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8.c)1) and 2) Amendments to Fire Department Operational Policy and Firefighter Position Descriptions and Authorize Advertising and Recruiting for Probationary Firefighters , Meeting Date: 2/21/2012 Agenda Item: �' �� 1 �� City Council Agenda Report City of Scandia 14727 209�' St. North Scandia, MN 55073 (651) 433-2274 Action Requested: 1) Approve amendments to the Fire Department Operational Policy and Firefighter position descriptions, and 2) Authorize advertising and recruiting for Probationary Firefighters. Deadline/Timeline: Proposed timeline, advertising/recruiting process: • February 21—Council action on proposed policy and job description changes, authorize advertisement • February 24 to March 30—accept applications • Apri14/5—Review applications • April 18/19—Interviews Round One • Apri121—Physical testing • May 9/10—Interviews Round Two; make conditional offers • May 15—Appointment(s)by City Council • June 2—Start date Background: • The number of paid-on-call volunteer firefighters has been reduced due to several retirements since new members were last added in 2010. The Department would like to bring on a class of up to six new members for training in 2012. • Prior to beginning the hiring process, the Deparhnent identified some changes needed to city policies and job descriptions. The chiefs discussed these changes with the Council at the February 14 work session: o The Fire Department Operational Policy currently requires a 24-month probationary period for new firefighters. The Department recommends reducing this to 12 months. Pages 2 and 3 of the policy, showing the proposed changes redlined, are attached to this report. o The position descriptions for all firefighting jobs (from Probationary Firefighter to Chie�require that they reside or are employed within a fifteen (15)minute response time to the City of Scandia Fire Station. The Deparhnent recommends reducing the response time to eight (8) minutes. A copy of the position description for the Page 1 of 2 02/17/12 . Volunteer Probationary Firefighter, incorporating the proposed change, is attached (see "Special Requirements" at the bottom of page 2.) • Also at the February 14 meeting, the Council discussed the hiring process and how the Council would participate. The consensus was that the process would be delegated to the Fire Chiefs and the City Administrator. The Council would be involved at the end when it will make the appointments. Recommendation: I recommend that the Council take the following actions: 1) Approve the amendments to the Fire Department Operational Policy and Firefighter position descriptions as recommended by the Fire Department. 2) Authorize advertising and recruiting for Probationary Firefighters, with the process as described in this report. A change to the city's overall Personnel Policy to reflect the change in the probationary period is also necessary. That will be a separate action item later on the agenda. Attachments/ • Excerpt, Fire Department Operational Policy Materials provided: • Volunteer Probationary Firefighter Position Description • Job Advertisement, Volunteer Firefighters Contact(s): Jim Finnegan, Fire Chief(651 755-8675) Prepared by: Anne Hurlburt, Administrator (FD policy changes and hiring process) Page 2 of 2 02/17/12 Selection of New Members Vacancies on the Scandia Fire and Rescue Department, once determined, will be filled in accordance with the hiring policies of the City. Selection Process Applicants must successfully pass a pre-membership physical exam which includes a stress test, pulmonary function test, a physical ability test and a drug and alcohol screening test. The City will select the physician to assess the candidate's ability to perform the essential functions of the position. The cost of examinations and drug and alcohol tests will be paid for by the City. A basic firefighter skills test will be administered to all accepted candidates by the Fire Department Chief Officers. The test may include physical ability, an oral interview, and any other test deemed necessary by the Chief Officers. Selected candidates will be referred to the Scandia City Council for final selection approval. Probationary Firefighter Requirements ,� For the first�4 12 months after being accepted as members on the department, fire fighters will be considered as Probationary fire fighters and will be sub�ect to certain limits and rules not required of other fire fighters. � ' €�e#fn��: During this probationary period, probationary members are expected to attend all training sessions offered, unless excused by a Chief Officer or if the training offered is a`make-up' of a previously attended topic. Probationary members attending less than 85% of offered training sessions without excuse or accepted by a Chief Officer; will be considered as not having met the requirements for regular membership. During this probationary period, probationary firefighters may not drive fire department vehicles under emergency