SECTION 7. CIVIL SERVICE COMMISSION.
   (a)   Membership. The Mayor, with the concurrence of a majority of the members elected to Council, shall appoint a Civil Service Commission consisting of three electors of the Municipality not holding other municipal office or appointment to serve for a term of six years; except that of the three appointed for the terms beginning with the effective date of this Charter, one shall be appointed for a term of two years, one for a term of four years, and one for a term of six years. A vacancy occurring during the term of any member of the Commission shall be filled for the unexpired term in the manner authorized for an original appointment. All members shall serve without compensation.
   (b)   Powers and Duties. The Civil Service Commission shall provide by rule for the ascertainment of merit and fitness as the basis for appointment and promotion in the service of the Municipality as required by the Constitution of the State of Ohio, and for appeals from the action of the Mayor in any case of transfer, reduction or removal. The action of the Commission on any such appeal shall be final except as otherwise provided by the laws of the State of Ohio. The Civil Service Commission shall adopt rules with regard to certification of names from the promotion lists.
   Whenever a vacancy occurs in the position of Chief of Police or Chief of the Fire Department, the Commission shall certify to the appointing authority the names of the five candidates with the highest rating as established by the Civil Service Commission. The Commission may certify less than five names if five are not available. Upon receipt from the Commission of such list of eligibles for the position of Chief, the appointing authority shall fill such position by appointment of one of the persons certified to the appointing authority and shall forthwith report to the Commission the name of such appointee, the title of the position, the duties and responsibilities of the same, the salary or compensation thereof, and such other information as the Commission may reasonably require in order to keep its roster.
   Civil Service examination shall not be required for the appointment of any member of a board or commission, or any head of a department other than the Police Department or Fire Department, or any assistant to a director, or any secretary to the Mayor or to the head of any department or any assistant to the Mayor, or for temporary appointment, or for unskilled laborers, or for appointment to any other office or position requiring peculiar or exceptional qualifications. Except as herein provided, the Civil Service Commission shall determine the practicability or competitive examination for any nonelective office or job classification in the service of the Municipality.
   The Civil Service Commission shall certify the payroll of all Civil Service employees to the Director of Finance.
(Amended by voters 5-2-89; 5-4-99; 11-4-14) (Ord. 2019-39. Passed 12-9-19.)