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Commission members flag promotional-timing changes as merit-ordinance review proceeds
Summary
A merit-ordinance review committee is drafting language changes and considering adding time-in-grade requirements for promotion tests; commissioners emphasized safety concerns about promoting firefighters with minimal field experience.
Commission members reported on ongoing work by a 14-member merit-ordinance review committee and previewed proposed language changes that will be presented to the commission for review and to legal counsel and city council for approval before enactment. A committee representative said some items will be tabled until next year and that draft copies would be provided to commissioners for review.
On the question of promotions, the committee and some commissioners discussed adding time requirements to sit for promotion tests so that firefighters gain experience before serving in command roles. Commissioner Biggs argued that promoting firefighters to lieutenant with only one year of active service risks safety, saying, “That’s how you get firefighters killed,” and urged that new promotions include time-on-the-job requirements.
The committee reported it would provide a physical draft to commissioners for review and that the changes would require legal review and city council approval before taking effect. Commissioners said they expect a mix of language edits and minor adjustments, with some items postponed until next year.
