4.a 1 Discussion on change of Fire Chief position to part-time
Fire Chief Conversion to full time
1. Issue:
Is there a need in the Scandia Fire Department for a full -time Fire Chief?
2. Facts on the issue
a. The department currently provides fire protection for about 4,800 residents in the city
of Scandia & May Township, covering about 56 sq. miles.
b. The current number of full-time employees is Zero and the number of part-time or
“paid-on-call” employees is 26. Normally, at full strength there would be 30
employees.
c. An increase in administration responsibilities also creates a time-consuming task for
the fire chief who holds a full-time job in addition to being the part-time fire chief.
d. Currently the city Emergency Manager would fall to the mayor unless someone else is
appointed. In most cities the fire chief is the emergency manager.
e. The fire department should be doing more fire inspections of commercial and multi-
family residence, without this the city is open to risk.
f. There are many issues when working with vendors as most hours of operation are
during the normal work day of 9-5.
g. The beginning of 2018 will be very demanding on the fire department staff to gather
and enter information into the new county records management system.
h. Managing Volunteer or “paid-on-call” personnel is much more demanding and
challenging than regular full-time staff as this is something they are doing to help
others, not to pay their bills.
i. With liability to the city there is a tremendous amount of paper work that needs to be
kept up in case of injury or death.
j. There is currently no replacement qualified candidate waiting or wanting to step up to
this position.
k. Currently the chief tries to delegate duties when possible, but all members are very
busy with the same issues we see during our recruiting efforts.
l. We have looked at the option of hiring an outside part-time person to fill the gap. We
have determined that the cost would not be much less and many items would still
need to be checked or overseen by the chief.
3. Options
a. Leave things the way they are currently.
i. This will leave items incomplete.
ii. Current officers are stressed with many requirements.
iii. Could lose our current officer staff due to additional delegation of duties.
b. A transition to a full time Chief
i. This will be necessary in the future as we will most likely not find a part-time
chief that would accept the position and time requirements.
c. Increase chief stipend
i. A good compromise to help complete more duties and prepare for a full time
chief.
ii. The 2018 preliminary budget proposes the fire chief would work about 24
hour per week, not including emergency calls or training.
4. Recommendation
a. Option C
i. The 2018 proposed budget accounts for the increased stipend.
ii. Very reasonable option for current needs of the department.
iii. With the requested stipend, this position would cost the city less than a
benefit package offered to many of the other city employees.
Volunteer Fire Chief Job Description
Approved by City Council 5/19/09
1
Scandia Fire & Rescue
Volunteer Fire Chief
Position Description
GENERAL REQUIREMENTS
Performs a variety of technical, administrative, and supervisory duties in planning,
organizing, directing and implementing fire prevention, suppression and emergency
medical services to prevent or minimize the loss of life and property by fire and
emergency medical conditions.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED
Works under the general guidance and direction of the Mayor and City Council.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED
Supervises the Department Officers, (Volunteer Assistant Fire Chiefs, Volunteer
Captains, Engineer) and Volunteer Fire Fighters.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Plans, coordinates, supervises and evaluates Fire and EMS operations.
Establishes policies and procedures for the department in order to implement
directives from the Mayor and City Council.
Plans and implements Fire and EMS programs for the City in order to better carry
out City policies and goals.
Maintains policies and supervises the discipline and conduct and general behavior of
supervised personnel.
Reviews departmental performance and effectiveness; formulates programs or
policies to alleviate deficiencies.
Supervises and coordinates the preparation and presentation of an annual budget.
Directs the implementation of the Departments’ budgets; plans for and reviews
specifications for new or replaced equipment. Controls the expenditure of
departmental appropriations.
Responds to alarms and may direct activities at the scene of major emergencies.
Supervises the inspection of buildings and other properties for fire hazards and
enforces fire prevention ordinances.
Directs and or supervises the operation of departmental in-service training activities.
Submits monthly reports of the Departments activities and prepares a variety of
other reports as appropriate including the annual report of activities.
Plans departmental operation and makes recommendations to the Council with
respect to equipment, apparatus, and personnel; supervises the implementation of
such plans.
