Aug. 06--LIMA -- A councilman raising questions about firefighter hiring Monday led to flaring tempers and more questions without answers.
Third Ward Councilman Jesse Lowe II said a recent attempt to hire firefighters was halted and asked for a written report and explanation from Fire Chief Mark Heffner. Lowe also attempted to refer to Safety Services Committee the issue of firefighter hiring practices, but the motion did not receive a majority of councilors, so the issue was not put in committee. Two councilors were absent Monday.
Heffner said the department does have a valid civil service test but postponed interviews. He also declined to provide further information, saying he wasn't prepared to discuss the issue publicly Monday. Lowe asked for a written explanation by the next council meeting in two weeks.
Hiring for firefighters, as for most jobs in the city, is a civil service process conducted by the Civil Service Board. Applicants take a written test and complete an interview with Civil Service Board members. Top scoring candidates are offered jobs.
Lowe said people applying for the job were going along in the process until they received a letter saying hiring was no longer being done.
"There is such a spirit of hopelessness to see young individuals do what is required of them, what is asked of them, then told that no more interviews are going to take place," Lowe said. "All I'm asking for is for council to receive a letter stating why things happened the way they did."
Council President John Nixon said he wouldn't support it, because doing so was premature. He said he wanted to have Heffner's explanation first. Seventh Ward Councilwoman Paige Townsend also voted against the motion.
During discussion of the motion, 6th Ward Councilman Derry Glenn began saying the issues have been problems before, and hiring becoming political, and that people needed to "stop playing games." Nixon interrupted him, saying Glenn was making allegations without facts. In the middle of their discussion, the two argued.
"Let me finish. Don't disrespect me. I'm not your child," Glenn said.
"Thank God," Nixon said.
Councilors Sam McLean, Teresa Adams, Lowe and Glenn voted for the motion to put the issue in committee. Councilors Tom Tebben and Kurt Neeper were absent from the meeting.
Copyright 2013 - The Lima News, Ohio
