Columbus, Georgia

Final Draft Ordinance, 10/09/02

AN ORDINANCE



NO.



An ordinance revising the promotional procedures for the Columbus

Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services; and for other purposes.



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THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA HEREBY ORDAINS:



SECTION 1.



Sections 11-17.1 through 11-17.16 of the Columbus Code are hereby

deleted in their entirety and there are substituted in lieu thereof the

following new Code Sections:

Sec. 11-17.1. Administrative responsibility.

The Chief of the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services of the

consolidated government of Columbus, Georgia, shall have administrative

responsibility for all matters relating to the promotional procedures of the

department, except as otherwise may be provided for herein.

Sec. 11-17.2. Use of external sources.

In order to provide for an impartial implementation of this article, the City

Manager, upon approval of the Columbus Council, shall contract with, or

otherwise arrange with, an examination administrator outside the consolidated

government of Columbus, Georgia to prepare and administer all written

examinations and assessment centers. No member of the consolidated government

of Columbus, Georgia shall serve as an evaluator in any assessment center

conducted specifically to implement the provisions of this article.

Sec. 11-17.3. Definitions.

The following definitions shall be used to administer and interpret Division 2

of Article II:

a) Applicant: Employees who assert they are eligible for promotion to the rank

of Fire Sergeant, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain, Fire Battalion Chief, EMS

Lieutenant, or EMS Captain in the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical

Services of the consolidated government of Columbus, Georgia.

b) Appointed/Provisional Rank: Employee appointed to a specific rank by the

Chief in compliance with this ordinance. Appointed ranks include EMS Division

Chief, Training Chief, Assistant Training Officer (Captain), Fire Marshal,

Assistant Fire Marshal (Captain), Training Instructors, Fire Prevention

Inspectors and Investigators, Administrative Captain, Deputy Chief, Assistant

Chief.

c) Candidate: Any participant whose name appears on the promotional roster

established for the rank for which the employee is competing.

d) Chief: The Chief of the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services.

e) Department: The Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services.

f) Eligible: Any applicant certified in writing by the Chief to participate in

the applicable promotional procedure.

g) Eligibility date: The date from which an employee?s time in service or time

in rank requirement is calculated. The eligibility date for promotional

testing for the ranks of Fire Sergeant, Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain, EMS

Lieutenant, EMS Captain, and Fire Battalion Chief shall be December 20, 2002

for the first promotional cycle under this ordinance. For the second

promotional cycle, the eligibility date shall be twelve (12) months after the

effective date of this ordinance. For the third promotional cycle, the

eligibility date shall be twenty-four 24 months after the effective date of

this ordinance and for subsequent promotional cycles, the eligibility date

shall be set at subsequent twelve-month intervals thereafter. The examination

date for each position shall be determined by the examination administrator.

h) E.M.S. Officer: The ranks of EMS Lieutenant and EMS Captain.

i) Examination administrator: An agent outside of the consolidated government

of Columbus, Georgia contracted to prepare and administer written examinations

and assessment centers.

j) Fire Apparatus. Any engine truck, ladder truck or squad truck.

k) Fire Officer: The ranks of Fire Lieutenant, Fire Captain, and Fire Battalion

Chief.

l) Integrated Ranks: The ranks of Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Battalion

Chief.

m) Participant: Any employee who, upon being certified as eligible by the

Chief, actually engages in any or all of the promotional procedures for the

rank for which the employee has been certified as eligible.

n) Permanent Rank: Employee who was promoted from the Promotional Eligibility

roster and has successfully completed the probationary period of twelve (12)

months.

o) Proficiency for Fire Apparatus Operations: Performance-based examination

administered by the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Training

Division. Once a candidate successfully completes the Proficiency for Fire

Apparatus Operations test, the candidate will not be required to retake the

Proficiency for Fire Apparatus Operations test, provided the candidate

maintains the appropriate annual apparatus proficiency certification.

Sec. 11-17.4. General provisions.

