by Tim Troglen
Reporter
Maple Heights -- The mantra for those looking for jobs is, "There are no jobs out there."
But there are.
At least six and maybe as many as 15 for young residents wanting to pick up a few extra bucks in the summer who don't mind picking up trash, painting fire hydrants and other tasks to help lend a hand to the city's landscape.
Applications are now being accepted at Maple Heights City Hall for part-time summer help.
But few are applying.
"We've been getting a few applications and I've already hired one worker," Mayor Jeff Lansky said May 6. "But there has not been a good response."
He said the workers could earn from $7 to $9 per hour, depending on their job.
District 7 Councilor Pat Houston, who is chairperson of the Council recreation committee, said several of her residents wanted workers to be picked by a lottery system, putting names in a pool and drawing them at random, for fairness.
However, Lansky said he will not hire anyone "by throwing a dart at a board."
He said the workers will be hired "the same way we hire everybody else."
"They will have to fill out an application and if they have a resume, bring that," he said. "We are going to check them out."
Human Resources Coordinator Linda Vopat agreed that a lottery was not the best way to hire the workers.
"You just don't know what the qualifications of that young person is going to be," Vopat said.
"There might be someone good at doing yard work outside or someone good at doing bookkeeping."
Vopat said of the six applicants, one college student has been hired to help paint fire hydrants throughout the city.
"As far as I know, they are all Maple Heights residents," Vopat said.
District 2 Councilor Toni Jones said the young workers may also be used to install planter boxes and clean out the former service garage on Dunham Road.
High school or college students interested in applying should contact City Hall at 216-662-1234 or pick up an application between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. at City Hall.
E-mail: TTroglen@recordpub.com
Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3165