S.C. CITY COUNCIL APPROVES NEW DRUG TEST POLICY

South Charleston city employees who are fired due to failing an illicit drug
test would have to wait a year before they could be eligible to be rehired.

City Council members debated the new policy Thursday before approving the
measure.

"I think this is something we've needed for a long time," Councilman Sonny
Holstine said. "I think the person that's employed by the city that does
drugs, they don't care about their family.

"They may go six months and then be tested. They may have been using all
year. If they care about their job, they won't do drugs."

Councilman Butch Buckley said it is a safety issue.

"If a guy's driving a city truck, I want him clear as a bell," Buckley said.

Councilman Ben Paul said the city could not assume the extra liability if it
has employees with substance abuse problems. By not having a standard
policy, the city could leave itself open to lawsuits.

But Council President Dayton Griffith said there should be some "room for
maneuvering," when employees have problems and department heads should have
some discretion in handling such situations.

Griffith expressed concern for a longtime employee who happens to be tested
the day after a party or a family tragedy.

"To me that's a little harsh, to put in a year," Griffith said. "We're
leaving out the human element of tragedies in people's lives."

South Charleston has provided a rehab program for an employee that
voluntarily comes forward for help. Those employees that fail mandatory
random drug tests are automatically discharged under current city policy.

Griffith was the lone dissenting vote on the drug ordinance. The background
check ordinance passed unanimously.

The issue of liability also was behind an ordinance approved by council
Thursday that requires city job applicants to go through criminal background
and driving record checks.

"This is particularly important when hiring people who work with children
such as at the ice arena or the community center," said City Attorney
Michele Ali at the previous meeting.

In other matters, council passed a resolution to adopt new rules for the
police pension fund to bring it in compliance with West Virginia law. This
is another way the city is trying to formalize past practices into policies.

The new rules are similar to those practiced by the city of Charleston.

Under the new policy, pensions will be figured on the past 12 months of
wages, not the last 30 days which is the current policy that allowed an
officer to work overtime hours in the last month to increase pension
payments.