Public Safety Committee Meeting

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING AGENDA COMMISSION CONFERENCE ROOM 4243 REMEMBRANCE RD. NW. MONDAY, DECEMBER 16, 2024 5:00 PM Call Meeting to Order - Record Attendance 1. Committee Members: Mayor Carey (Chair), Thom Burke, Jessica Babcock, and Elaina Huizenga-Chase, Alternate Discussion Items 1. Approval of Minutes from November 18, 2024 2. Fire Chief Position Description Approval 3. Fire Chief Job Posting Approval 4. Chief's Update Adjournment Page 1 of 6  PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING MEETING MINUTES COMMISSION CONFERENCE ROOM MONDAY, NOVEMBER 18, 2024 5:00 PM Call Meeting to Order - Record Attendance Committee Members: Mayor Carey (Chair), Thom Burke, Elaina Huizenga- Chase City Staff: Darrel Schmalzel, Frank Wash, Shannon Bales, Keith Mankel, and Chad Host Discussion Items Approval of Minutes from 8-26-2024 Motion by Elaina A. Huizenga-Chase, seconded by Thom Burke to approve the 8-26-2024 Meeting Minutes. Motion Carried. Fire Chief Search Discussion HR Director, Shannon Bales, shared a sample Fire Chief Recruitment timeline and a Chief Interdepartmental Survey that were used for previous fire and police chief searches. The Committee discussed changes to be made to the survey and agreed that it will be sent out to all fire department staff by the end of the week. The survey response window will be 7 to 10 days. S. Bales provided an updated job posting draft for the Fire Chief position. Discussion centered around experience requirements and suggested edits. Assistant City Manger, Frank Wash, suggested that the Committee and city staff create clear policy level expectations for Fire Chief applicants. Discussion was held. Fire Department Updates Chief Mankel provided department updates. He spoke about setting parameters for acceptable response times, apparatus updates, training changes, and staffing. K. Mankel said that the bonus outline that was approved is in affect. Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes 11-18-24 Page 1 of 2 Page 2 of 6 Adjourned at 6:26 PM Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes 11-18-24 Page 2 of 2 Page 3 of 6  Fire Chief Department: Fire Department Classification: Full-Time / Exempt / Appointed by the City Commission Reports To: City Manager Date: January 2016 December 2024 Position Description Objective Under the general direction of the City Manager is responsible for the planning, directing, and supervising of the work of the Fire Department, which includes field operations, fire suppression, fire prevention, arson investigations, training programs, and records management. Interpretive judgment in variation from established procedures and standards may be required. Essential Job Functions An employee in this position is required to perform the following essential functions with or without reasonable accommodation. 1. Must be able to perform those duties normally associated with fire service work. 2. Plans and directs the protection of life and property, fire suppression, fire prevention, the maintenance of fire records; determines departmental policies and major procedures; 3. Identifies fire department needs, problems within the community, and determines revised policies and corrective actions; 4. Establishes department goals and objectives, defines alternatives, chooses course of action and monitors achievement; 5. Develops and recommends ordinances regarding fire, and public safety; 6. Prepares, recommends, and administers with others the Fire Department budget; 7. Oversees a budget for personnel, equipment, and facilities of considerable value; 8. Determines training needs, directs the implementation of the training program, evaluates the impact of training, especially concerning safety training, including the use of proper safety equipment and procedures to prevent injury and damage to equipment; 9. Oversees community related initiatives; 10. With others, screens applicants, recommends their hiring, evaluates performance, and administers discipline of department personnel; 11. Oversees investigative complaints against the department and its personnel; 12. May perform the duties of a fire fighter, or other duties when necessary; 13. Coordinates departmental functions, activities, and objectives with other local, state, and federal agencies. These may include but not limited to; mutual aid, automatic aid, joint planning for emergencies along with information exchange; 14. Responds to critical emergencies on a 24-hour basis and may adjust normal work hours to accommodate and accomplish any identified department needs. 15. Represents the City before Local, County, State, Regional, Federal Agencies or Associations, Legislative bodies, and citizen groups as directed; serves on various professional Boards and Committees as requested; 16. Develops and implements records and report systems reflecting daily, weekly, monthly, and annual activities; directs preparation of reports various fire activities, and training often requiring original data; has access to and possesses information that may be restricted to Page 1 of 3 Page 4 of 6 Position Description Fire Chief specific persons; 17. Has frequent contact with fellow employees, other agencies, City Officials, City Commission, and the public that involves communication of complex and confidential information often requiring tact and diplomacy; 18. Performs work that requires potential contact with unpredictable and uncontrollable physical conditions requiring care and use of proper personal safety equipment and procedures. 