(a) It shall be the policy of the department to select only from among the

best qualified employees for appointments and promotions to positions of

greater responsibility. Concurrently, it shall be the policy of the department

to administer promotional procedures which yield valid and reliable information

on which to base promotional decisions and to insure rigorous and fair

competition among all employees eligible for promotion.

(b) Separate eligibility requirements, promotional procedures, promotional

rosters, and other provisions relating to the ranks of Fire Sergeant, Fire

Lieutenant, Fire Captain, Fire Battalion Chief, EMS Lieutenant and EMS Captain

are specified herein. Policy shall be promulgated by affected departments of

the consolidated government of Columbus, Georgia to implement the provisions

and intent of this or related enactments.

(c) Each promotional rank contained herein shall have a separate

promotional roster. Promotional rosters established in calendar year 2003,

shall expire at midnight on December 31, 2003. Beginning in the calendar year

2004, said promotional rosters shall be established on January 1 and expire on

December 31. As such, each promotional roster established on or after January

1, 2004, shall have an initial duration life of twelve (12) months from the

date on which it is established. The initial duration life may be extended an

additional twelve (12) months at the time of the promotional announcement at

the discretion of the Chief and the Human Resources Director.

(d) The Chief shall fill each promotional vacancy within thirty (30)

calendar days from a valid promotional roster; provided, however, that if a

vacancy occurs within the last thirty (30) calendar days of the life of a

promotional roster, such vacancy or vacancies shall be filled before the

promotional roster can lapse. If a vacancy occurs after the expiration of a

roster and before the establishment of a new roster, that vacancy shall be

filled within fifteen (15) working days after the new roster is established.

(e) Written examinations and examination scoring keys will not be released,

except as may be otherwise legally required. Participants desiring to appeal

particular items on the written test must do so at the time of the testing

session using the procedures specified by the examination administrator. Upon

completion of all phases of the promotional process, each participant will be

provided with his/her test score and a rank so as to allow the participant to

determine where he/she fell in that ranking. A participant desiring to

challenge his/her score must make a written protest within five (5) days of

receiving his/her examination score. The consolidated government of Columbus,

Georgia, Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief and/or the Director of

Human Resources, or their designates, shall respond in writing within 15 days

of the receipt of a written protest as to its disposition. Only those

participants who pass the written examination will be allowed to proceed to the

next promotional process. The passing score (or method for determining the

passing score) for the written examination shall be specified on the posting

announcing the promotional procedure.

(f) With respect to the performance-based assessment results, candidates

who personally participated will receive their own scores and may make protests

and receive responses as provided for in section 11-17.4(e) above.

(g) All promotions shall be probationary and no employee shall be

permanently assigned to a rank until a twelve (12) month probation period is

satisfactorily completed. Such probationary period may be extended six months

in accordance with the personnel rules and regulations of the consolidated

government of Columbus, Georgia. During either the original term or an

extension of a probationary period, the Chief may return a candidate to his/her

previous rank for cause.

(h) Any candidate who declines a promotion shall do so in writing. Said

written declination shall be submitted to the Chief and Director of Human

Resources within seven (7) days of the promotion offer. Any candidate

declining a promotion offer shall be eliminated from further consideration for

the duration of the promotional roster on which the candidate's name appears.

(i) Eligibles shall be responsible for providing documentation verifying their

claims to educational certification.

(j) Other appeals: The right of an employee to challenge any aspect of the

administration of the promotional procedure which has a direct impact upon

his/her promotability is fundamental to any equitable system. Appeals not

specifically provided for elsewhere in Division 2, Article II may be made and

shall be disposed of in the manner described in section 11-17.4(e); provided,

however, the selection of an individual(s) for promotion shall not be subject

to such appeal process.

(k) Availability of source material: No announcement of the beginning of a Fire

Sergeant's, Fire Lieutenant's, Fire Captain's, EMS Lieutenant's or EMS

Captain's promotional procedure can be made until sufficient source materials

from which written examination questions are to be drawn are available for

eligible candidates. The department shall confirm that sufficient quantities

of the required source materials are available for loan from the department or

purchase from the publisher or other source and that copies of internal

documents are currently available within the department.

Sec. 11-17.5. Eligibility for promotions.