conditions unless an approved emergency driver training program, as approved by the Fire Chief, has been completed. Members may, and are encouraged, to drive fire department vehicles under non- emergency conditions provided they are under the instruction of a Training Officer and meet all other driving requirements in this policy. Page 2 Probationary firefighters shall not enter an atmosphere considered Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health (IDLH) until they have been certified as a Firefighter I unless accompanied by a Training Officer during a training evolution. Membership All members of the Scandia Fire Department are considered to be"paid on call' employees of the City of Scandia. As an employee of the City of Scandia all rights, rules and policies regarding part-time City employees apply to all members of the Scandia Fire Department. Members of the Scandia Fire Department must be able to respond to the fire station from either their primary residence or primary place of employment with eight (8) minutes under normal driving conditions while obeying all traffic laws. All members must regularly attend fire and rescue training. Any member missing fire training for sixty (60) consecutive days may not report to a fire related emergency scene, and any member missing rescue training for sixty (60) consecutive days may not report to a medical related emergency scene. Members must get approval from the Chief and appropriate Training Captain before being allowed to respond to an emergency scene. The member must also appear before a review board consisting of Chief Officers and Training Captains to determine if perFormance expectations are being met. To receive credit for attending a training session, members must report at the time designated for the training and remain on site until released by a Chief Officer or Training Captain. No member shall leave the scene of a fire or other emergency or drill, or fail to finish work at the scene or in the station after a fire or other emergency or drill without being excused by the Officer in Charge. All members of the Scandia Fire Department must remain members of the Scandia Fire Relief Association. All disciplinary action will be in compliance with the City of Scandia Personnel Policy. Unsafe Behavior No member shall jokingly or maliciously turn a stream of water on any person or cause it to be directed in or on any property unnecessarily. No member shall engage in activities, even with innocent intentions that may cause harm to others. Page 3 Scandia Fire & Rescue Volunteer Probationary Firefighter Position Description GENERAL REQUIREMENTS Protects life and property by perForming fire fighting, emergency aid, hazardous materials, and fire prevention duties. Maintains fire equipment, apparatus, and facilities. Firefighters have the responsibility for the protection of life and property from the hazards of fire or other hazardous environments. SUPERVISION RECEIVED: Works under the supervision of the Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chiefs, Captains or Senior Firefighter. SUPERVISION EXERCISED None ESSENTIAL EMERGENCY RESPONSE DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES • Performs firefighting activities including, laying hose, and perForming fire combat, containment and extinguishment tasks as instructed by an officer, (examples are structure, vehicle, wild land grass/bush, and woodland firefighting). • Performs emergency medical aid activities including administering BLS level first aid, CPR and providing other assistance as required, if trained for this task. • Responds to fire alarms and extinguishes or controls fires as a member of a team under the supervision of an officer, if trained for this task. • PerForms salvage operations such as throwing salvage covers, sweeping water, and removing debris, if trained for this task. • Performs overhaul operations such as sheet rock removal, ceiling panel removal, flooring removal, and removal of materials from structure, if trained for this task. • Selects, drags, lifts and carries hose and nozzle depending on the type of fire, and correctly applies a stream of water or chemicals onto the fire, if trained for this task. • Positions and climbs ladders to gain access to upper levels of buildings or assist individuals from burning structure, if trained for this task. • Creates openings in buildings for ventilation or entrance using appropriate and available manual and power tools, if trained for this task. • Protects property from smoke and water damage using positive pressure ventilation, salvage covers, smoke ejectors, and deodorants, if trained for this task. • Wears appropriate protective clothing and equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus, if trained for this task. • Performs extrication, disentanglement, and patient removal operations, such as vehicle extrication, equipment extrication, and farm machinery extrication, if trained for this task. Page 1 of 3 � Communicates via two-way communications