Amherst commission votes to add assessment to plant supervisor selection process

An Amherst commission voted on Nov. 19 to add an assessment component to the selection process for the advertised plant supervisor position at the Amherst wastewater treatment plant.

Commission members discussed options for evaluating candidates — written tests, practical assessments, or a combination — after Superintendent Alan Brailler described staffing needs and the plant’s operations. Brailler told the commission the plant currently operates with two operators on 10‑hour rotating shifts, a full‑time lab analyst and a full‑time maintenance worker, and that supervisors and the superintendent often fill in during extended absences.

Members said a written exam alone risks elevating strong test takers who may lack situational judgment needed for day‑to‑day plant management. "I don't want us to get a bunch of good test takers ... and then, you know, they're not good at the whole plant management," one commission member said, arguing for scenario‑based assessment items. Brailler supported using scenario questions and photos to evaluate how candidates would react to common plant problems.

The commission discussed certification requirements and career progression for operators. Members noted that the supervisor position typically requires a state Class 3 operator certification or a Class 2 with an 18‑month requirement to obtain a Class 3; Brailler said the plant currently has one Class 3 operator and one Class 2 operator, and that the lab analyst holds both lab analyst and wastewater certifications.

Commissioners and staff also reviewed recruitment and timing. Brailler said the job posted on Indeed produced several initial applicants but only two met wastewater certification requirements after documentation review; the posting had not yet appeared on the Operator Training Committee of Ohio job board. Members said any exam/assessment must be advertised at least two weeks in advance and that applicants must be notified if selection will combine written and assessment scores.

After discussion, a commission member moved to add an assessment portion to the plant supervisor selection process. The motion passed with an affirmative voice vote. Commissioners asked the law director to confirm whether Brailler could serve on an assessment panel while still employed by the city; they discussed recruiting two outside panelists from nearby plants or using an external assessment firm to avoid conflicts of interest.

The commission instructed staff to research assessment vendors or local wastewater supervisors who could sit on a panel, to update the job advertisement to reflect the two‑part selection process, and to consult the law director on conflict‑of‑interest limits. The meeting adjourned at 6:00 p.m.