Section 55642 - Promotions(a) A promotion shall be based on merit to be ascertained by an examination to be prescribed by the commission. All questions relative to a promotion shall be practical in character and fairly test the merit and fitness of individuals seeking promotion.(b) The board of commissioners shall notify the commission of a vacancy on the police force or fire department which is to be filled by promotion and shall request the certification of an eligibility list.(c) The commission shall certify for each vacancy the names of three individuals on the eligibility list who have received the highest average in the last promotion examination held within a period of two years preceding the date of the request for the eligibility list. If three names are not available, the commission shall certify the names remaining on the eligibility list. The board of commissioners shall make an appointment from the names certified, based solely on the merits and fitness of the candidate, unless the board of commissioners make objections to the commission regarding any individual on the eligibility list for any reason provided under section 637.(d) The board of commissioners may determine in each instance whether an increase in salary constitutes a promotion.1931, June 24, P.L. 1206, art. VI, § 642, added 1949, May 27, P.L. 1955, § 20. Amended 2010, Oct. 19, P.L. 521, No. 75, § 5, imd. effective; 2020, Oct. 29, P.L. 782, No. 96, § 33, effective in 60 days [Dec. 28, 2020].