(a) Computation of service. For purposes of computation of service, all

employees must meet the required time in rank or time in service (however

stipulated below) as of the eligibility date established in 11-17.3(g).

Further, time in rank or time in service requirements refer to continuous

full-time service in the Columbus, Georgia Department of Fire and Emergency

Medical Services.

(b) For promotion to Fire Sergeant. To be eligible to participate in the

promotional procedure for Fire Sergeant, the employee must hold a firefighter

certification and successfully complete the Proficiency in Fire Apparatus

Operations test administered by the Department's Division of Fire Training.

Each promotional candidate shall be provided an opportunity to pass the

Proficiency for Fire Apparatus Operations test only once during any promotional

cycle. Further, each promotional candidate must have served on an engine or

other fire apparatus at least 30 shifts for 2003, 35 shifts for 2004, and 40

shifts for 2005 in the year immediately preceding the eligibility date or have

served on an engine or fire apparatus for fifteen (15) of the previous

thirty-six (36) months and thereafter (except these requirements shall not

apply to personnel who have chosen a career path in Fire Prevention or

Training), AND

(1) Hold an Associate's Degree (or equivalent two-year degree) and a total of

three (3) continuous years serving as a firefighter, paramedic or EMT (EMS

Lieutenants and EMS Captains who meet the certification, proficiency and degree

requirements are therefore also eligible), OR

(2) Four (4) additional years for a total of seven (7) continuous years serving

as a firefighter, paramedic or EMT (EMS Lieutenants and EMS Captains who meet

the certification and proficiency requirements and have a total of seven (7)

continuous years of service are therefore also eligible).

(c) For promotion to Fire Lieutenant. To be eligible to participate, each

promotional candidate must have served on an engine or other fire apparatus at

least 30 shifts for 2003, 35 shifts for 2004, and 40 shifts for 2005 in the

year immediately preceding the eligibility date or have served on an engine or

fire apparatus for fifteen (15) of the previous thirty-six (36) months and

thereafter (except these requirements shall not apply to personnel who have

chosen a career path in Fire Prevention or Training). (In addition, EMS

Lieutenants and EMS Captains must have successfully passed the Fire Sergeant

promotional process, but are not required to hold the rank of Fire Sergeant.)

Further, all candidates must:

(1) Hold an Associate's Degree (or equivalent two-year degree) or have a date

of service prior to September 16, 1997 AND

(2) a total of two (2) continuous years serving as a Fire Sergeant or EMS

Lieutenant (EMS Captains who meet the certification and degree requirements are

therefore also eligible).

(d) For promotion to Fire Captain. To be eligible to participate in the

promotional procedure for Fire Captain, the employee must,

(1) Hold an Associates Degree (or equivalent two-year degree) or have a date of

service prior to September 16, 1997 AND

(2) a total of two (2) continuous years serving as a Fire Lieutenant.

(e) For promotion to Fire Battalion Chief. To be eligible to participate in

the promotional procedure for Fire Battalion Chief, the employee must,

(1) Hold an Associates Degree (or equivalent two year degree) or have a date of

service prior to September 16, 1997 AND

(2) a total of two (2) continuous years serving as a Fire Captain.

(f) For promotion to EMS Lieutenant. To be eligible to participate in the

promotional procedure for EMS Lieutenant, the employee must hold a firefighter

certification and a paramedic certification and have served on an ambulance or

advanced life support fire apparatus at least 30 shifts for 2003, 35 shifts for

2004, and 40 shifts for 2005 in the year immediately preceding the eligibility

date or have served on an ambulance or advanced life support fire apparatus for

fifteen (15) of the previous thirty-six (36) months and thereafter (except

these requirements shall not apply to personnel who have chosen a career path

in Fire Prevention or Training), AND

(1) Hold an Associate's Degree (or equivalent two-year degree)and a total of

three (3) continuous years serving as an EMS paramedic or Firemedic (Fire

Sergeants who meet the certification, shift, and degree requirements are

therefore also eligible) OR

(2) Have four (4) additional years for a total of seven (7) continuous years

serving as a paramedic or Firemedic (Fire Sergeants who meet the certification

and shift requirements and have a total of seven years of continuous service

are therefore also eligible).

