Hobart Fire Civil Service Commission

MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE HOBART CIVIL SERVICE FIRE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF HOBART HELD JANUARY 14, 2021 at 6:00 p.m. Call to Order: Mr. Schallenkamp called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m., followed by the Pledge of Allegiance. The meeting was held with the building open to the public and a call-in number for remote public participation. Roll Call: The following members were present: Mr. Finnerty, Mr. Schallenkamp, and Mr. St. Myers. Also present: Clerk-Treasurer Longer, Attorney Mindel, Asst. Chiefs Tinsley and Reitz and Mayor Snedecor. Election of Officers: Mr. Schallenkamp nominated Mr. St. Myers for the position of Chairman, seconded by Mr. Finnerty. There being no other nominations, Mr. St. Myers was named Chairman of the Fire Commission. Mr. Finnerty nominated Mr. Schallenkamp for the position of Vice-Chairman, seconded by Mr. St. Myers. There being no other nominations, Mr. Schallenkamp was named Vice-Chairman of the Fire Commission. Mr. Schallenkamp turned the gavel over to Mr. St. Myers. Approval of the Agenda: Motion by Mr. Schallenkamp, seconded by Mr. Finnerty, to approve the agenda as presented. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Approval of Minutes: Motion by Mr. Schallenkamp, seconded by Mr. Finnerty, to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting of October 13, 2020 as presented. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Correspondence: Mr. St. Myers inquired about needing an active list for Fire Inspector as the position may open up this year. He stated in the past there were 3 books required for testing and proposed only needing the 2 issued by the IFSTA as these would be sufficient. The Fire Commission and Asst. Chief had no objection to only using the IFSTA training requirements. Motion by Mr. Schallenkamp, seconded by Mr. Finnerty, to approve the testing for Fire Inspector using the IFSTA tests and to post the information for the position for 30 days and schedule the test the first week of March. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Mr. Schallenkamp noted there may also be a need for the EMS Director position and made a motion to post information regarding this position also for 30 days to see if anyone was interested in testing. The motion was seconded by Mr. Finnerty. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Committee Reports: There were no Committee Reports. Old Business: There was no Old Business. New Business: Discussion: New Hire Applications: Asst. Chief Tinsley stated there is a need to have a new list of applicants as the old list has been exhausted and proposed soliciting applications for lateral transfers, Emergency Medical Technicians and Paramedics for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic. He also proposed additional credits be given to a passing exam score for certain qualified applicants. Discussion followed. Consensus of the Commission was to allow additional credit as follows: 20% Military combat / disabled vet; 15% Military Non-combat vet; 15% Lateral Transfers; 10% Fire I/Fire II Certification; 10% Indiana certified Paramedics. Applicants must: hold a current, valid Driver’s license; not be a convicted felon; hold a minimum Indiana Certification of EMT-B; and complete the requirements of the Hobart Civil Service Fire Commission Minutes January 14, 2021 Hobart Fire Civil Commission. In the case of lateral transfers: applicants must be a current member of the INPRS 1977 Police & Fire Pension Fund. Mr. Tinsley stated the lateral candidates will take an in- house agility test and the non-laterals will take the CPAT test. Motion by Mr. Schallenkamp, seconded by Mr. Finnerty, to post the opening of the applications with a closing date of Friday, April 30, 2021. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Further discussion followed with Mayor Snedecor citing the need to be able to back-fill positions as soon as possible. Motion by Mr. Schallenkamp, seconded by Mr. Finnerty, to amend the closing date of applications to Friday, February 26, 2021 with the testing being scheduled the 1st or 2nd week of March. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Announcements: Fabian Martinez questioned the books used for certifications, stating the promotion tests are based off the Fire Engineering books and the State has now moved to the IFSTA Books for Essentials and asked the Commission to consider mirroring the State rules and switching the requirements for the promotion tests to what the State uses. Mr. St. Myers recommended that the Commission follow the state rules that require a Fire Officer I Class in order to take the Lieutenant’s test and the Fire Officer II Class in order to take the Captain and Battalion Chief tests, making the testing based on the pre-requirements in place with the state. Motion by Mr. Schallenkamp, seconded by Mr. Finnerty, that the Fire Commission mimic the reference material for the certification requirement and the pre-requirements for that certification for promotion testing. All aye, motion carried. (3-0) Mayor Snedecor stated that Chief Smith is being released from the hospital tomorrow and the City and the Department is looking forward to having him back as soon as he is able. Attorney Mindel stated he had prepared a Resolution for the creation of a Reserve Firefighter Program as directed by the Commission at their last regular meeting. The Resolution and information will be distributed to the Commission for consideration at their February meeting. Mr. St. Myers asked if anyone would like to address the Commission and there was no further response. Adjournment: Motion by Mr. Schallenkamp, seconded by Mr. Finnerty, to adjourn the meeting. All aye, motion carried (3-0). The meeting adjourned at 6:31 p.m. _______________________________________ _______________________________________ _______________________________________ Attest: ________________________________ Secretary Hobart Civil Service Fire Commission Minutes January 14, 2021