Voters Will Decide if Mayor Can Appoint Police, Fire Chiefs

Voters will decide in November if the mayor should be able to hire Twinsburg’s police and fire chiefs.

After a long discussion Tuesday night, City Council approved sending to a vote a charter amendment that would give the just like any other department head, making their positions unclassified rather than civil service.

The decision did have some opposition, however.

Resident Karen Clinton spoke to council, saying it was unfair to put police and fire chiefs in the same category as the golf course manager, removing them from the civil service.

“If this goes through, shame on you,” Clinton said. “And I will personally help spearhead its demise.”

Ward 2 Councilman Bob McDermott said he understood the reason for changing the charter, but didn’t agree with changing the chiefs to unclassified and voted against it. McDermott has said before that he doesn’t want to put them in the political arena.

“I do have a strong opinion that the police and fire chief should be under civil service,” McDermott said.

Council President Gary Sorace sat on the charter review commission where this first began and felt no reason for distrust in the amendment. Sorace said he doesn’t think this will have any negative effect on either position.

“If I felt for a second that this legislation would jeopardize the chiefs’ jobs, their position or their performance, or their duties, I wouldn’t even consider these changes,” Sorace said.

If the amendment does pass in November it will not change the role of the police or fire chiefs, only aligning their positions with other city department heads.

Police Chief Christopher Noga addressed council and residents for a second time on the issue. He made it clear that no matter what the outcome is, he will serve the city in the same manner.

“I believe that no matter who serves as mayor, that person will recognize the need to have a police chief who puts the safety of our community above all else,” Noga said. “Whether or not I am a civil service employee will have no bearing on decisions I make in meeting that obligation.”

Most of the council agreed that ultimately it would be up to the residents to decide, not council.

“All we’re doing is giving our residents the opportunity to vote on this and say whether they agree or disagree,” said Ward 1 Councilman Sam Scaffide. “We’re not making that decision.”

Maureen Stauffer, a Ward 4 representative, agreed.

“I happen to think we live in a very intelligent community and these people can make the decision,” Stauffer said.