(g) For promotion to EMS Captain. To be eligible to participate in the

promotional procedure for EMS Captain, the employee must

(1) Hold a firefighter certification and a paramedic certification and an

Associate's Degree (or equivalent two-year degree) or have a date of service

prior to September 16, 1997 AND

(2) a total of two (2) continuous years serving as an EMS Lieutenant.

Sec. 11-17.6. Promotional procedures for Fire Sergeant, Fire Lieutenant, Fire

Captain, Fire Battalion Chief, EMS Lieutenant, and EMS Captain.

(a) The promotional procedures for Fire Sergeant, Fire Lieutenant, Fire

Captain, EMS Lieutenant, and EMS Captain shall consist of a two phase process.

Phase I shall be a written test, as described in paragraph (d) below. Phase II

shall be a performance-based assessment, as described in paragraph (e) below.

The promotional procedures for Fire Battalion Chief shall consist of a

performance-based assessment, as described in paragraph (e) below.

(b) Reading list. At least 90 calendar days prior to the date of the

written examination, the Chief shall announce in writing the material from

which the questions on the written test are to be drawn including the sources.

(c) Certification of eligibility. The position announcement shall be

distributed in writing by the Chief at least 45 days prior to the

administration of the promotional procedures. The position announcement shall

state the passing point or the method to determine the passing point. Said

passing point or method of passing point determination shall be set by the

Chief, Human Resources Director and the Public Safety Director in consultation

with the examination administrator. At the end of the 14 calendar days

following such announcement, the application period shall be deemed closed

without exception and within another 14 calendar days, the Chief shall certify

in writing the list of those eligible to participate.

(d) Written test (Phase I). A multiple-choice written examination, based

on the results of a current job-task analysis, shall be administered. Written

examination scores will not be released to participants until all appeals and

any appropriate adjustments have been determined and all test phases of the

promotional process have been completed. Any adjustments arising out of any

analysis of the test shall be specified in a written report and shall be

provided to the Chief and the Director of Human Resources. Only those

participants who successfully complete and pass the written examination will be

allowed to proceed to Phase II (performance-based assessment) of the

promotional process.

(e) Performance-based assessment (Phase II). A performance-based

assessment, based on the results of a current job-task analysis, shall be

administered. The performance-based assessment shall consist of multiple

exercises such as oral presentation, role-playing, incident command, in-basket

task, situational judgment, or other job-related exercises. Performance

examination scores will not be released to participants until all appeals and

any appropriate adjustments have been determined. Any adjustments arising out

of any analysis of the test shall be specified in a written report and shall be

provided to the Chief and the Director of Human Resources. Only those

participants who successfully complete and pass the performance-based

examination will be considered for eligibility for promotion.

(f) Final examination scores for those candidates successfully completing all

phases of the promotional process shall be calculated. Final scores shall be

calculated according to the component (i.e., phase one and phase two) weights

specified by a test plan derived from a current job-task analysis. Said

component weights shall be stated on the posting announcing the promotional

procedure as specified by the examination administrator.

(g) Banding procedures-Rule of Five.

(1) The Chief shall receive a list (band) with the top five candidates (plus

ties) on the eligible roster.

(2) The Chief may select from any of the candidates in the band to fill

vacancies. The Chief may, at his/her discretion, use a strict rank-order or

other process to fill vacancies, provided that vacancies are filled from the

band until exhausted. Regardless of the specific procedures used by the Chief

to select from the band, the Rule of Five shall be exercised when providing the

Chief with a list from which to fill vacancies.

(3) Upon promoting all five (5) candidates (plus ties) in the band, the Chief

shall receive the next band with the next top five candidates (plus ties). The

selection process will then be repeated.

Sec. 11-17.7. Promotional decisions.

The Chief shall promote candidates as provided in Section 11-17.6 (g). The

Chief may consider the examination scores on each participant, as well as such

other job-related matters including, but not limited to education, seniority,

performance evaluations, disciplinary actions, commendations and

examination/performance-based assessment scores.



