An applicant for a Civil Service examination must be a United States citizen or have legally declared his intention of becoming a United States citizen.
Upon regular appointment to the Westlake Fire Department, the firefighter-paramedic must maintain residence within the counties of Cuyahoga, Erie, Huron, Lorain, Medina, Summit, Lake, Geauga or Portage.
Unless otherwise provided in the notice of examination, no person will be admitted to an examination who is less than twenty-one years of age.
An applicant for examination for original appointment of a police officer or fire fighter must be at least twenty-one years of age and no person shall be eligible to receive an original appointment as a police officer or fire fighter on or after thirty-six years of age unless such person has, in the opinion of the Chief, commensurate police officer or fire fighter experience in which case the maximum age limit shall be increased in direct proportion to the commensurate experience, except that in no event shall anyone be eligible for an original appointment as a police officer or fire fighter on or after his/her forty-fifth birthday.
(Amended 12-15-21.)
No question in any application shall in any way relate to the political or religious affiliation or to the racial or ethnic origin of the applicant. Nor shall any appointment, promotion or removal from the classified service be influenced in any manner by politics, religion, race, ethnic origin or gender of the applicant, unless the position, because of its duties, requires a person of a certain
gender.
No educational requirement shall be made a condition of taking an examination except in respect to professional or other positions where education and training are necessary to the performance of a specific job or professional pursuit or when such requirements are imposed by statute or federal regulations.
When the Commission determines it to be advisable, an applicant may be required to pass a physical examination, including drug and alcohol testing and/or a stress test before certification for appointment.
When in the judgment of the Commission, a psychological evaluation is desirable, an applicant may be required to submit to a psychological assessment. Such assessment may be required before certification of appointment.
When a physical examination or a psychological assessment is requested by the Commission, the Chief of Police or Fire shall designate who will administer the exam/assessment and the person or company so designated shall submit a full report on same to the Chief.
(Amended 7-12-19)
Any applicant for a position in the classified civil service which position requires the operation of motor vehicles shall meet the following minimum requirements prior to being appointed:
(a) Shall not have more than six (6) points on the applicant's driving record within the last two (2) years under the State of Ohio point system for motor vehicle violations, Ohio R.C. 4507.40. If the applicant has not held an Ohio driver's license for at least two years prior to appointment, the offenses charged to such persons driving record in another state shall be assessed points for purposes of determining compliance with this requirement in accordance with Ohio's point system for motor vehicle violations, Ohio R.C. 4507.40.
(b) The applicant shall not have had a conviction under any statute or ordinance for driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs or driving with a prohibited alcohol concentration in one's blood, breath or urine or for operation of an automobile in willful or wanton disregard of the safety of persons or property within the last five (5) years.
(c) The applicant shall, prior to appointment, obtain such Ohio driver's license as is required to lawfully operate the motor vehicle required for the position.
Applications shall be furnished by the Commission, or on behalf of the Commission, by a testing company at the Commission's request. Applications for lateral hires shall be furnished by the Department of Human Resources pursuant to Article IX, Rule 1, (b). All applications shall be signed and sworn or affirmed to and kept on file in the Office of the Commission.
(Amended 7-12-19; 10-25-21.)
The Civil Service Commission may reject any application for cause or refuse to examine an applicant and after examination, refuse to certify an applicant as eligible. The following reasons may be sufficient to reject an application, to refuse to examine an applicant, or to certify an applicant as eligible:
(a) That the applicant lacks any of the minimum qualifications as set forth in the official class specification or job description or does not meet the physical requirements of the position to which he seeks appointment.
(b) That the applicant is not within the prescribed age limits.
(c) That the applicant has made false statements in his application of any material fact, or practiced or attempted to practice any deception or fraud in his application or in the examination in establishing his eligibility or securing his appointment.
(d) That the applicant is addicted to the habitual use of intoxicating beverages or drugs, has been convicted of a crime, or who has been dismissed from previous employment for delinquency or misconduct.
(e) That the applicant was previously in the Civil Service in the same or any type of employment and was removed for cause or did not resign in good standing.
(f) That the applicant after notification did not promptly present himself at the time and place designated for examination.
(g) That the application was not submitted by the established deadline or was incomplete when submitted or was not submitted in accordance with posted requirements.