[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=3176.039

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - A racial-discrimination charge has been leveled against Michigan City's firefighter hiring policies by a local man who filed a complaint with the state Civil Rights Commission.

Christian Bietry, 31, 505 Baker Road, filed the charge March 2 in the Indianapolis office of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. He claims white individuals such as himself are being "negatively impacted" by a 30-year-old federal court decree mandating the firefighter workforce reflect the racial makeup of the community.

"I think that's not right to put one race above another for any reason," Bietry said. "If affirmative action should be in place, it should be based on income. Instead of giving a job to another for race, put energy into educating the less fortunate about opportunities for more people to come out (and apply)."

Mayor Chuck Oberlie said no lawsuit has been filed.

"It's an investigation and we will cooperate," Oberlie said. Michigan City Corporate Counsel John Espar and Fire Merit Commission Attorney Pamela Krause have been handling the city's response, according to the mayor.

Bietry said he applied for a position with the Michigan City Fire Department sometime last spring. He successfully completed the written and physical ability tests, required by the Fire Merit Commission, and was notified Oct. 7, 2008, that he ranked at the top of the non-minority eligibility list.

The Fire Merit Commission makes final hiring decisions for the city's fire department and is required to uphold the 1978 federal judgment, Fire Commission President Bart Lombard said.

"It's not for us to determine whether or not the law is correct," he said. "We're not a judicial body. We must administer the law as written."

The law was largely ignored until complaints brought the matter before the City Council. To head off potential lawsuits, the council approved the minority hiring process for the Michigan City Fire Merit Commission in a Dec. 18, 2007, ordinance amendment. The commission was required to fill two firefighter positions with minority candidates before a non-minority person could be hired.

In January, the commission hired David Briggs as a firefighter contingent on a one-year trial period required of everyone. Brandon Lee, another candidate, is under consideration for an open position. The Michigan City Fire Pension Board will meet Monday morning to discuss Lee's hiring, then make a recommendation to the Fire Merit Commission at its 5 p.m. meeting.

Bietry said his ranking status is effective for two years from Oct. 7. At this point, he will be the first non-minority candidate to be hired, but when that will happen is uncertain.

"My concern is that the next opening might not happen within two years," he said.

If he's hired within the next two years, Bietry is willing to fight for seniority over those who were hired ahead of him and for pay compensation.

Bietry said he was initially reluctant to file the suit, but felt he needed to act.

"The situation bothered me from the start," he said. "I'm not a racist. This has nothing to do with race at all."

Lombard said the five-member body is responsible for putting firefighter applicants through required written and physical ability tests and an interview before declaring them eligible and giving them a ranking. Once eligible, individuals must complete additional testing in Indianapolis to be accepted. The final step, Lombard said, is for the Fire Pension Board to review candidates and make a recommendation to the commission.

At this point, Lombard said, the minority eligibility list is depleted. The commission is working with city Human Rights Executive Director Ta'Tanesha Clark to develop a procedure for recruiting minority candidates.

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Dave]

Does anyone know if Christian Bietry is related to Tim Bietry, and if he is, how he's related?

[JHeath]

Does anyone know if Christian Bietry is related to Tim Bietry, and if he is, how he's related?

Chris is Tim Bietry's son.

[huskers888]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=3176.039

HIS SON.

[Southsider2k12]

So the son of the guy who runs the biggest Status Quo cheerleading organization in town is charging discrimination. Boy I bet Thanksgiving Dinner is uncomfortable this year.