The Civil Service Commission is considering appeals from all four candidates. The applicants have passed the test to become a firefighter, but were removed from the hiring list because of their past crimes.

Jose Torres and James Bulerin Jr., both of Bridgeport, are the latest ex-felons to appeal the decision removing them from the hiring list. The commission is expected to take up the matter when it meets at 4:30 p.m. July 26 in City Hall.

Torres was arrested in 1988 for third-degree larceny and sentenced to two years probation, according to city records obtained under state Freedom of Information law.

Bulerin was arrested in 1996 in Trumbull for first- and third-degree larceny. He was sentenced to a one-year suspended sentence, and two years probation, records show.

The issue of whether felons should be hired as firefighters has drawn considerable controversy over the last few months. The City Council at one point considered passing a resolution barring felons from Fire Department jobs, but ultimately nixed the idea. Ralph Jacobs, the city's personnel director, said a legal opinion from the city attorney makes it clear the city cannot adopt a "blanket" prohibition against hiring felons.

Convicted felons cannot serve as police officers because they are barred from carrying guns.

"The legal opinion says we cannot have a blanket exclusion. It says you should go through a process that evaluates the nature of the crime in relation to the job, how long ago it was and what efforts were made at rehabilitation," Jacobs said.

The Civil Service Commission so far has issued inconsistent rulings regarding convicted felons.

Jacobs said after Jack Colligan, the city's former personnel director, declined to place Earl King Jr. and Edward Valderrama, both convicted felons, on the city's hiring list, both appealed that decision.

The commission sided with the candidates and placed them back on the list. But a controversy ensued, and the commission is now considering reversing that decision, Jacobs said.

Valderrama was arrested for two counts of conspiracy and sale of cocaine in 1986, and sixth-degree larceny, a misdemeanor, in 2003. He served four years in prison, and now co-owns and manages two city businesses.

King was sentenced to federal prison in 2001 for his involvement in a cocaine distribution ring. He has since earned a college degree and stayed out of trouble.

Referring to the latest cases involving Bulerin and Torres, Jacobs said the commission has not ruled on their bids for reinstatement. The two felons appealed Colligan's previous decision to bar them from the hiring list, he said.

In a legal opinion, City Attorney Mark Anastasi said a number of factors must be considered when reviewing whether a felon should be on a hiring list.

Those factors include the nature of the crime, rehabilitation efforts, how long ago the crime occurred, testimony from city officials and the opinion of the fire chief as to whether the department would be affected by hiring the individuals.

Anastasi stressed that the city cannot issue an "absolute ban" of all felons. "Each individual's particular circumstances may give rise to claims that such action is unconstitutional," Anastasi said.

The city attorney also noted the city's previous ban, which dates back to at least 1936, was not backed up by a commission vote adopting the prohibition. He said notice of that ban, included in advertisements seeking firefighter applicants, is also not backed up by municipal ordinance or civil service commission rules.

"The clear and unambiguous public policy of this state is to facilitate the hiring of reformed felons under proper circumstances," Anastasi wrote in his opinion.

Anastasi said the commission could consider adopting new rules regarding felons, but warned any rule must be backed up by evidence and testimony, including documentation that felons within the fire department pose an "unreasonable threat to public safety, health and welfare."

Bill Cummings, who covers regional issues, can be reached at 330-6230.