Section 1. Notice of Examination: Notice of competitive examination, open to persons employed in the civil service and to those who have not been so employed, should be given by advertisement in the City Bulletin or a newspaper of general circulation in Cincinnati and by posting notices conspicuously in the office of the Commission and elsewhere as may be deemed advisable not less than two calendar weeks prior to such examination.

Section 2. Application: Each applicant must be responsible for the completion of his own application form. All applications shall be signed, and filed in the offices of the Commission unless otherwise specified in the examination announcement not later than the date specified in the announcement of examination in the Official Bulletin of the Commission.

Section 3. Citizenship: Applications will be accepted from all persons, however, the Commission may exclude aliens from competition where the fact of such alienage would impede efficient and effective performance on the job. Persons appointed to positions must comply with the United States Department of Justice, Immigration and Naturalization Service requirements concerning the employment of United States citizens and aliens lawfully authorized to work in the United States.

Section 4. Residence: Applications for City positions will be accepted without any limitation as to residency of applicants. Persons appointed to the positions must comply with the residency regulations of the appointing authority of the jurisdiction in which they seek employment and with the laws of the State of Ohio.

Section 5. Age Requirements: The Commission may establish maximum and minimum age limits for examinations in such cases where the Commission deems it necessary.

Section 6. Commission to Rule on Educational Requirements: The Commission may establish educational requirements to be written into specifications for classes which are subject to examination. Educational requirements, however, may be waived by the Commission for employees who wish to compete in open examinations for which they are otherwise qualified on the basis of work experience with the City or Board of Education.

Section 7. Rejection of Application: The Secretary may, subject to appeal to the Commission, reject any application for cause, among which any of the following shall be sufficient:

A. The applicant lacks any of the minimum qualifications set forth in the official specification;

B. The applicant is not within the prescribed age limits;

C. The applicant does not meet the physical requirements of the position to which he seeks appointment. An applicant disqualified for medical reasons only may compete upon presentation of medical evidence that the disqualifying conditions have been corrected;

D. The applicant has been convicted of a crime that would adversely affect his performance in the position to which he seeks appointment, or a background investigation has resulted in information that demonstrates the likelihood of an adverse effect on his performance in the position to which he seeks appointment (see Civil Service Rule 15, Police Record Checks for Sensitive Classifications);

E. The applicant has been dismissed from previous employment for delinquency or misconduct; or had a pattern of poor work habits and performance.

F. The applicant made a false statement in his application with regard to any material fact;

G. The applicant was previously employed by the City or Board of Education and was either dismissed or did not resign in good standing within the past 2 years, or failed the probationary period for the classification being applied for within the past 2 years;

H. The applicant, after notification, did not promptly present himself at the time and place designated for the examination;

I. The applicant failed or withdrew from an examination for the same or similar classification within the preceding six months;

Applicants wishing to appeal the rejection of their application to the Commission must submit their appeal in writing no later than fourteen calendar days from the date on the rejection notice.

Section 8. Veterans Preference: An applicant shall receive veteran credit on an entrance examination for the classified service, provided the applicant has received a passing grade in all phases of the examination and meets all of the following requirements:

A. The applicant must have an honorable discharge from the United States Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Army, National Guard, Air National Guard, Merchant Marine or have transferred to the reserve with evidence of satisfactory service, or have been a Red Cross Nurse (Note: general, medical, convenience of the government, hardship, bad conduct and dishonorable discharges do not apply); and

B. The applicant must be an Ohio resident as of the test application closing date; and

C. The applicant must have served on active duty meaning full-time duty in the active military service of the United States, including duty on the active list, full time training duty, annual training duty, and attendance, while in active military service, at a school designated as a service school by law or by the Secretary of the military department concerned.

Special provisions for veteran credit with the City of Cincinnati are:

A. A qualified veteran, upon presentation of an official document stating an honorable discharge shall receive additional credit of five points;

B. A qualified disabled veteran, upon presentation of a certificate of honorable discharge and an official statement dated within the last six months from the Veteran's Administration or the Service agency attesting to the existence of a ten percent (10%) or greater service connected disability shall receive additional credit of ten points. However, no credit will be given to an applicant who was discharged by the Army, Navy, Air Force, or Marine Corps for physical disability at the time of his physical examination for entrance into the service.

Special provisions for veteran credit with the Board of Education are upon presentation of a certificate of service or honorable discharge, a veteran shall receive additional credit of twenty percent (20%) of his total grade given in the regular examination.

Veterans must submit the DD-214 and all other documents verifying their status when filing an application or, when permitted by the Secretary, no later than the date of the examination.

Section 9. Postponement and Cancellation of Examinations: Any examination may be postponed or canceled at the discretion of the Commission and/or the Secretary. In either case, each applicant shall be notified of the postponement or cancellation, and the action, together with the cause thereof, reported to the Commission and an entry made in its minutes.

Section 10. Fees: No fees shall be charged for any examination.