Jackson personnel committee backs amended fire department job descriptions

The Village of Jackson Personnel Committee on Aug. 12 recommended that the Village Board approve updated job descriptions for fire department leadership positions, including a requirement that the battalion chief hold paramedic certification and removing part-time employees from eligibility for those roles.

Committee members voted 3-0 to forward the job descriptions — covering a full-time MPO paramedic, a full-time captain paramedic and a full-time battalion chief — after hearing that the changes are intended to create a clearer promotion pathway for full-time, paid-on-call (POC) and part-time personnel. The committee meeting began at 5:15 p.m.

The recommendation was made by Heckendorf and seconded by Kripke; the motion carried on a voice/roll-call vote with all three committee members voting in favor.

The fire department presenter told the committee the packet included three job descriptions and said the intent is to allow full-time, part-time and paid-on-call members to “move up in the right ranks as they move up.” The presenter said currently some lieutenant positions are full time only, which prevents paid-on-call members from applying when vacancies occur.

Committee members and the presenter discussed certification and eligibility details. The presenter stated that captains and MPOs (shift officers described in the packet) must be paramedics. When a member asked why the battalion chief position did not initially require paramedic certification, the presenter said the requirement had been left open but could be added. Heckendorf’s motion recommended adding the paramedic requirement for the battalion chief and removing part-time employee eligibility from the job descriptions.

Committee members raised concerns about whether part-time employees who work only sporadic shifts should hold leadership roles that require regular shift coverage. The presenter said there is no minimum-hours threshold currently written into the draft descriptions and that leadership positions require being available for a regular weekday assignment plus rotating weekend shifts (the presenter described weekend shifts occurring every six weeks). The presenter also said the department plans to conduct promotional testing soon but did not state exact dates.

The presenter said the department currently has several MPO vacancies: an acting full-time MPO and three POC MPOs, and that the department is short two MPO positions at present. The presenter added that full-time hires are typically employed with paramedic certification already and that most promotions expect certification within one year of hire when applicable.

The personnel committee’s action is a recommendation to the Village Board; the board must vote to adopt the job descriptions before they take effect. The meeting moved into a closed session after the vote under Wisconsin Statutes sections 19.85(1)(c), (e) and (g) to discuss employee compensation and the village administrator’s performance review.

The committee did not adopt specific implementation timing or a staffing timeline in the public record; the recommendation tasks the Village Board with final approval.