EAST LIVERPOOL - More than 60 people have applied for a full-time secretarial position in the city Planning Department, but the job has been changed to part time, according to Director Bill Cowan.
Former secretary Lisa Sandy suddenly resigned the first week of May, leaving the full-time spot open, and Cowan began advertising for a replacement immediately, with the deadline for applications last Friday.
Cowan declined to elaborate on Sandy's abrupt departure.
As of Monday, Cowan had received 62 resumes from job seekers from around the tri-state area, including 38 from East Liverpool. Others applied from Wellsville, Lisbon, Salem, Irondale, Hammondsville, Salineville, Hanoverton, Rogers, Hookstown, Pa. and Chester, W.Va.
Cowan expressed pleasure, but some surprise, at the level of expertise of many of those who applied for the position, agreeing it is likely a sign of the poor economy that those with such backgrounds are not already employed. Numerous applicants have college degrees and solid backgrounds in such areas as clerical,
banking, human resources, paralegal work, nursing, administration and quality control.
Applicants ranged from bartenders and poll workers to flight attendants, former vice presidents of corporations, village treasurers and even one sitting mayor.
Cowan admitted that he expects many of the applicants will withdraw once they learn of the city's decision to change the position to part time in a cost-cutting move.
The full-time position paid $10.80 per hour and included benefits, but as part time, it will pay only $10 per hour with no benefits, Cowan said. City Council has made recent strides in negotiating union contracts, and with the non-union employee ordinance, to start all new hires at $10 per hour, also limiting other benefits currently enjoyed by full-time employees.
Cowan said with this in mind, he still hopes to hire two part-time secretaries who will share the duties to keep the office open throughout the day, although that schedule has not yet been determined.
He said he has sole authority to hire for the positions, and he expects to have someone hired by Monday, although he allowed for a potential employee to have to work out a two-week notice if already employed.
