The Haverhill City Council is set to revisit a proposed home rule petition to state lawmakers aimed at removing the position of deputy police chief from civil service.
Under a recent agreement between the city and Haverhill Police Superior Officers Union, a qualified candidate from within the department for the permanent post must have served at least seven years in the rank of sergeant or above; agree all testing components are determined exclusively by the city; testing may be opened to qualified candidates from outside the Haverhill force with the rank of captain or above for at least three years; serve a minimum three-year contract with the city if there are fewer than three qualified in-house candidates; and, if a contract is not renewed, the position holder has the option of returning to his or her prior civil service rank.
Documents before the council do not explain the rationale for removing the position from civil service protection.
The agreement also allows the city to appoint any superior officer as acting deputy chief until a permanent position is filled as mentioned.
If approved by the city council, the home rule petition will be forwarded to state legislators for approval.
The draft home rule petition to remove the deputy police chief position from civil service has been on hold since it was created by the city May 16, 2014.
The Haverhill City Council meets at 7 p.m., Tuesday, in council chambers at Haverhill City Hall.
So what is the council’s motive for this because you know they never do anything without a motive.
In Massachusetts, being the Banana Republic that it is, this would allow Haverhill City Council, and friends thereof, pick whomever they would like. Under Civil Service standards, only the top test scorers would even be considered. Maybe one of their “friends” doesn’t test well and would never otherwise be eligible, this move gets rid of that requirement.