Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Personnel Policy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Struthers council trims new‑hire probation language to 90 days and removes 'lateral' exemption
Summary
Council members discussed and agreed during a meeting to remove the word 'lateral' from a proposed amendment to the city's codified new‑hire provisions and to set a 90‑day probationary rate; staff will revise the ordinance and follow up with affected employees.
Struthers City Council discussed proposed changes to the city’s employment provisions and agreed to shorten the probationary period in the codified new‑hire language to 90 days while removing the word “lateral” that had previously created an internal exemption.
The ordinance under discussion would amend the city of Struthers codified Chapter 149, section 149.19 (new hire provisions) so that the probationary pay and reporting structure applies for 90 days rather than the longer period currently in the codified language. The mayor explained the intent was to codify a 90‑day probationary period and to remove the term lateral from the ordinance language so that internal promotions to department head positions would also be covered by the probationary language.
During discussion, the mayor stated, “We would just take the word lateral out of it,” and multiple council members noted that a 90‑day period allows a promoted employee time to acclimate to different responsibilities without imposing a year‑long probation. Council members also discussed a specific local staffing example — a long‑time city employee moving into a department head role — and staff agreed to discuss the salary and contract details with the employee before finalizing the separate ordinance that sets position salaries.
Council made a procedural motion to bring the revised new‑hire language out for further consideration; that motion was seconded and council directed the clerk/administration to initial the change and prepare updated ordinance language. No final adoption vote was recorded during the meeting; one related ordinance establishing position salaries was held for additional discussion with the affected employee (identified in the meeting as Jason Hall).
The council repeatedly distinguished between policy language in the codified municipal code (the text under consideration) and the separate ordinance that sets position salaries and contractual details. Council members asked staff to prepare the codified text with the 'lateral' language removed, adopt the 90‑day probationary standard in the code amendment, and return with the salary ordinance after consultation with the affected employee.
