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Fire department to reclassify three vacant paramedic slots into two fire plans‑reviewer positions to speed permitting
Summary
The Board approved reclassifying three vacant paramedic positions to create two civilian fire plans reviewer roles to increase plan-review capacity and speed building permitting and inspections.
The Board of Estimates on May 7 approved a personnel reclassification request from the Fire Department to convert three vacant paramedic positions into two civilian fire plans‑reviewer positions intended to speed plan review and support permitting turnaround.
Tanya Brinkley, interim director of the Department of Human Resources, introduced the item and the Fire Department explained the reclassification is intended to increase productivity and improve workflow in plan review. The department said a single sworn chief had been responsible for plan review and that adding civilian plans reviewers would allow the sworn staff to focus on other operational duties.
Council President Zeke Cohen and Mayor Brandon M. Scott praised the move as part of a broader push to accelerate permitting and support housing and commercial development. Cohen called the change “a good example of real collaboration” and asked that the positions be filled quickly. The mayor said the reform aligns with broader efforts to speed approvals.
The BOE motion to approve the position creation and reclassification passed without recorded opposition; departments were directed to expedite hiring and report back on implementation.
