LIMA — Councilman Derry Glenn on Monday released the results of a five-question survey he commissioned earlier this year to gauge opinions on the city’s civil service exam policies.
The civil service exam is a test that is taken by individuals who apply for a government position. The test is designed to help government agencies find employees with the desired work skills for the position available.
The current test in Lima is scored using the “rule of 10,” which means that only the top 10 individuals will be interviewed.
The City Council has been dealing with the concern that the hiring practices of the city and of the Civil Service Board have a lack in hiring minority candidates.
Glenn, who represents the city’s 6th Ward, sent the survey to residents within the 6th Ward to gain their feedback on the city’s practices regarding the civil service test.
“This survey was made so the people in Lima can tell me what they want to see on the test,” Glenn said. “They don’t want to hear me tell them what I want to see.”
The results from the 525 residents who completed the survey developed by Asphoenixrises Media for Glenn showed:
•40 percent agreed that the civil service exam should be used as a tool to find candidates for open positions.
•48 percent agreed that open positions in city and county governments advertised in a way that allows all possible applicants a chance to apply.
•42 percent agreed that residents have been given the opportunity to voice their opinion on Civil Service Exam discussions.
Mayor David Berger declined to comment Monday 0n the survey and the results without seeing them first.
“The city is required to give the exam, it’s in our charter,” Berger said. “We advertise on social media, the city’s website and with paid advertisements.”
Councilman Jesse Lowe said in June that the city’s efforts should be on recruiting minority candidates, such as holding job fairs and making announcements in local media.
“One of the main things I’m working on right now is with Civil Service, making sure the hiring process stays as it is,” Lowe said Sept. 12. “The only thing that’s really going to help is that more minorities in the city need to get out and take the test and be more involved with the system in place now.”
Lowe and Glenn hope to help bring jobs to the minority community by aiming them to the public sector.