19. Responsible for supervision of all fire department employees consisting of Full Time and Paid on Call personnel through Deputy / Battalion Chief and Station Officers 20. Perform other related duties as required. Supervisory Responsibilities This position manages the following employees and is responsible for the performance management and hiring of these employees: Deputy Chief, Battalion Chief, Administrative Coordinator, Fire Fighter, Chief Fire InspectorMarshal, Fire Prevention Inspector Minimum Qualifications and Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities 1. Bachelor's Degree in Fire Science, or a closely related field. 2. Eight (8) years of progressively Increasingly responsible experience with a Fire Department of similar or larger in size to the City of Walker; including five (5) eight (8) years Command upper-level administrative responsibilities experience within a Fire Department/Public Safety Department. 3. Requires cCertification as a Firefighter Training Council Instructor, and Fire Officer III required., Fire and Arson Investigator certification preferred or the ability to obtain these certifications as soon as possible after hiring. 4. Possess knowledge and familiarization of the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) codes and Building Official and Code Administrators (BOCA) codes and local, municipal and state ordinances pertaining to fire prevention. 5. Requires a valid State of Michigan driver’s license, satisfactory driving record and the ability to maintain one throughout employment. 6. Must pass intensive interview process and background investigation. 7. Must pass a physical and psychiatric examination. 8. Knowledge of current fire-fighting techniques and methodologies, first responder training and emergency extrication techniques. Knowledgeable in operating a wide variety of fire-fighting equipment and apparatus. 9. Demonstrated administrative, managerial, organizational and leadership skills and qualities. Must be a “team” player. 10. Must possess thorough knowledge of fire department’s policies, procedures, rules and regulations. Also must have knowledge and be familiar with state and local laws and ordinances and State and federal laws, rules and regulations governing the operation of a fire department as well as other accepted standards and practices that address fire department operations. 11. Knowledge of the professional public management techniques involved in budgeting, personnel administration, labor relations, purchasing and operations management. 12. Knowledge of personnel management techniques to plan, coordinate, assign and supervise the work of department staff in both routine and emergency situations.. 13. Skill in directing the work of others in routine and emergency situations. 14.13. Skill in assembling information, analyzing data, preparing comprehensive and accurate reports, and formulating policy and service recommendations. 15. Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing in the English language 16. Ability to work effectively under stress and in emergency and confrontational situations. 17.14. Ability to travel to other locations and respond to emergencies on a 24-hour basis. Page 2 of 3 Page 5 of 6 Position Description Fire Chief 18.15. Excellent oral and written communication skills, ability to perform a wide variety of tasks during busy, sometimes stressful times. 19.16. Ability to exercise good judgment, initiative and resourcefulness in dealing with the public, elected officials, community leaders and co-workers. 20.17. Ability to exercise a high degree of diplomacy and work effectively in contentious, or confrontational, or emergency situations. 21.18. Must demonstrate appropriate customer service competences and behaviors in accordance with department policies and procedures. 22.19. Knowledge of relevant computer programs needed in the day to day function of the position. 23.20. Ability to concentrate and pay attention to details; also ability to organize, prioritize and work independently and in a busy environment where priorities change as well as schedules. 24.21. Manual dexterity to work effectively for extended periods. Lifts and carries supplies equipment etc. weighing up to 30 pounds to waist-high-level. Physical Demands and Work Environment The physical demands and work environment described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of the job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the job. An employee in this position spends a portion of their time in an office setting with a controlled climate where they sit and work on a computer for extended periods of time; communicate by telephone, e-mail or in person, and move around the office or travel to other locations to attend meetings and site visits. An employee in this position is occasionally exposed to accident and health hazards associated with the conditions or situations associated with emergency operations and may occasionally require heavy physical exertion if involved in fire-fighting activities. An employee in this position also works in a hazardous environment exposed to extremes of heat and cold. Exposed to or in contact with dangerous elements, weakened structures, possible explosions, toxic gases, caustic chemicals, heat, smoke and open flame. Approvals The above is intended to describe the general content of and requirements for other performance of the job. It is not to be construed as an exhaustive statement of duties, responsibilities or requirements. This job description has been approved by all levels of management. ________________________________ __________________ City Manager Date Employee signature below constitutes employee’s understanding of the requirements, essential functions and duties of the position. ________________________________ __________________ Employee Date Page 3 of 3 Page 6 of 6