GREENFIELD — In an effort to create consistency across public safety departments and “even the playing field,” councilors are considering a ballot question to remove the police and fire chief positions from Civil Service.

“At this point, I don’t think there’s a need for chiefs to be in Civil Service,” said At-Large Councilor Christine Forgey. “There are no other city employees, police or fire, that are in Civil Service. … Civil Service, in my opinion, is an antiquated system.”

Civil Service is the state’s merit-based hiring system for filling public safety positions across Massachusetts, according to the Massachusetts Municipal Association. Departments using the Civil Service exam system require the first responder to work within 10 miles of the fire or police station. Historically, Civil Service has been seen as a way to ensure qualified candidates are found and promoted for municipal jobs without undue political influence.

“We have more professional infrastructure in place (now) regarding hiring, firing, promotions and appointments,” Forgey said. “We should not be limited to just who lives in Massachusetts and has taken this test.”

Forgey initiated the conversation at the Committee Chairs subcommittee meeting last week, during which City Clerk Kathy Scott explained the police chief last returned to Civil Service through a ballot question in 2003. The fire chief, meanwhile, has been in Civil Service since the 1930s as a result of a Town Meeting vote. Since a position can only be removed from Civil Service the way it came in, Scott recommended both be brought to the ballot, given the city no longer has a Town Meeting form of government.

“We would be following a new path, setting a new precedent for anything to happen in the future,” Scott told councilors.

The next election is scheduled to take place Nov. 7 and will include a mayoral race, City Council elections and likely additional ballot questions.

“It’s a good time to put this on the ballot because you’ll get a high turnout,” Forgey said.

City Council President Dan Guin told councilors that legal advice on the process forward had been sought at the request of City Council, and eventually, the matter will be directed to the correct subcommittee, likely Appointments and Ordinances.

Speaking by phone, Forgey said since those positions were moved into Civil Service, Greenfield has transitioned to a city form of government with a strong mayor, and has established a Public Safety Commission and professional Department of Human Resources. Additionally, Forgey said, the city has policies and procedures in place “that include and offer the ability to hire and promote and discipline through different means than Civil Service.”

The hiring and promoting process outlined by Civil Service is also time-consuming, she added.

“I think, for its time, it served a great purpose,” Forgey noted.

In 2019, City Council voted to remove Civil Service from governing the city’s Police Department for its rank-and-file officers. The Fire Department later followed suit.

“I think the chief’s position is the next step in line for having the Fire Department completely removed from Civil Service,” commented Fire Chief Robert Strahan.

Strahan noted current chiefs would be grandfathered in and would not lose their protections if a new system is implemented. The same was true when rank-and-file officers were removed from Civil Service.

“We’ve got better systems,” Forgey said. “It allows us some flexibility in the hiring practices. They do not have to wait for a list, choose from a limited pool of candidates. They can cast a wider net when it comes to top-notch candidates for the job.”

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429.

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