Lorain Civil Service Commission holds organizational meeting, approves multiple exceptional appointments and waivers

The Lorain Civil Service Commission on Feb. 11 elected officers for 2025, set its monthly meeting schedule and approved several personnel actions including multiple exceptional appointments and waivers of testing requirements.

The commission elected Juanita Sanchez president, Joseph Smith secretary and Victor Takacs vice president for 2025 in motions that passed unanimously. Commissioners also approved meeting dates for 2025 to occur on the second Tuesday of each month and set the next meeting for March 11, 2025.

The meeting’s substantive business centered on personnel items submitted by the city’s safety-service office. The commission agreed to remove four names from the current firefighter eligibility list after receiving a letter from the Safety-Service Director reporting voluntary withdrawals. The commission also approved an exceptional appointment and a waiver of the testing provision for Steven Ray to be hired as an Operator 3 at the Black River Wastewater Treatment Plant in the Lorain Utilities Department; the waiver was asked for because Ray already holds the required Class 3 wastewater certification.

"We were requesting that you waive the testing rule in lieu of him having the Class 3 certification necessary for the Class 3 operator," said Mr. Burke, speaking on behalf of city staff during the Operator 3 appointment discussion. The waiver and the appointment passed on unanimous voice votes.

The commission also waived the 72-hour rule to add personnel business to the agenda and approved the exceptional appointment of Catherine Gregory to the position of police dispatcher in the Lorain Police Department. Sergeant Talon, who spoke about the vacancy and the candidate, said Gregory’s dispatching experience dates from 2004 to the present and that the department needs qualified dispatchers after moving the dispatch center back to city facilities and expanding coverage to fill 24-hour shifts. The commission waived testing based on the candidate’s education and experience and approved her appointment unanimously.

Separately, the commission received a request from the Safety-Service Director to consider three exceptional appointments to police officer (David Schwartz, Jordan Adbanis and Michael Sorrell). The commission voted to go into executive session to consider employment of possible city employees; the motion to enter executive session passed by roll call (Victor Takacs, Juanita Sanchez and Joseph Smith voting aye). The transcript records the request and the executive-session entry; no public vote or final action on those three police-officer appointments is recorded in the public portion of the meeting transcript.

The commission also waived testing provisions and approved the exceptional appointment of Belinda Stojka to recreation and parks superintendent in the Parks Division of the Public Property Department. Staff told the commission that Stojka had been serving in the role’s duties since August 2023, had led program expansion in 2024 and was unanimously recommended by a six-person interview panel. Commissioners were told Stojka oversees 10 park employees who will report to her if promoted; the waiver and appointment passed unanimously.

The meeting concluded with routine business: the commission approved minutes from the Dec. 12, 2024 meeting; filed correspondence received; authorized payment of bills; and certified payrolls for the Lorain City School System as being in accord with civil service procedures. Commissioners adjourned at 5:47 p.m.

Votes at a glance - Appoint Juanita Sanchez president (motion by Victor Takacs; second Joseph Smith): approved, 3–0. - Appoint Joseph Smith secretary (motion by Juanita Sanchez; second Victor Takacs): approved, 3–0. - Appoint Victor Takacs vice president (motion by Joseph Smith; second Juanita Sanchez): approved, 3–0. - Set 2025 meeting dates (second Tuesday monthly) (motion by Juanita Sanchez; second Victor Takacs): approved, 3–0. - Approve minutes (Dec. 12, 2024) (motion by Joseph Smith; second Juanita Sanchez): approved, 3–0. - File correspondence received (motion by Joseph Smith; second Victor Takacs): approved, 3–0. - Remove four names from firefighter eligibility list (motion by Victor Takacs; second Joseph Smith): approved, 3–0. - Waive testing and appoint Steven Ray, Operator 3, Black River Wastewater Treatment Plant (motions by commission; second Joseph Smith): waiving/testing and appointment approved, 3–0. - Waive 72-hour rule to add Catherine Gregory appointment (motion by Joseph Smith; second Victor Takacs): approved, 3–0. - Waive testing and appoint Catherine Gregory, police dispatcher (motion by Joseph Smith; second Victor Takacs): approved, 3–0. - Enter executive session to consider employment of possible employees (motion to go into executive session; seconded): approved by roll call, 3–0; public record does not show final action on three named police-officer appointments. - Waive testing and appoint Belinda Stojka, Recreation and Parks Superintendent (motion by Victor Takacs; second Joseph Smith): approved, 3–0. - Pay bills (motion by Victor Takacs; second Joseph Smith): approved, 3–0. - Certify payrolls for Lorain City School System (motion by Joseph Smith; second Juanita Sanchez): approved, 3–0. - Set next meeting date March 11, 2025 (motion by Juanita Sanchez; second Joseph Smith): approved, 3–0. - Adjourn (motion by Juanita Sanchez; second Joseph Smith): approved, 3–0.

The public portion of the transcript records the motions, waivers and unanimous approvals but does not show any final public vote on the three police-officer nominations that prompted the executive-session request.