NAACP calls for change in city hiring

NORWICH, Conn. (WTNH) -- The NAACP in Norwich is calling for a change to how the city is filling a position in its personnel department.

Members say while more minorities are being hired in the police and fire departments they don't understand why the position of Assistant Human Resources Director is only open to current city employees.

They say by closing the job to outsiders it doesn't help promote diversity.

The Human Resources Director is following the 1994 merit rules as adopted by the Personnel and Pension Board for hiring from within.

But the NAACP says she also has the option to open it up to non-city employees and she herself was an outsider when she was hired for that same position a few years ago.

"You go by it once. Then you should have been following it all along and this is really our concern. You do things and then you don't do them," said Jacqueline Owens, Norwich NAACP.

News 8 left a message for the Director of Human Resources. We wanted to know if she was able to post the position to non-city employees to apply and if so why did she choose not to.

We haven't heard back.