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Commission opens discussion on charter changes for promotion exams and chief selection
Summary
Commissioner Dana Gendro proposed clarifying promotion language in the city charter — requiring a 70% oral exam threshold for placement on eligibility lists, modifying the process for selecting a fire chief candidate, and allowing previously rejected candidates to retake certain exams; the commission agreed to research and consider formal charter revision timing.
Commissioner Dana Gendro raised a package of proposed charter revisions at the February meeting aimed at clarifying promotion and chief-selection procedures. Gendro proposed inserting language that candidates who attain 70% or better on the oral portion of promotional exams be placed on final eligibility lists, and argued the board should be able to initially select any candidate for fire chief rather than being compelled to submit the top-ranked name to the City Council first.
Gendro also questioned language that prevents candidates who were not accepted on an internal list from taking an outside chief's exam and said the commission should avoid unnecessarily limiting the candidate pool. "I especially think that we need to address the first one, the 70% or better on the oral exam," Gendro said, noting past promotional exam outcomes left the board constrained in selecting candidates.
Commissioners discussed the implications, with some asserting that chief selection language exists to mirror ranked test procedures and others noting Bristol previously selected an outside chief. The mayor recommended taking time to research other municipal practices, review chapter 42 of the city charter and, if the commission wishes, form or propose a charter revision commission and schedule language for a future municipal ballot. Commissioners assigned research tasks and will revisit any recommended language at a future meeting.
