Question 2 - City Hall's Hiring Practices

[Jim O'Bryan]

Well it seems that Lakewoodites place "Background Check" as the single most important thing in a City Hall Hiring. I have to think that when hiring people that interact with residents of every shape, color and religion, and with the ability to write up, or set wheels in motion for or against people and businesses. we need to know we have nothing to fear.

After all, it should be as tough as getting a job at Baskins and Robbins.



So taking the importance of this into account...

[Dan Alaimo]

It's hard to pick three or to say all of the above. I would say any police record, racism, but not political background.
Would all sexual offenses be revealed by police record checks?

[Jim O'Bryan]

It's hard to pick three or to say all of the above. I would say any police record, racism, but not political background.
Would all sexual offenses be revealed by police record checks?

Dan

I will restart the 2nd poll.

Questions, with up to ten answers, can choose 1-10, only one vote per membership.

Dan, you pick the up to 10 questions.
,

[Dan Alaimo]

It's hard to pick three or to say all of the above. I would say any police record, racism, but not political background.
Would all sexual offenses be revealed by police record checks?

Dan, you pick the up to 10 questions.
,

Jim, I'm not enough of an expert on these matters. Are there any human resource experts or investigators out there?
Also it would depend some on the position. For a building inspector, privacy concerns or personal harassment issues would be important. Not so much for the snow plows/refuse trucks where DUIs would be a concern, as well as having a valid driver's license.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Jim, I'm not enough of an expert on these matters. Are there any human resource experts or investigators out there?
Also it would depend some on the position. For a building inspector, privacy concerns or personal harassment issues would be important. Not so much for the snow plows/refuse trucks where DUIs would be a concern, as well as having a valid driver's license.

Dan

I got some great suggestions last night from various department heads, and you are right, different needs for different jobs. So we do not need to have "pluming skills" on the list. However there are some jobs, like care taker at Lakewood Park where "plumbing skills" are needed. I kid you not.

What I would like to establish is a baseline for an employee with a City of Lakewood id, car, permits, etc should have. If we are paying someone to be "Planning Director" or "Clerk at the Front Desk" the Cotiy should know certain things at the time of a job application.

I have this from other cities, but I am looking for what Lakewoodites feel the low bar is for our tax dollars.

Rewrite of this survey underway by pros. Stay tuned...

.

[Dan Alaimo]

Not being an expert, it's hard for me to conceive of a baseline beyond a comprehensive criminal/legal check. In some cases, the appropriate professional certifications are a concern, in others an appropriate driver's license, and in all any history of sexual predation or civil liberties biases.

[Dan Alaimo]

Here's one thing I'd like to see the City find out about applicants: What is being said about them in their past jobs? Did they leave under a cloud? Most of the time it's a cloud concocted by someone else - and I'll bet most of us have been there - but we've seen many city officials and employees leave under circumstances that were less than stellar. While I have no desire to tell what I've heard to their new employers (and maybe they know and like what they heard), I'd like our City to know about it before hiring, even if it is demonstrably false.

This is no doubt difficult, because of confidentiality, but the information is out there. In the case of Lakewood, there is plenty to be learned simply by reading the Deck. There are ways.

[Jim O'Bryan]

Here's one thing I'd like to see the City find out about applicants: What is being said about them in their past jobs? Did they leave under a cloud? Most of the time it's a cloud concocted by someone else - and I'll bet most of us have been there - but we've seen many city officials and employees leave under circumstances that were less than stellar. While I have no desire to tell what I've heard to their new employers (and maybe they know and like what they heard), I'd like our City to know about it before hiring, even if it is demonstrably false.

This is no doubt difficult, because of confidentiality, but the information is out there. In the case of Lakewood, there is plenty to be learned simply by reading the Deck. There are ways.

Dan

This is the point and the problem I am having. I was hoping to develop 2 baselines, minimum requirements - maximum requirements.

Example, Should the Planning Director, have any background in City Planning? Strictly political appointment?
RELAX LAKEWOOD, I don't always agree City Planning but current management seems qualified, just using it as an example.

Should a City Employee be forced to have the same high standards as police and fire? Does a career safety worker need to meet the same standards as a part time employee? So the thought was to develop the high and lows as expected by the residents, aka the boss.

Stay tuned, all comments appreciated.