(a) Initial Appointment Examinations. Applicants for initial appointment to the Police or Fire Department shall be subject to the following examinations:
(1) Physical ability.
A. An outside person or agency, commissioned by the Mayor, shall conduct an examination which fairly tests the ability of the person examined to physically perform the duties of the position for which the appointment is made. This examination may consist of battery of physical tasks. For police officers, the examination shall be substantially similar to the Ohio Peace Officer Training Program (OPOTA) basic training physical fitness test. For firefighters, the examination shall be substantially similar to the Cuyahoga Community College Fire Training Academy's task-oriented physical agility test with a four and a half-minute completion time. This examination shall be a pass/fail exam; no grade shall be given. If an applicant does not obtain a passing grade on the physical ability examination, the applicant shall be disqualified from eligibility.
B. The physical ability examination requirement may be deemed satisfied if the applicant produces a certification of passage of a physical ability test substantially similar to the applicable physical ability examination set forth in Section 246.06(a)(1)A. conducted by a qualified and reputable institution, which test must have been given within one year prior to the date of the Village's scheduled physical ability examination. The Mayor shall have sole discretion to determine whether the provisions of this Section 246.06(a)(1)B. have been met.
(2) Professional competency. The Mayor shall select an outside agency to conduct a professional competency examination for all eligible applicants for the position to be filled. Such examination may be written or written and oral, but in all cases all parts of the test shall be combined into one grade. The examination shall be practical in character and shall relate directly to those matters which fairly test the capacity of the person examined to discharge the particular duties of the position for which the appointment is to be made, with a particular focus on knowledge unique to or particularly relevant to serving in the Village.
(3) Psychological and physical health. After a conditional offer of initial appointment in the Fire or Police Department, the Mayor shall select an outside medical officer to conduct an examination which fairly tests psychological and physical health of the applicant to ensure the applicant's ability to perform the duties of the position. The medical officer shall establish the psychological and physical health standards for qualification and shall be the sole judge as to whether an applicant meets these standards.
(b) Qualifications for Initial Appointment.
(1) The Mayor, with the approval of Council, may refuse to allow an applicant to be examined, or after an examination may refuse to consider an applicant for the position who is found to lack any of the established preliminary requirements for the examination; who is unable to perform the essential functions of the position with or without a reasonable accommodation; who is a current user of illegal drugs; who has been convicted of a felony; who has been guilty of infamous or notoriously disgraceful conduct; who has been dismissed from any public position for delinquency or misconduct; or who has made false statements of any material fact or practiced or attempted to practice any deception or fraud in his or her application or in his or her examination in establishing his or her eligibility or securing his or her appointment.
(2) Any member receiving an initial appointment as a member of the Fire or Police Department shall be a citizen of the United States and, if a naturalized citizen, shall submit his or her Naturalization Certificate.
(3) No person shall be eligible to take an examination for original appointment as a firefighter or a police officer unless the person is a high school graduate or has an Ohio GED equivalent.
(4) No person shall be eligible to take an examination for original appointment as a firefighter unless the person is at least 18 years of age and no more than 35 years of age at the time of the professional competency examination for the applicable department, 37 years of age in the case of the Fire Department. No person shall be eligible to take an examination for original appointment as a police officer unless the person is at least 21 years of age at the time the person is appointed and no more than 35 years of age at the time of the competitive examination for the applicable department. If a person is no more than 35 years of age, or 37 years of age in the case of the Fire Department, when he or she takes the professional competency examination, he or she may remain qualified for his or her appointment until the expiration of the eligibility list created from said examination, provided he or she remains qualified pursuant to the other requirements of these Codified Ordinances.
(Ord. 2012-32. Passed 5-9-12; Ord. 2018-90. Passed 10-10-18; Ord. 2019-81. Passed 10-9-19.)