Scranton faces scrutiny over police exam scoring changes

During a recent government meeting, significant discussions centered around the need for a rewrite of the Home Rule Charter and the restructuring of the ECTV board of directors. The urgency for these changes was emphasized, although specific steps for implementation were not detailed.

In addition, the meeting addressed ongoing concerns regarding the Civil Service Commission's handling of police testing. Solicitor Owens provided an update on the national testing network's process, noting that a motion was made to advance candidates who achieved a weighted score of 70%. However, it was revealed that this score did not include the written exam, prompting a call for a special meeting to clarify the scoring system. This meeting is scheduled for August 11, 2023, at the Nayaud Park Community Room.

Questions were raised about the rationale behind Scranton's decision to set a passing score of 70 for the police patrolman exam, especially as other cities have lowered their passing scores. Concerns about potential biases in the scoring process were voiced, with calls for transparency to alleviate suspicions regarding the testing outcomes.

The meeting also touched on the attendance issues within the Civil Service Commission, highlighting the absence of one member and questioning the board's effectiveness in maintaining accurate records.

Lastly, a resolution regarding a one-year contract with the law firm Rudolph Clark LLC was revisited. This contract aims to review and verify the tax-exempt status of nonprofit and government-owned properties, referencing the Hupp test, which assesses the eligibility for tax exemptions based on specific criteria.