HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.D.1 Approval of Revised Position Description for Fire Marshal. Consent Business 4. A 1.
S #AKOPEE
TO: Mayor and City Council
Mark McNeill, City Administrator
FROM: Kris Wilson, Assistant City Administrator
DATE: 10/15/2013
SUBJECT: Approval of Revised Position Description for Fire Marshal (E)
Action Sought
The Council is asked to approve a revised position description for the Fire Marshal.
Background
For the past five years, the full-time staff of the Fire Department has consisted of the Fire Chief,
Fire Marshal/Inspector and an Office Service Worker. As a result of the addition of four
full-time firefighters this fall, there is a need to adjust practices in numerous areas. One of the
most significant adjustment is that the Department will no longer be paging out paid-on-call
firefighters for minor or routine calls during the workday, as these will be handled by the full-time
crew.
Another significant change is that for the first time the Department has firefighters eligible for
paid sick leave and vacation days, which creates a need to back-fill for those employees when
they are gone during a regular workday. Given the staffing and structure of the Department, this
responsibility will fall first to the Fire Marshal. Previously, there was no requirement in the Fire
Marshal's job description that he or she be a licensed firefighter or respond to emergency calls
during the workday. We now need to require that. Therefore the position description has been
revised to include emergency response duties and require firefighter qualifications, in addition to
the existing duties of the position. Secondly it is recommended that the job title be simplified to
just "Fire Marshal" rather than "Fire Marshal/Inspector."
Budget Impact
The revised position description will not alter the pay grade of the Fire Marshal position.
However it will transfer the position from the Coordinated plan of our pension to the Police &
Fire plan, which carries slightly higher costs for the City. The estimated cost of this move for the
remainder of 2013 is $135 and the estimated cost for 2014 is $1,342.
Relationship to Vison
This item relates to Goal E: Deliver effective and efficient services by a staff of ell-trained,
caring and professional employees.
Requested Action
The Council is asked to approve the attached position description for the Fire Marshal, effective
October 21, 2013.
Attachments: Fire Marshal Position Description
I
City of Shakopee
POSITION DESCRIPTION
POSITION: Fire Marshal
DEPARTMENT: Fire
REPORTS TO: Fire Chief
PAY GRADE: 7
STATUS: Full-Time,Non-Exempt
APPROVED:
SUMMARY
Applies and administers fire safety codes and standards within the Shakopee fire district in order to
safeguard people and property from death, injury or damage.Responds to emergency calls for service,
investigates fires,contributes to pre-planning efforts,coordinates public outreach programs,approves
burning permits and provides fire prevention education.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
• In the absence of one or more full-time firefighters on a shift,responds to fire and/or emergency
scenes 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.
• Inspects all commercial and industrial structures, and multiple-family attached dwellings with
twelve or more units to ensure that the facilities and structures conform with municipal codes in a
manner that will minimize fires and prevent deaths or injuries.
• Reviews permits,plans and materials for all new structures,building alterations and changes of
use to insure that they effectively conform with fire safety codes and practices. Coordinates this
plan review with building code review conducted by the Building Inspection Division.
• Directs plan review and issues permits for fire alarm, sprinkler and stand pipe systems.
• Inspects in-progress and completed developments for conformance with approved plans, as they
related to fire safety.
• Investigate fires in corporation with the state fire marshal to determine cause and origin:prepare
and maintain fire reports.
• Develops and implements fire prevention education programs to ensure public, schools and
building owner(s)awareness of the importance of fire safety and conformance with fire safety
codes.
• Communicates with building owners and occupants regarding violations and methods of
correction necessary to enforce compliance and initiates corrective action when violations are
encountered.
• Develop and Maintain building preplans for industrial structures and dwellings with twelve or
more living units.
• Prepares comprehensive reports on fires to facilitate actions to minimize or eliminate future fires
of a similar nature.
• Coordinates inspections with building inspectors, and reviews Certificates of Occupancy.
• Keeps Fire Chief informed promptly of matters which are important to the City's interests or the
public health,safety and welfare.
• Serves on various committees for the development or modification of fire codes that will
effectively guarantee the safety of the public and attends staff and council meetings when
required.
• Attends regular and assigned training, drills and meetings to maintain and upgrade firefighting
and emergency response skills and facilitate communication within and beyond the Department.
• Responds to emergency call backs when off-duty.
• Performs other related duties as apparent or assigned.
REQUIRED KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS& ABILITIES:
• Ability to understand and communicate ideas and explanations clearly in English,both orally and
in writing.
• Ability to read and comprehend written instructions,manuals and training guides.
• Ability to speak effectively with individuals or groups.
• 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 City employees and to interact with the public in a friendly,tactful
manner.
• Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions,proportions,
percentages, area, circumference and volume.
• Thorough knowledge of all types of building construction materials and methods,and stages of
construction when possible violations and defects may be most easily observed and corrected.
• Knowledge of state and local building codes,rules,regulations and relevant rules.
• Ability to enforce ordinances and regulations firmly,tactfully and impartially.
• Ability to perform building construction inspection and read and interpret plans, specifications
and blueprints.
• 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 mechanical equipment and engines.
• Ability to follow procedure, interpret instructions and use logic to solve problems.
QUALIFICATIONS:
Minimum Qualifications
• 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;
• Post-secondary coursework in fire prevention through an accredited institution;
• Four years of related experience including two years in fire inspection;
• Shall be certified as Minnesota Fire Service Certification Board Fire Inspector II or within 6
months of appointment;
• Annual Passage of Department Medical Exam;
• The following certifications(must possess and then maintain throughout employment):
• Minnesota or IFSAC Accredited Firefighter II
• National Registry EMT
• Minnesota Fire Apparatus Operator(FAO)
I
• Hazardous Materials Operations
• National Incident Management System(NIMS 100,200&700)
Desirable Qualifications
• Post-Secondary degree 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.
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 wearing full turn-out gear(pants,jacket,helmet,
face mask,gloves and boots)plus SCBA tank and equipment:
• Walk moderate distances,run short distances,ascend and descend stairs d ladders,
crouch,crawl and balance. Reach and lift overhead. Twist and turn at waist,neck,hips,
knees and shoulders.
• Ability to lift and carry ladders,hose bundles,hand and power tools weighing up to 50
lbs.Ability to drag a person of 180 lbs. at least 100 feet and team lift a stretcher carrying
a person weighing 180 lbs.
• 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 du es 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 a hydrogen
cyanide, corrosives,carbon monoxide,or organic solvents either through inhalatio 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 xposure to
explosives.