By Patrick Varine

Published: Wednesday, March 13, 2013, 8:30 p.m.
Updated: Wednesday, March 13, 2013

Penn Hills Council will temporarily lower its minimum qualifications for police sergeants seeking promotion to lieutenant.

Council voted 4-0 at its March 4 meeting to approve a one-time change to personnel board regulations regarding eligibility for the lieutenant's examination.

Councilman Gary Underwood was not present.

Current regulations require Penn Hills police to serve five years as an officer before taking the sergeant's exam, and then serve three years as a sergeant before taking the lieutenant's exam.

The one-time rule change would remove the three-year requirement.

Municipal Manager Moe Rayan said the change would increase the pool of eligible sergeants from three to five.

“Both (policemen who would benefit from the change) have been sergeants for more than two years,” Rayan said.

Resident Mickey O'Connor said council should not lower its standards simply to increase the number of eligible lieutenant candidates.

Rayan and Deputy Mayor Sara Kuhn said the change was merely a one-time exception.

In other business

Council approved a 10-year, $1 lease with the Penn Hills Soccer Association for use of four Universal Park fields and a concession stand.

The agreement continues through October 2023.

The PHSA will have exclusive use of the fields from March 15 to May 31 and from Aug. 15 to Halloween.

PHSA officials must secure the municipality's permission before using the fields for U6, U8, U10 and U13 play if they are needed outside the designated dates.

Patrick Varine is an editor for Trib Total Media. He can be reached at 412-320-7845 or pvarine@tribweb.com.

1. PRIMARY 2013: Penn Hills incumbents secure nominations; school board will have at least two new members
2. Penn Hills fixture Richey retires after working for 78 years at hardware store
3. Linton Middle School principal on leave
4. Penn Township, Trafford ambulance companies call for direct payment from insurers
5. Penn Hills School District looks to reduce projected deficit
6. What to know about a terminal case of ‘senioritis’
7. Nameless in August headlines Penn Hills Coffeehouse
8. Schifino participates in Roundball Classic
9. Food at core of Lincoln Park Community Center’s mission
10. Penn Hills, Plum vets join  for Memorial  Day ceremony
11. Imagine Penn Hills Charter seeks to keep modular classrooms

There are currently no comments for this story.
Subscribe today! Click here for our subscription offers.