January 17, 2006 CCP - Laserfiche WebLink

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Lake Elmo Agenda Section: Administrator No. 11A. City Council January 17, 2005 Agenda Item: Appointment of Fire Chief to Full Time Status. Background Information: The LE Fire Department was organized as a voluntary department many years ago similar to all small cities across the country. Overtime volunteerism matured into a "paid on call volunteerism" as the need to have a public safety fire organization operate consistently, responsively and that would be accountable. Cities across the country have been reporting the difficulty in maintaining this type of structure with the change of employment economy within the US during the late 90s/early 2000 era. Cities, including our neighbors have begun hiring some full time positions to augment the majority of paid volunteers to assure a fire safety response would be predictable. Added to this changing human resource need/cost is the high cost of equipment, facilities and expected service response form residents. On September 24th of 2004 the City Council adopted Ord. 97-141 relating to the organization and operation of the Fire Department. This occurred after deficiencies in the City Code were identified relating to operational authority. During the summer of 2005, I announced in writing and at the City Council meetings that I would be opening and posting for all officer positions allowing applications from the LEFD membership. Each Fire Department member received a written notice that all positions for officers were being opened for application and inviting each member to apply if they so choose. The notice also included that any of the positions could become part time or fulltime in the future. Consistent with the Ord. 97-141, the Mayor and I designed a selection/interview process for the Chief s position including the establishment of the interview panel. The panel developed a series of questions for evaluating the candidate during the process. The interview panel recommended Chief Malmquist at conclusion of the process. He was confirmed by the City Council in September of 2005. In addition, new job descriptions were developed over the spring and summer for the Chiefs position, officer positions and fire fighter. Seethe attached job description for the Chief. During the 2005 budget process, which just concluded, a full time Fire Chief s position was added and approved in the 2006 budget. Five major areas of management goals were sited as needed for 2006 and into the future. These areas involve the; • Fiscal management, overall planning, development, management and maintenance of the fleet/facilities; • design, management and deployment of human resources; • public safety review and planning of new development; • fire inspection planning and implementation of exiting and new development; • and long term regional planning of public fire safety, emergency response and civil defense operations. To achieve the intended results within the LEFD in 2006, a full time Fire Chief will facilitate the goals as described. It is anticipated that the new Fire Chief s position will be partially self s porting financially by the year end. Person responsible: Action Items: Motion to hire Chief Gregory Malmquist as the Lake Elmo full time Fire Chief as of January 17, 2006. Martin Rafferty, City Administrator Attachments: Fire Chief Job Description