systems, if trained for this task. PERIPHERAL STAFF DUTIES • Participates in fire drills, attends classes in firefighting, emergency medical, hazardous materials, and related subjects. • Attends regular and assigned training sessions to maintain and upgrade firefighting skills. • Participates in the inspection of buildings, dry hydrants, and other structures in fire prevention programs, if trained for this task. • Maintains fire equipment, apparatus and facilities, if trained for this task. • Performs minor repairs to departmental equipment, if trained for this task. • Performs general maintenance work in the upkeep of fire facilities and equipment; cleans and washes walls and floors; cares for grounds around station; makes minor repairs; washes, hangs and dries hose; washes, cleans, polishes, maintains and tests apparatus and equipment, if trained for these task. • Presents programs to the community on safety and fire prevention topics, if trained for this task. DESIRED MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS Education and Experience: • Graduation from high school or GED equivalent. • No specific work experience level required. KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS 8�ABILITIES • Ability to successfully leam the operation of the listed tools and equipment • Ability to learn to apply standard firefighting, emergency BLS aid, hazardous materials, and fire prevention techniques; • Ability to perform strenuous or peak physical effort during emergency, training or station maintenance activities for prolonged periods of time under conditions of extreme heights, intense heat, cold or smoke; • Abiliry to act effectively in emergency and stressful situations; • Ability to follow verbal and written instructions; • Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing; • Ability to establish effective working relationships with employees, other agencies, and the general public; • Ability to meet the special requirements listed below. SPECIAL REQUIREMENTS • Must be eighteen (18) years of age or older at time of hire and residing or employed within an eight(8) minute response time to the City of Scandia Fire Station • Must possess a valid State Driver's License • No felony convictions or disqualifying criminal histories Page 2 of 3 � Ability to read and write the English language • Ability to meet departmental physical standards • Ability to meet self-contained breathing apparatus requirements TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED Emergency medical aid unit, fire apparatus, fire pumps, hoses, and other standard firefighting equipment, ladders, first aid equipment, radio, pager, phone. PHYSICAL DEMANDS The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a volunteer to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perForm the essential functions. • While performing the duties of this job, the employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. • The employee is occasionally required to sit; climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; talk or hear; and taste or smell. • The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. • The employee wears protective clothing and equipment, including self-contained breathing apparatus. • Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perForm the essential functions. • Work is performed primarily in outdoor settings, in all weather conditions, including temperature extremes, during day and at night. • Work is often performed in emergency and stressful situations. Individual is exposed to hearing alarms and hazards associated with fighting fires and rendering emergency medical assistance, including smoke, noxious odors, fumes, chemicals, liquid chemicals, solvents and oils. • The employee occasionally works near moving mechanical parts and in high, precarious places and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, risk of electrical shock, and vibration. . The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet in office settings, and loud at an emergency scene. Page 3 of 3 �_� 4� � E t�,� . �� ._. yy,,,, ✓%, �� ,,�.\ ��...:: ,- � � �`,�:�,�� 6,' � �m1 f�� "�. .1 ¢', .� � � ��.f��6+� ` VOLUNTEER FIREFIGHTERS The City of Scandia is accepting applications for part-time, paid-on-call Volunteer Firefighters. Successful applicants will be high school graduate or equivalent,be at least 18 years old, live or work within an eight minute response time to the City of Scandia fire station, and be able to meet departrnent physical standards. Benefits include city-paid training and retirement programs. City application required. For a copy of the application materials, contact the city at 651 433-2274, or visit the city web site at www.ci.scandia.mn.us. Submit completed application packet to: City of Scandia, 14727 209�' St. N., Scandia MN, 55073 by 4:00 p.m., Friday, March 30, 2012. EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER For publication in: City of Scandia Web Site Country Messenger Minnesota League of Cities Publications