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HomeMy WebLinkAbout9.B.2. Approval of Position Description and Authorization to Post for Full-Time Firefighters General Business 9. B. 2. `7�fr\K(:)1>l;E�: TO: Mayor and City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator FROM: Rick Coleman, Fire Chief DATE: OS/07/2013 SUBJECT: Approval of Position Description and Authorization to Post for Full-Time Firefighters (E& B) Action Sought The Council is asked to approve the attached position description for the position of full-time firefighter and authorize appropriate staff to post the position for internal applicants to fill four openings. BACKGROUND For several years the City has been discussing the challenge of daytime response to fire calls. ln the first six-months of 2012,the average response time to a weekday fire was 13 minutes, whereas the NFPA standard for a community of our size is 9 minutes. Over the years the Department has incorporated a number of practices in an effort to maintain acceptable response times without adding significant costs. This includes relying heavily on a handful of full-time City employees who are also firefighters and reducing the number of firefighters required before a truck rolls from five to four and then to three. Numerous other solutions have been considered, including daytime duty crews and expanded partnerships with surrounding communities, but found to be unworkable or unlikely to solve the problem. A significant challenge is the number of paid-on-call firefighters whose full-time jobs are outside of the city, preventing them from responding to calls in a timely manner; as well as firefighters who work within the city limits but are not able to leave their full-time jobs to respond to daytime calls. Additionally,the increased mobility within the workplace has resulted in firefighters who were able to leave their full-time, local jobs when they joined the Department, but then change jobs to one where they cannot leave or are too far away to respond in a timely manner. Unfortunately, for the sake of the Department's needs, none of these workplace trends are expected to change or reverse course. Since the Council last discussed the issue in November,the City has reached out to local employers and current firefighters as directed by the Council. The City Administrator, Fire Chief and Assistant City Administrator made a presentation to the Board of Directors of the Shakopee Chamber of Commerce in ]ate February, held a lunch meeting for local employer's at Station 1 in mid-March, and invited all current tirefighters to an open meeting on the issue in early April. The meetings with local employers focused on the need for improved daytime response and the costs that could be avoided if this can be accomplished within the paid-on-call framework. ln their feedback, local employers expressed support and appreciation for the Fire Department and a desire to help, but with conditions that don't fit the realities of emergency response. For example, it was suggested that some employers might be willing to have their employees respond to fire calls on a set day of the week but that making them available on an open-ended basis was just too disruptive to their business. Given that there is no way to predict when and how often fire calls will occur,the Department is simply unable to provide employers with the certainty they need in order for releasing employees to make sense for their business. Current firefighters had numerous questions regarding the potential for adding full-time responders, as this presents a significant change to Department operations and culture. (See attached notes from the Department meeting.) However,the group also acknowledged that there is little or nothing the City could do to incentivize them to respond to a higher number of daytime calls, as the issue is basic availability—not compensation or motivation. RECOMMENDATION 1, along with the City Administrator and Assistant City Administrator, recommend that the City proceed with hiring a crew of four full-time firefighters to provide weekday response to fire calls and other emergencies. The alternatives have been fully explored and this is the most viable option for ensuring a timely response to weekday calls. Shakopee residents, property owners and taxpayers rely on the Fire Department to respond in their time of need and when shared across the entire community,the annual cost of a weekday crew of four full-time firefighters is not unreasonable. Furthermore, we recommend that the positions be posted for internal applicants only to begin with and that an external posting only be conducted if sufficieut qualified candidates are not found internally. An internal posting is recommended because the Department's current staff of 45 paid-on-call firefighters possess qualifications that would be very difficult to top with outside candidates, including a thorough knowledge of the City and surrounding townships, significant training and experience with the Department's existing apparatus and standard operating procedures, and a proven dedication to serving this community. If opened up for external applicants,the hiring process would likely take months longer to complete as would the training process, resulting in a delayed benefit to the public for no substantial benefit. BUDGETIMPACT The City's 20li operating budget includes funding for four full-time firefighters to be hired July 1, at a total cost of $125,000. Once hired, an additional$125,000 (for a total of$250,000)will need to be funded in 2014 for a full-year of wage and benefit costs. RELATIONSHIP TO VISION This item relates to Goal E.