EAST LIVERPOOL — With tax season just around the corner, city council’s finance committee was amenable Tuesday to hiring a part-time employee in the tax department but balked on hiring a full-time housing inspector for the planning department.

Committee Chairman Fred Rayl noted the need for additional help in the tax department has been discussed in the past and said after meeting with tax Commissioner Linda Harpold in her offices, “I saw what she’s up against and feel she’s in need of a part-time clerk.”

He noted that, while new software is being implemented that will help, clerk Karen Smith will be retiring after the tax season next year.

Harpold told the committee if a part-time person is hired and wanted to work into Smith’s full-time post, he or she would have to first pass a Civil Service test, since that position is governed under Civil Service.

She said it would be better to just hold a test now for those interested in the part-time position, but she said the Civil Service Commission secretary has advised her tests are already scheduled in April and May for other departments so there probably isn’t time to schedule one prior to the busy tax season.

She suggested hiring someone in a temporary, part-time position with the knowledge a Civil Service test is forthcoming for the more permanent job, and Law Director Charles Payne said it would be legal to create the position and appoint a temporary person to it.

The committee agreed to have Payne prepare legislation to that effect, with the position to pay $11 per hour for not more than 30 hours per week, and present it to council for its consideration at Monday’s meeting.

An ordinance requested by Mayor Ryan Stovall to establish the position of full-time housing inspector, however, received no such recommendation, with Rayl saying he first wants to see the cost compared to the two part-time inspectors who were recently terminated.

Saying the legislation brought before his committee Tuesday was the first he was aware of the plan, Rayl questioned would it not cost more for a full-time inspector due to benefits, which the part-time employees were not receiving.

Stovall, who terminated the two part-timers, said a full-time employee would have a more vested interest because it would be that person’s sole job.

“We’ve never had a full-time inspector, and that’s the problem,” Stovall said, adding that, with the Shell plant being built in nearby Monaca, Pa., the city is “in a pretty good position,” but must improve its housing stock.

His plan is to cross train the planning and health departments to work on that issue, saying both planning Director Bill Cowan and health Commissioner Carol Cowan will be included in interviewing candidates for the inspector position.

It was noted that Mrs. Cowan, Service-Safety Director Brian Allen and police Chief John Lane met with Warren officials about that city’s environmental officers, with Allen saying that city also has environmental police officers.

Rayl asked if the inspector would be moved from the planning department to the health department, and Stovall said, “That’s the plan,” saying the health department has the authority to immediately order the vacation of an uninhabitable home, where planning department regulations require 60 days.

Saying he is “all for it,” Rayl nonetheless said his concern with establishing the full-time position is the cost, but committee member Ray Perorazio said, “We need to get someone in there who knows the job and can do the job. We need to move now so we can get these places cleaned up.”

Rayl said he can’t see this move affecting houses that are already vacant and said he doesn’t want to create more ordinances that can’t be enforced.

“There are already plenty of ordinances on the books,” Stovall pointed out, saying when inspecting is the only job a person has, they will be enforced, noting, “Bill (Cowan) can’t do everything. The part-timers were OK, but they weren’t vested in it. It wasn’t their livelihood.”

Perorazio added, “Every time I turned around, we had a new inspector.”

Committee member Brian Kerr ventured, “I don’t feel the inspectors were let go the right way, but I don’t want to get into that, because I wasn’t in on it so I can’t say.”

He said he would like to also see a full-time zoning officer, with Stovall replying, “One step at a time.”

Kerr asked if one full-time inspector can handle the load of two part-timers, saying he had heard from the part-time inspectors it was overwhelming at times, and Allen said the inspector will be expected to work hand in hand with the law director’s office.

Asked if he sees the advantage of a full-time inspector, Bill Cowan said he could see how “a person fully vested will help.”

Auditor Marilyn Bosco was asked about the cost, and she admitted, “I’m cheap and I’m cautious. If we can get around it a cheaper way, I’m for it, but it’s not going to bankrupt the city.”

Perorazio insisted, “It’s not the price, but it hasn’t worked,” referring to part-time inspectors.

“We have no inspectors because you fired them, right?” Kerr asked Stovall, saying council “didn’t know anything was going on.”

Stovall reminded him, “It’s not council’s responsibility,” saying he was asking council only to appropriate money for the new position. He pointed out that Cowan is still an inspector.

Saying he “doesn’t want just anybody applying,” Stovall said a decent wage has to be offered, with the legislation calling for a $16 per hour salary and a $115 per month car allowance.

Rayl said the issue will be brought before the next committee meeting after the cost can be determined.