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Richmond Heights swears in firefighter; ISO rating reassessment scheduled for June 25
Summary
The city welcomed a new full-time firefighter-paramedic and announced an Insurance Services Organization (ISO) rating assessment on June 25; the fire chief said the city’s current ISO rating is 2 and the goal is ISO 1.
Fire Chief Mark Newman told the Richmond Heights City Council on May 27 that Antonio Bernardo took the oath of office as a full-time firefighter-paramedic and will receive two weeks of training, including airport rescue firefighting and live-fire training, before assignment to a shift starting Sunday, June 8.
Newman said Antonio completed the city civil service process as a top performer and noted a family history with the Richmond Heights Division of Fire: his grandfather, Robert Armstrong, served 26 years as lieutenant and acting fire chief; his father, Rocky Bernardo, served as a part-time Richmond Heights firefighter for 22 years and is currently a lieutenant in Twinsburg. Newman said the city filled the civil service vacancy within 90 days and credited Mayor Kim Thomas, the Civil Service Commission and HR Director Rhonda Lowe for facilitating the process.
Newman also reported that the Insurance Services Organization (ISO) will perform its five-year public protection classification assessment of the city’s Division of Fire on Wednesday, June 25. He explained ISO rates communities on water supply, fire department and communications, with classifications ranging from class 1 (best) to class 10 (least desirable). He said Richmond Heights currently holds a Class 2 rating — placing the city in the top 4% of Ohio communities per his comments — and said the department’s goal is to reach ISO Class 1.
No public questions about the hire or the ISO assessment were recorded beyond the chief’s offer to take questions.