� Deliver effective and efficient public services by a staff of well-trained, caring and professional employees; and Goal B: Positively manage the challenges and opportunities presented by growth, development and change. REQUESTED ACTION If the Council concurs, it is asked to offer a motion adopting the attached position description for full-time firefighters and authorize the appropriate staff to post four openings for internal applicants. Attachments: FT FirefiQhter Position Description Questions from Apri13 Fire Dept Mt� City of Shakopee POSITION DESCRIPTION POSITION: Firefighter DEPARTMENT: Fire REPORTS TO: Fire Chief PAY GRADE: Grade 5 STATUS: Full-Time, Non-Exempt APPROVED: SUMMARY: Responds to emergency calls for service;saves lives through rescue from fire or other hazardous environments; and applies a range of fire suppression methods to prevent,control and stop property damage. Participates in pre-fire planning, safety inspections,fire prevention and public education efforts. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES: • Responds to fire and/or emergency scene quickly and safely, and with the proper equipment per department standard operating guidelines. • Rescues individuals from fires and other emergency situations. Evacuates occupants and assists them to safety. Administers CRP and First Aid as necessary. • Extinguishes fires. Place hoses and ladders,operate pumps, direct streams of water, uses other extinguishing agents as appropriate,and ventilates structures. Operates aerial ladders,fire extinguishers, bars, axes,etc. as needed. • Performs salvage operations; including removing excess water,shoveling out debris, patching windows and holes, piacing tarps and performing other clean-up tasks as directed. • Calmly and professionally communicates with fellow firefighters and superior officers at emergency scenes, using portable two-way radio. Regularly and effectively communicates fire or incident status to superior officers and completes required reports of calls responded to. • Participates in pre-fire planning related to target hazards within the jurisdiction by inspecting, developing and updating building layout records, hazard inventory and other planning tasks to inform possible future firefighting operations. • Performs regulartruck inspections. Cleans, reloads and prepares all equipment. Includes refueling vehicles, refilling water tanks, recharging air tanks and extinguishers,washing trucks and hand toois, drying and reloading hoses and othertasks needed to return vehicles and equipment to ready status. • Inspects, maintains and repairs, as necessary,all firefighting equipment, including SCBA units. Completes proper check lists, maintains up-to-date records and reports damaged or improperly functioning equipment. • Attends regular and assigned training, drilis and meetings to maintain and upgrade firefighting and emergency response skills and facilitate communication within and beyond the Department. • Assists in fire prevention and public education/outreach duties as assigned. • Assists with fire code and building safety inspections as assigned. • Performs light station maintenance, housekeeping and snow removal duties as assigned. • Responds to emergency call backs when off-duty. • Performs other related duties as apparent or assigned. QUALIFICATIONS: Minimum: • High School Diploma or equivalent; • Valid Driver's License with a clean driving record; • Ability to obtain and maintain a MN State Firefighter's License; • Annual Passage of Department Medical Exam; • The following certifications (must possess or obtain within twelve months of hire and then maintain throughout employment): o Minnesota or IFSAC Accredited Firefighter II o National Registry EMT o Minnesota Fire Apparatus Operator(FAO) o Hazardous Materials Operations o National incident Management System (NIMS 100,200&700) Desirable: • Experience as a paid-on-call or full-time firefighter in a department of similar size,service area and call load. • Post-Secondary education in Fire Science or closely related field. • Conversational verbal language skills in a second language, in addition to English,that has a recognized presence in the community(Spanish, Russian, Hmong,etc.). • National Incident Management System (NIMS)300&400. REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE,SKILLS&ABILITIES: • Ability to understand and communicate ideas and explanations clearty in English, both orally and in writing. Ability to read and comprehend written instructions, manuals and training guides. Ability to complete written reports using proper spelling,grammar and punctuation. • Ability to develop and maintain positive, professional working relationships with co-workers, supervisors and fellow Citjr employees and to interad with the public in a friendly,tactful manner. • Ability to utilize common office equipment and machines including computer,printer,copier and fax machine. Ability to utilize common Microsoft Office programs; plus web-based email, calendar