Columbia Open competitive appointment ordinance (§ 19-163)

(a) For each vacancy, a department head shall choose a qualified individual certified in writing by the director. Any individual who has not been certified by the director as qualified and eligible for consideration shall not be placed in a permanent position.

(b) If the department head is unwilling to fill a vacancy from a certified list of eligible candidates, he/she may submit a written request and justification to the director, for certification of additional qualified candidates. The director shall consider the merits of such a request and make a determination in the matter.