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Council hears report on new fire chief qualifications; resident warns degree requirement could exclude experienced candidates
Summary
City HR staff proposed requiring a bachelor's degree for the fire chief and removing a prior substitute‑experience clause; staff said the change aims to ensure consistent executive leadership, while a public commenter said the requirement risks being exclusionary.
The Saint Paul City Council on March 18 reviewed proposed minimum qualifications for the city’s next fire chief that would require a bachelor’s degree, eliminate substitution of experience for education and set experience thresholds intended to standardize executive‑level requirements.
Chrissy Haughey, HR consulting services manager, presented the ordinance (26‑17) and said the chief‑hire process requires setting clear minimums before posting the job. Haughey described the principal changes: a bachelor’s degree (with preferred degrees…
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