Struthers officials weigh switching civil-service testing vendor to widen police applicant pool

Members of the Struthers civil service commission and city council spent the bulk of a joint police-and-fire meeting discussing whether to switch from Clancy & Associates to a private testing company that allows entry-level police candidates to sit for exams before they obtain Ohio Peace Officer Training Academy (OPOTA) certification.

The proposal drew broad support from commissioners, the mayor and the police chief during the discussion, who said the change could increase the number of applicants and reduce recurring testing costs. “This just gives us so when they take these tests, they can pay $20 and and it can go to Hubbard... they can make 20 more dollars and it goes to Struthers,” a civil service commission member said, describing how applicants can pay to list multiple jurisdictions. That same commission member said Clancy has produced small candidate pools in recent police tests, sometimes “1 candidate, sometimes... 2.”

Why it matters: Struthers leaders said they have struggled to attract qualified applicants for entry-level police positions. Under current practice, candidates must already hold OPOTA certification to be eligible for the civil-service eligibility list; the vendor under consideration allows candidates to test earlier, potentially enlarging the recruiting pool. Councilors and commissioners said the city must change its ordinances and civil-service rules if it opts to adopt the new vendor.

Commission members and the mayor outlined how the alternative service works and its trade-offs. The company charges the city a membership fee (commission notes list a $500-per-classification figure in materials reviewed) and the vendor’s model shifts a portion of the cost onto applicants, who pay a test fee and may pay an optional small fee (discussed as $20 in the meeting) to forward test results to additional jurisdictions. Staff said existing Clancy tests run roughly $700 for a standard administration and increase with higher applicant counts; the vendor under review offered discounted multi-year pricing that could fall as low as $350–$500 per classification per year depending on contract length.

Participants emphasized operational limits the city cannot change. Under civil-service rules discussed at the meeting, an eligibility list created from a given test remains in force for the statutory period (the panel discussed that police lists are valid for one year). While the new vendor would allow more candidates to appear on the list without OPOTA certification, commissioners repeatedly noted the city could not hire or place a candidate into service until they met required certifications and passed any agility or other post‑hire checks. “We’re not gonna hire those candidates until they do get their OPOTA certification,” one council member said.

Councilors asked about practical details: whether tests would be given at a designated time or continuously (the vendor would set test windows, not an open rolling test), how anonymity and scoring would be handled (commission staff said tests remain anonymous; the vendor supplies numbered results for matching), and whether the civil-service commission can or should enter a multi-year contract. Commission members said legal counsel and city council approval would be required before the city signs a vendor contract and that the council, not the commission, must approve any multi-year commitment. “If you guys go 5 years, we’re bound by 5 years,” a commissioner said, urging the council to weigh contract length and opt‑out terms.

Several participants recommended a cautious, time-limited start. Commissioners and councilors discussed starting with a one-year membership to test the vendor’s performance and, if results were satisfactory, switching to a multi-year contract to lock in savings. Staff said the council will need an ordinance authorizing use of the company and that civil-service rules (the sections discussed in the meeting included the commission’s civil rules identified in materials as 6.06 and 7.02) must be amended to permit candidates to sit for entry-level tests without current OPOTA certification.

Next steps: Councilors instructed staff and commissioners to draft an ordinance that would authorize the mayor to sign a contract with the vendor (including options for one- and five-year terms) and to prepare proposed civil-service rule amendments. Participants agreed to return with the contract language and counsel’s advice before final approval.