Approve Paid On Call Fire Officer Selection for 2014

Fire Officers are appointed by the Fire Chief and usually serve a 2 year term, with about half the positions open for application each year. With this process, there is opportunity to be considered for advancement while also having stability within the Officers Group.

The Fire Chief requests a letter of interest from firefighters wishing to be considered for each position. Depending on the position, interviews may be completed by the Fire Chief alone, an internal interview panel, or a panel of outside players. Through the years all options have been used.

Once interviews have been completed, the Fire Chief brings a recommendation to the City Administrator for discussion and approval. For this year's recommendation, this has been done, and has the approval of the City Administrator.

The recommendation for 2014 is in the case as an attachment.

Funding for the positions is paid from the Personnel Services line item of the Fire Department Budget. The individual breakdown of cost per position is as follows: Assistant Chief $4500/year, Captain $3180/year, Lieutenant $2520/year and Training Officer/Lieutenant $2972/year.

It should be noted that this years recommendation includes a promotion from Captain to Assistant Chief out of Station #3 or the Nowthen station. Per the Joint Powers Agreement, Nowthen pays for the Officers out of station #3. For 2014 Nowthen will pay $4500 for the Assistant Chief and $2520 for a Lieutenant. 

This action for 2014 contains no increase to the Ramsey Fire Budget.

The recommendation has been previously discussed with the City Administrator who agrees with the recommendation.

Motion to accept Staff's recommendation is to ratify the Fire Chief's Officer Selections.

Motion to accept Fire Officer Selection for 2014