The Lorraine Civil Service Commission on Aug. 7 unanimously voted to waive the testing requirement and approve the exceptional appointment of Gregory Kushner as an Operator 3 in the purification division of the Lorraine Utilities Department.

Commissioners said the action was taken because Kushner holds a Class 3 water supply license that, as described in the meeting, is issued by the Ohio EPA and was judged more relevant than standard testing for the position. The commission also moved to receive and file correspondence received since the July 22 meeting and took routine actions to certify payroll and pay bills.

The waiver and the appointment were introduced during the meeting’s personnel correspondence section after a request from the city’s Safety Service Director (name unclear in the transcript). Commissioner Victor Takacs moved to waive the testing provision, citing the candidate’s certifications; Commissioner Joseph Smith seconded the motion. The commission voted “aye” and the motion passed. The commission then voted to approve the exceptional appointment, again with Takacs moving and Smith seconding; the motion passed with a unanimous vote.

Mr. Brown, who said he previously supervised Kushner, described Kushner’s experience and credentials. “Greg comes in with a lot of experience. He's got experience obviously in water treatment as well as water distribution. He does have previously in plant experience as well,” Brown said. Brown told the commission Kushner left the city in 2018 for family reasons and that his last day previously with the city was Nov. 1, 2018.

Brown also told the commission that Kushner holds a Class 3 water supply license “issued by the Ohio EPA, specialized for water treatment,” and that no other licensed candidates were interviewed for the position. Commissioners discussed and then approved a motion to waive the testing provision as allowed under the Ohio Revised Code citation provided in the meeting (transcript reference: “Ohio revised code 1 24.3 a 2”).

Separately, the commission approved motions to certify payroll for the Lorraine City School System and the City of Lorraine and to have any outstanding Civil Service Commission bills paid. The meeting record notes the commission’s next meeting is scheduled for Sept. 9, 2025. The meeting was adjourned at 5:06 p.m.

Discussion vs. decisions: Commissioners debated neither the candidate’s technical qualifications beyond the certification nor alternatives to waiving the test; the meeting record shows formal direction only in the form of motions that passed (waiver, exceptional appointment, payroll certification, payment of bills).