/26/2010 @ 21:41 - Box No: 7416 - 1044 Belmont Ave - Assist E7 - B1 - St Elizabeth Hospital. Microwave on fire on 7th fl. Fire is out

01/26/2010 @ 21:31 - Box No: 7416 - 1044 Belmont Ave - CFA - E7 - St Elizabeth Hospital.

01/25/2010 @ 10:42 - 805 N Hazelwood - Assist PD - E3

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