Assigns personnel and equipment to such duties and uses as the service requires;
evaluates the need for and recommends the purchase of new equipment and
supplies.
Commented [M1]: This portion of the job is more time
consuming than it appears
Commented [M2]: Current duties are not being met due to
time constrants.
Commented [M3]: Managing Paid-On-Call staff is different
than managing full time staff. If treated as a regular
employees there would be less volunteers .
Commented [M4]: I currently have very limited time
dedicated to this item.
Commented [M5]: Most commercial operations have 9-5
hours and require multiple visits.
Commented [M6]: Add Budgeting
Volunteer Fire Chief Job Description
Approved by City Council 5/19/09
2
PERIPHERAL DUTIES
Meets with elected or appointed officials, other Fire/EMS officials, community and
business representatives and the public on all aspects of the Departments’ activities.
Attends conferences and meetings to keep abreast of current trends in the field;
represents the City Fire/EMS Departments in a variety of local, county, state and
other meetings.
Performs the duties of command personnel as needed and fulfills obligations during
duty days or duty weeks.
Serves as a member of various city and department committees.
QUALIFICATIONS
Education and Experience:
Graduation from high school or GED equivalent.
Four (4) years prior work experience of a progressively responsible nature in fire
fighting and prevention and emergency medical services.
Four (4) years supervisory experience. Fire service supervision preferred.
FFI & FFII State of MN Certified
First Responder Certified, EMT preferred
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS & ABILTIES
Thorough knowledge of fire suppression and prevention and emergency medical
services principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment
Working knowledge of first aid and resuscitation techniques and their application as
demonstrated through State Medical Certification
Considerable knowledge of applicable laws, ordinances, departmental standard
operating procedures and regulations
Skill in the operation of listed tools and equipment.
Ability to train and supervise subordinate personnel
Ability to perform work requiring good physical condition
Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing
Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions
Ability to effectively give and receive verbal and written instructions
Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with other
employees, supervisors and the 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 a fifteen 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 within the past seven years
Ability to read and write the English language
Ability to meet Departmental physical standards
Commented [M7]: Our city staff is 8-5 hours.
Commented [M8]: Most training for management is 9-5
weekdays.
Commented [M9]: We do not have hours this is 24/7
Commented [M10]: More time away from current duties.
Commented [M11]: Change to EMT Certified,
Fire chief needs to be minimally trained as the members
currently are or above.
Commented [M12]: Add budgeting experience.
Commented [M13]: This is an open ended skill, training
changes annually
Commented [M14]: Eight
Volunteer Fire Chief Job Description
Approved by City Council 5/19/09
3
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED
Emergency medical aid unit; fire apparatus, fire pumps, hoses, and other standard
firefighting equipment, ladders, first aid equipment, radio, pager, personal computer,
phone.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by
an employee 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 required to sit; talk or hear;
stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and
reach with hands and arms.
The employee is required to climb or balance; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and
taste or smell.
The employee must lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or
move up to 100 pounds.
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 office, vehicles, and outdoor settings, in all weather
conditions, including temperature extremes, during day and night shifts.
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.
Name Years of Service
1 Bizzotto, Jesse 1
2 Holtgreve, Shawn 0.5
3 Cook, James 0.5
4 Hinsch, Robert 0.5
5 Johnson, Jeremy 0.5
6 McHugh, Patrick 0.5
7 Krager, Adriane 1
8 Bauer, John 2
9 Grabrick, Joe 2
10 Meyers, Adam 2
11 Patterson, Jesse 2
12 Soderlind, Dallas 2
13 Hagen, John 4
14 McCarty, Ben 4
15 Loeffler, Travis 5
16 Frank, Mike 6
17 Rydeen, Eric 6
18 Skarja, Ian 8
19 Majeski, Chris 11
20 Rydeen, Allen 11
21 Merrier, Jerome 17
22 Boyd, Bill 18
23 Hinz, Mike 25
24 Havener, Bill 29
25 Hawkinson, Ron 29
26 Nora, Peter 35
27 0
28 0
29 0
30 0