and timesheet programs. • Knowledge of(or ability to learn)the geography of Shakopee, including the location of important buildings and the street system, and surrounding areas. • Ability to safely operate a range of hand and power tools in the performance of duties. General knowledge of inechanical equipment and engines. • Ability to follow procedure, interpret instructions and use logic to solve problems. PHYSICAL DEMANDS: • Requires normal vision,with or without correction. Requires near acuity,far acuity depth- perception,field of vision and focusing. Ability to see gauges on fire trucks and equipment and ability to see in low light emergency settings while wearing face mask. • Requires normal hearing, including the ability to discriminate among similar sounds in environments with significant background noise and the ability to receive direction and communications over portable radios and through SCBA masks at the scene of an emergency. • Must be able to perform the following,while wearingfull turn-out gear(pants,jacket, helmet, face mask,gloves and boots) plus SCBA tank and equipment: o Walk moderate distances, run short distances, ascend and descend stairs and ladders, crouch, crawl and balance. Reach and lift overhead. Twist and turn at waist, neck, hips, knees and shoulders. o Ability to lift and carry ladders, hose bundles, hand and power tools weighing up to SO Ibs.Ability to drag a person of 180 Ibs. at least 100 feet and team lift a stretcher carrying a person weighing 180 Ibs. o Upper body, hand and grip strength to open and close hydrant valves and make hose connections. Ability to pick, pinch or otherwise use fingers to manipulate items such as SCBA valves and apparatus controls and to tie knots. WORKING CONDITIONS: • Exposure to the full range of seasonal weather conditions including heat,cold,wind and precipitation for extended periods of time. • Exposure to extreme fluctuations in temperature while performing firefighting duties and frequent transition from hot to cold and from humid to dry atmospheres. • Work in wet, icy,muddy areas,and uneven terrain. Perform a variety of tasks on slippery, hazardous surfaces such as on roof tops or from ladders. • Operate in environments of high noise, poor visibility, limited mobility,at heights, and in enclosed or confined spaces. • Potential exposure to carcinogenic dusts such as asbestos,toxic substances such as hydrogen cyanide,corrosives,carbon monoxide,or organic solvents either through inhalation or skin contact. Potential exposure to infectious biological agents such as hepatitis B or HIV • Work for long periods of time,requiring sustained physical activity and intense concentration. Perform complex tasks during life-threatening emergencies. • Exposure to sights and smells associated with major trauma and burn victims. • Encounter smoke filled environments, and a variety of physical hazards, damaged structures, moving mechanical equipment, electrical equipment, radiant energy, and possible exposure to explosives. Questions from April 3 Fire Department Meeting on Full-Time Firefighters The following is a summary of the questions raised by current firefighters during a recent department meeting to discuss daytime response and the possibility of adding full-time firefighters. Chief Coleman addressed each of these issues with the Department and promised to share the list of questions with the City Council. We would be happy to discuss any of these details with Councilmembers, if desired. 1. Would instituting duty crews solve the problem without hiring fulltime firefighters? 2. Are weekdays really the only challenge? 3. Is the City going to require new Public Works employees to be firefighters? 4. If four responders are needed during the day, what is going to be done when one of them is sick or on vacation? 5. If current paid-on-call firefighters are selected to fil( full-time positions, would they be required to leave the Relief Association? 6. Concerns about this having a negative impact on morale–will full-timers get the interesting calls or tasks on a call?How will the two groups of employees get to know each other? Will one group be leaving trucks and equipment for the other to gas up and return to ready status? 7. Will paid-on-cal( staff still be paged to daytime calls? If not, how will they meet their 35% attendance requirement? 8. What will happen on calls that occur at the very end of the day as the full-timers are supposed to be going off duty? 9. Is there really enough work to keep four full-time firefighters busy when not on a call? 10. Would it make more sense to hire a full-time training chief to allow for daytime training? Then people who work nights could join the Department as paid-on-call firefighters and respond to calls during the day. 1 1. Opinion stated that there are too many chiefs responding to daytime calls. 12. Question raised regarding the cost of part-time personnel noted in the slide presentation. It was noted by Scott Theis that the pension cost to the City has been $3,000 - $4,000 per year because of investment returns, not the full $7,500 per year of service that is actually paid out. 13. What are the daytime calls? If a lot of them are CO2 alarms, why not send a single truck to a CO2 alarm? What is the travel time to Southbridge—is that making our response numbers look bad?