Columbus, Georgia

Agenda Item # ________



Columbus Consolidated Government

Council Meeting



November 20, 2001



Agenda Report # _________



TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: Fire Department Promotional Procedure Repeal



INITIATED: Human Resources Department







Recommendation: Approve an ordinance to repeal Chapter 11, Article II,

Subsections 11-17.4 (c) and (d) of the Columbus Code and to authorize staffing

and compensation for temporarily vacant promotional positions.



Background: Effective July 1, 2001 Columbus Council approved Ordinance No.

01-56 that created the Columbus Department of Fire and Emergency Medical

Services. The new department consolidated the existing Columbus Fire

Department, Columbus Emergency Medical Service and the Department of Emergency

Management thereby making Chapter 11, Article II., Division 2 of the Columbus

Code, otherwise known as the Fire Department Promotional Procedures obsolete.

Repeal of Subsections 11-17.4 (c) and (d) of said Fire Department Promotional

Procedures will remove the current requirements to (1) establish new

promotional rosters within 90 calendar days of the lapse of the previous

promotional rosters and (2) fill each promotional vacancy within 30 calendar

days of its occurrence. The selection process for a consultant to develop new

promotion procedures has commenced but is not expected to produce a final

product until the end of fiscal year 2002. The current fire department

promotional rosters will be depleted prior to the development of the new

promotional procedures. After depletion of the existing promotional rosters,

no promotions will occur until the new promotional procedures are developed and

adopted by Council. To staff anticipated vacant promotional positions of

sergeant and lieutenant, the department requests authority to appoint existing

fire personnel, who meet current rank and service eligibility requirements to

temporarily serve in said vacant promotional positions for a period of time not

to exceed 90 calendar days; and, during said period of temporary appointment,

to compensate the temporarily appointed individuals at the currently authorized

promotional rate of pay.



Analysis: The current promotional procedures do not address the educational,

experience and other promotional issues of all personnel in the newly created

department; therefore, it would not be possible to fairly administer the

current promotional procedures.



Legal: Changes to the Columbus Code require the approval of the Columbus

Council.



Financial Considerations: There is no additional cost associated with

implementation of this ordinance. When promotional positions are vacated by

separation or retirement, a higher paid person will then be replaced with a

lower paid entry-level employee. The resultant salary savings will more than

cover the additional compensation for the temporary appointees.



Recommendation/Actions: Human Resources and the Columbus Department of Fire and

Emergency Medical Services recommend approval of this Ordinance.



AN ORDINANCE



NO. __________



An Ordinance repealing Chapter 11, Article II, Subsections 11-17.4 (c) and (d)

of the Columbus Code and authorizing staffing and compensation for temporarily

vacant promotional positions.

_____________________________________



THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS,

GEORGIA, HEREBY ORDAINS:





SECTION ONE



Chapter 11, Article II, Subsections 11-17.4 (c) and (d) of the Columbus Code

are hereby repealed.



SECTION TWO



Effective November 1, 2001, after depletion of the existing promotional

rosters for fire sergeant and fire lieutenant, the Chief of the Columbus

Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services is authorized to appoint

existing fire personnel, who meet current rank and service eligibility

requirements to temporarily serve in said vacant promotional positions for a

period of time not to exceed 90 calendar days; and, during said period of

temporary appointment, to compensate the temporarily appointed individuals at

the currently authorized promotional rate of pay as described in Ordinance

01-88.



SECTION THREE



All Ordinances and parts of Ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.



SECTION FOUR



The effective date of this Ordinance shall be November 1, 2001.

_______________________________



Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held on

the ______day of __________, 2001; introduced a second time at a regular

meeting of said Council held on the _________day of __________, 2001, and

adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of ______ members of said

council.