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Hiring chief to answer critics

Director calls for July 13 meeting after being criticized for not recruiting and hiring enough minorities.

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By Dave Greber, Staff Writer 1:24 AM Sunday, July 11, 2010

HAMILTON — The woman who was the target of accusations last month by a councilman over what he described as a lack of effort to recruit and hire minorities says she will set the record straight.

Civil Service and Personnel Director Nadine Hill said after she was blasted at a City Council meeting, she wasn’t able to fully explain her position, but did ask for feedback from anyone who had any suggestions on how to improve the city’s hiring practices.

“I haven’t had any visitors yet,” she said. “Nobody has shown up.”

So now, she’s taking her message to the community after calling a meeting set for 7 p.m. Tuesday, July 13, at the Booker T. Washington Community Center, 1140 S. Front St. to discuss city hiring practices.

At the council’s regular meeting June 9, Councilman Archie Johnson, who is black, hammered away at the city’s hiring practices — and in particular, Hill, who also is black — after Councilwoman Carla Fiehrer requested that the city’s elected officials and administrators take sensitivity training.

Hill said several times she only has the ability to do with what resources are available.

Said Johnson to Hill on June 9: “We have not sent you out and told you what we want in return. We just tell you to go to a job fair. We need some effectiveness out of your office and I think it takes this administration to give you the directive to diversify this city’s work force.”

Council members, including Fiehrer and Johnson, said they were surprised by the meeting, and knew little about it.

Among the items to be discussed Tuesday are clarifying the city’s hiring practices and how they may be improved, which positions are open and how to apply for them and information on how the Civil Service Commission — to whom Hill answers — operates.

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