Sec. 11-17.8. Appointed ranks.



Personnel who hold an appointed provisional rank, including fire prevention and

training appointees, shall, upon their reassignment to the Operations Division,

revert to the rank they held prior to receiving their appointed rank. Personnel

holding positions of appointed rank that elect to participate in the

promotional process and are promoted from a promotional roster shall hold that

promoted rank upon their reassignment to the Operations Division. Personnel

holding an appointed provisional rank shall only be eligible to compete for the

next higher position held prior to their provisional appointment. Personnel

holding the positions of Battalion Chief, Fire Marshal or Training Chief on the

effective date of this ordinance shall be considered to hold the permanent rank

of Battalion Chief.



Sec. 11-17.9. Effect of disciplinary action.



(a) Candidates with a non-driving related sustained suspension shall not be

eligible for promotion if the incident occurred within one year prior to the

eligibility date. Candidates suspended for a driving-related incident

involving gross negligence or serious risk to department or civilian personnel

as determined by the Chief within one year prior to the eligibility date shall

also be ineligible for promotion.



(b) Candidates deemed ineligible before the testing process shall not be

allowed to participate in the promotional process. Candidates deemed

ineligible during the testing process shall be removed from the process and no

scores shall be calculated or provided. Candidates deemed ineligible on an

existing eligibility roster shall be removed from the eligibility roster.





Sec. 11-17.10. Effect of promotion during the testing process.



A candidate who is participating in a promotional process and is promoted to

the rank for which he/she is competing prior to the establishment of the new

eligible roster, shall be deemed ineligible for purposes of score or rank

calculation. Further, no scores shall be calculated or provided for said

candidate. If said promotion occurs during the administration of the promotion

process, said candidate will not be allowed to continue in the process.



Sec. 11-17.11. Record-keeping requirements.



All examination scores, files, records, administrative directives and

promotional results shall be stored in a secured area by the Department of Fire

and Emergency Medical Services for a minimum of four years following the

publication of the promotional roster for each separate promotional procedure.



Sec. 11-17.12. Annual review.



The Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services Chief, the Director of

Human Resources, and the Department of Fire and Emergency Medical Services

Professional Standards Committee, shall annually review, evaluate and report to

the Mayor/Director of Public Safety in writing as to the administration of the

promotional procedures and recommend changes as may be warranted.



Sec. 11-17.13. Position of Assistant Chief.



(a) The position of Assistant Chief is an appointed rank. Said appointment is

to be made by the Chief.



(b) The position of Assistant Chief shall be pay grade 23.



(c) To be eligible for the position of Assistant Chief, a candidate must have

held the appointed or promoted rank of Battalion Chief, Division Chief or

Deputy Chief. A baccalaureate degree is preferred, but not required, for this

position.



(d) The candidate must have completed the Executive Development Program as

conducted by the Georgia Public Safety Training Center or the National Fire

Academy or shall complete said Program within two years after appointment.



(e) Any officer who fails to perform the duties of this rank satisfactorily or

fails to complete the Executive Development Program, as per (d) above, may at

any time be reverted to their former permanent rank at the discretion of the

Chief.



Sec. 11-17.14. Position of Deputy Chief.



(a) The position of Deputy Chief is an appointed rank. Said appointment is to

be made by the Chief.



(b) The position of Deputy Chief shall be pay grade 22.



(c) To be eligible for the position of Deputy Chief, a candidate must have

been appointed or promoted to the rank of Battalion Chief or Division Chief OR

held the permanent rank of Fire Captain for a minimum of two (2) years. A

baccalaureate degree is preferred, but not required for this position.



(d) The candidate must have completed the Executive Development Program as

conducted by the Georgia Public Safety Training Center or the National Fire

Academy or shall complete said Program within two years after appointment.

Personnel holding this position on the effective date of this ordinance shall

complete said program within two years.



(e) Any officer who fails to perform the duties of this rank satisfactorily or

fails to complete the Executive Development Program, as per (d) above, may at

any time be reverted to their former permanent rank at the discretion of the

Chief.



