By FRANK LEWIS

PDT Staff Writer

People don’t need to worry about Portsmouth’s new Civil Service Commission holding “open” meetings.

“We were locked out of the city building,” Civil Service Commission member Richard Grimm said. “So we held our meeting right out there on the sidewalk. People blew their horns and waved as they drove by.”

Friday was the first organizational meeting of the Commission since Grimm was joined by Dr. Wayne Wheeler and Attorney John Stevenson. Three members of the Commission had resigned recently, and at the same time, the FOP #33 filed a lawsuit against the city, because it had been a year since a captain’s exam was supposed to be scheduled. A ruling by Scioto County Common Pleas Court Judge William T. Marshall said the City of Portsmouth has to give its Civil Service police captain’s exam immediately, filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Capt. David Thoroughman a year ago.

At Friday’s open-air meeting, Acting Police Chief Robert Ware brought the Commission up to date on the issue of the need for the test for the position of captain, and ultimately a test for the position of chief of police. Those eligible to take the captain’s test include lieutenants Lynn Brewer, Debbie Brewer, Jerry Leach and Bruce Barney.

Citing the time line from the date of a vacancy to the date a test can be given, Ware advised the date that would make a new captain eligible to take the chief’s test would be early June of this year.

“Jo Ann Aeh has come out of retirement to help us until we can get things lined up,” Grimm said. “The mayor’s office told me Friday morning that the purchase order had been created. So the captain’s test should be ordered this (Monday) morning.”

Aeh, longtime City Clerk who retired last year, will act as executive director until a person could be hired.

About six people have applied for the position. But Grimm said, after reviewing resumes, it became apparent to him the position might not have been clearly defined in the notice. He told the other members he felt that some of those applying for the position appeared to have expectations of it being a much bigger position, and there had been no mention of compensation in the notice.

“The salary for the position is $5,000 for the year,” Grimm said. “That would make it about $480 a month.”

Grimm said applicants should understand it is not a full-time job; there is no office; and the person will need to work out of his or her home and should have a computer.

Frank Lewis may be reached at 740-353-3101, ext. 232, or at flewis@heartlandpublications. com.