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TO: Mayor Thomas J. Weisner
FROM: Alisia Lewis, Director of Human Resources
DATE: September 15, 2016
SUBJECT:
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 13.5-6(B) of the City of Aurora Code of Ordinances Entitled "Safety Personnel Qualifications".
PURPOSE:
To update and codify the current practices in regards to the hiring requirements for the firefighter/paramedic position.
BACKGROUND:
Traditionally, the City has hired new Fire Privates without a paramedic certification. The City then covers the cost of certification for the employee as needed. It takes approximately two years for an individual to complete his/her certification. This process can be disruptive to the operational needs as well as costly, since the individual must be taken off duty in order to attend classes and often requires the absence to be covered by personnel at overtime rates. In fact, the total cost for one employee to complete the certification (including overtime) ranges from $35,000-$40,674.
The Fire Private Civil Service List will expire on November 2nd of this year. The City will be implementing a web based testing process to establish the next Fire Private Civil Service List. The same testing process was used to establish the current Police Officer Civil Service List.
DISCUSSION:
Due to the addition of a new ambulance (Medic 7) which will be located at station 7, the Fire Department will need to hire nine additional firefighters/paramedics to fulfill the staffing need. In anticipation of upcoming retirements and promotions out of the paramedic rank as well as taking budgetary concerns into account, we are seeking authorization to amend the ordinance to allow the City the ability to require paramedic certification at the time of hire for the next testing cycle. This ensures that the new hires are capable and qualified to function as both a firefighter and paramedic.
Furthermore, the amendment to the ordinance also updates the hiring process to be in alignment with the administrative hiring process.
Lastly, the amendment to the ordinance updates obsolete verbiage.
The Civil Service Commission has reviewed the proposed changes and concurs with the recommendations.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Place on the Committee of the Whole agenda for approval.
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
ORDINANCE NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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An Ordinance Amending Chapter 13.5-6 (B) of the City of Aurora Code of Ordinances Entitled "Safety Personnel Qualifications"
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the City deems it necessary and appropriate to amend Chapter 13.5-6 (B) of the City of Aurora Code of Ordinances entitled “Safety Personnel Qualifications")
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows:
(b) The following qualifications are required to be eligible for the position of firefighter/paramedic:
(1)The applicant must be at least twenty (20) and under thirty-five (35) years of age at the time of written examination but must be at least twenty-one (21) and under thirty-five (35) years of age at time of appointment, pursuant to the Illinois Municipal Code as amended [65 ILCS 5/10-1-1 et seq.]. Candidates on the list who are passed over because they have not reached their twenty-first (21st) birthday, or candidates who become over age, shall retain their standing on the eligibility list until the list is exhausted or expired, pursuant to the Illinois Municipal Code as amended [65 ILCS 5/10-1-1 et seq.].
(2) The applicant must be a United States citizen.
(3) The applicant must be in good health and in good physical and mental condition so as to be able to competently perform the duties required of a firefighter. Applicant must present a copy of their valid Candidate Physical Ability Test (CPAT) card or certificate and ladder climb certificate by the time of application deadline. before taking the written exam.CPAT cards will be considered valid within one (1) year of the issuance date. Vision must be 20/20 with both eyes open or correctable to 20/20 with corrective lenses.
(4) The applicant must possess good moral character and the highest personal integrity. The applicant's background will be checked through fingerprinting and local, state and Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal records.
(5) The applicant must possess a valid, Class D, Illinois driver's license prior to being hired, and at the time of testing, must present either a valid, Class D, Illinois driver's license or a valid, out-of-state driver's license of similar classification. The applicant must obtain a Class B non-CDL license within six (6) months of hire.
(6) The applicant must have achieved a high school diploma with 2.5 GPA on a 4.0 scale or a GED with a 2480 min. score or at least 16 hours of college credit with a 2.5 GPAG.E.D, or an equivalent acceptable to the commission. Applicants who were home-schooled must have achieved certification through the Regional Superintendent of Schools for proof of education.
(7) In accordance with the Civil Service commission rules and when a conditional offer is made, the applicant may be required to possess a valid, upon being hired, must be able to pass, and to retain thereafter during the course of employment, the emergency medical technician (EMT-Paramedic) classification/certification. If the applicant is unable to provide the EMT-Paramedic certification, he/she will be disqualified. At anytime thereafter the course of employment, the employee must and be able to further certify as an EMT-Paramedic if required by the city. If the applicant is unable to obtain the EMT-Paramedic certification, the employee will be subject to dismissal.
(8) The applicant, upon being hired, must make application to the local fire pension board for acceptance into the fire pension fund.
(Ord. No. O08-59, § 1, 6-24-08; Ord. No. O09-14, § 1, 2-24-09)