A.
At the completion of the examination requirements set forth in Article IV, written examination, oral examination, background investigation, physical fitness test and polygraph examination, the Commission shall rank all passing applicants on a list with the applicant receiving the highest score at the top of the list and the applicant receiving the lowest passing score at the bottom of the list. Applicants who qualify for veterans' preference points shall have those points added to their passing score prior to being ranked on the eligibility list.
B.
For promotional positions, fulfilling the performance requirement set forth in § A376-19 is also required. In the case of tied scores, the tie will be broken by giving preference to the applicant who submitted a final completed application first. If both tied applicants submitted their complete applications on the same day, then the applicants shall be ranked in alphabetical order by surname.
C.
The eligibility list shall be valid for one year from the date the
Commission ranks all passing applicants, assigns veterans' preference
points and formally adopts the eligibility list. The Commission may,
at its sole discretion, by a vote of the majority of the Commission
at a duly authorized Commission meeting, extend the list for an additional
year. The Commission may, at its sole discretion, void an eligibility
list at any time for any reason.
A.
The appointing authority of the Borough may fill any vacancy in an
existing position in the Police Department which occurs as a result
of expansion of the police force, retirement, resignation, disability
or death by the reappointment or reinstatement of a former employee
of the Police Department who had been furloughed. Except for physical
and psychological examinations, no other testing shall be required
for a furloughed employee or a rehired or reappointed employee.
B.
If no furlough list exists or if positions remain to be filled after
all of the officers on the furlough list were offered reemployment,
every position, except that of Chief of Police, shall be filled only
in the following manner:
(1)
The appointing authority of the Borough shall notify the Commission
of any vacancy which is to be filled and shall request certification
of three names from the list of eligibles.
(2)
If three names are not available, then the Commission shall
certify the name(s) remaining on the list.
(3)
The Borough Council shall make an appointment from one of the
three names certified with reference to the merits and fitness of
the candidates. However (for initial appointment to the position of
police officer), when one of the three applicants on the certified
list is a veteran, that applicant shall be selected.
(4)
The Borough Council may, at its sole discretion, appoint any
applicant who has passed the required examinations for appointment
(or promotion) although the applicant's name does not appear
on the certified list of three when the applicant qualifies for veteran's
preference.
C.
The Borough Council may object to one or more of the persons certified for the reasons set forth in § A376-20 of these rules and regulations. If the candidate to whom the Borough Council objects fails to timely exercise the rights of appeal under § A376-22 or if the Commission declines to uphold the appeal, the Commission shall strike the name of that candidate from the eligibility list and certify the next highest name for inclusion on the list of three candidates for each name stricken off.
In the case of a vacancy in the office of Chief of Police, the
appointing authority has full discretion in selecting the individual
to fill the position of Chief of Police. If the appointing authority
requests the Commission to subject that person to a noncompetitive
examination, and if that person successfully passes the noncompetitive
examination, then the Commission shall notify the appointing authority
of the results of the examination.
Every successful applicant to the position of patrol officer or to a promotional position with the Police Department shall serve a twelve-month probationary period. For newly hired officers, the one-year probationary period shall not commence until after the officer has completed training under Act 120 and receives a certification number. During the probationary period, a newly hired officer may only be dismissed for cause for the reasons set forth in § A376-20. A promoted officer, during probation, may be returned to a prior rank only for cause for the reasons set forth in § A376-20. However, at the end of the twelve-month probationary period, if the conduct of the probationer has not been satisfactory to the Borough Council, the probationer shall be notified in writing that appointment will not be permanent. At that time, a newly hired officer's employment shall end, and a promoted officer shall return to a previous rank. Any officer who is not informed in writing that his performance has been unsatisfactory shall receive a permanent appointment to the new position. Any probationer who is not notified in writing that appointment will not be made permanent has no rights of appeal under these rules and regulations.
Whenever there are urgent reasons for filling of a vacancy in
any position in the Police Department and there are no names on the
eligible list for such appointment, the Borough Council may nominate
a person to the Commission for noncompetitive examination, and such
nominee may be certified by the Commission as qualified after such
noncompetitive examination and may be appointed provisionally to fill
such vacancy. It shall thereupon become the duty of the Commission
within three weeks to hold a competitive examination and certify a
list of eligibles, and then a regular appointment shall be made from
the name or names submitted by the Commission, provided that nothing
within this section shall prevent the appointment, without examination,
of persons temporarily as police officers in cases of riot or other
emergency.