Sec. 11-17.15. Position of Division Chief.



(a) The position of Division Chief includes the ranks of EMS Division Chief,

Fire Marshal, and Chief of Training. The position of Division Chief is an

appointed rank. Said appointment shall be made by the Chief.



(b) The position of Division Chief shall be pay grade 20.



(c) To be eligible for the position of Division Chief, a candidate must have

held the permanent rank of Fire Captain (for a Fire Division Chief position) or

the permanent rank of EMS Captain (for the EMS Division Chief position) for a

minimum of two (2) years. An Associates Degree (or equivalent two-year degree)

is preferred, but not required for this position.



(d) The candidate must have completed the Executive Development Program as

conducted by the Georgia Public Safety Training Center or the National Fire

Academy or shall complete said Program within two years after appointment.



(e) Any officer who fails to perform the duties of this rank satisfactorily or

fails to complete the Executive Development Program, as per (d) above, may at

any time be reverted to their former permanent rank at the discretion of the

Chief.



Sec. 11-17.16. Non-chief appointed positions.



(a) Non-chief appointed positions include the positions of Assistant Training

Officer (Captain), Assistant Fire Marshal (Captain), Training Instructors, Fire

Prevention Inspectors, Fire Prevention Investigators, and Administrative

Captain. Said positions are appointed ranks. Said appointments are to be made

by the Chief.



(b) Any appointee who fails to perform the duties of one of these ranks

satisfactorily may at any time be reverted to their former permanent rank at

the discretion of the Chief.



Sec. 11-17.17. Rank Structure, Discontinuance of EMS Lieutenant and EMS

Captain promotional process.



(a) All EMS Officers will be required to participate in and successfully

complete the promotional process for each promotional fire rank up to and

including the fire rank equivalent to their current rank. Upon completion of

this process and meeting the minimum eligibility requirements, the EMS Officer

will have achieved the permanent rank status of an integrated officer at that

rank. Upon achieving the status of an integrated officer, the candidate may

then obtain eligibility and compete for promotion to the next highest

integrated rank.



(b) All Fire Officers will be required to successfully complete E.M.T. training

and achieve and maintain state certification in order to achieve the integrated

officer rank. Upon completion of this process and meeting the eligibility

requirements, the Fire Officer will have achieved the permanent rank status of

an integrated officer at that rank. Upon achieving the status of an integrated

officer, the candidate may then obtain eligibility and compete for promotion to

the next highest integrated rank. Implementation of this requirement shall be

based on the Department?s ability to provide E.M.T. training to all field

personnel.



(c) This process will not reduce the current number of allocated positions for

the rank of Captain or Lieutenant. Thus, the total number of Lieutenants,

whether EMS, Fire, or integrated, will equal the total number of EMS and Fire

Lieutenants combined. Thus, the total number of Captains, whether EMS, Fire,

or integrated, will equal the total number of current EMS and Fire Captains

combined.





(d) The Department will discontinue conducting an EMS promotional process after

the 2005 promotional cycle. An integrated promotional process will be developed

as soon as practicable. Implementation of this requirement shall be based on

the Department?s ability to provide appropriate opportunities for all field

personnel to receive appropriate cross-training.







SECTION 2.



This ordinance shall become effective on the 15th day of October,

2002.



SECTION 3.



All ordinances and parts of ordinances in conflict with this ordinance

are hereby repealed.



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

the _____ day of ___________, 2002; introduced a second time at a regular

meeting of said Council held on the _______ day of ________________, 2002 and

adopted at said meeting by the affirmative vote of _____ members of Council.









Councilor Allen voting_______________.

Councilor Davis voting_______________.

Councilor Henderson voting___________.

Councilor Hunter voting______________.

Councilor McDaniel voting____________.

Councilor Rodgers voting_____________.

Councilor Smith voting_______________.

Councilor Suber voting_______________.

Councilor Pugh voting_______________.

Councilor Woodson voting____________.









_____________________________________

___________________________________

TINY B. WASHINGTON BOBBY G.

PETERS

CLERK MAYOR