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Commission recommends tying Engineer test eligibility to paramedic training capacity
Summary
The Hobart Civil Service Fire Commission’s committee recommended requiring firefighters to complete employment-related prerequisites before testing for Engineer, contingent on St. Mary’s EMS Academy expanding class capacity so department members can meet the requirement.
The Hobart Civil Service Fire Commission’s Committee on Qualifications for Engineer recommended that firefighters must fulfill employment requirements before being allowed to sit for the Engineer test, Commissioner Pouch said at the May 14 meeting. The committee framed the recommendation as contingent on expanded paramedic training capacity at St. Mary’s EMS Academy so department members who need paramedic training can meet the prerequisite.
Why it matters: The recommendation would link promotional testing eligibility to completion of training steps, which could change the order in which candidates advance within the department. Commissioner Pouch said the proposal is “predicated on St. Mary’s EMS Academy allowing a larger group of students from the Fire Department to attend,” and that without increased class size the committee did not feel a fair change to Engineer testing could be made.
Chief Lopez, representing department administration, said academy classroom availability could affect class size and the department’s ability to send additional students, adding that operational constraints (including overtime and shift coverage) influence how many members the department can enroll at once. Commissioner St. Myers asked whether participants for paramedic class are chosen by seniority; Chief Lopez said seniority governs selection but a less senior candidate may be enrolled if a senior member fails the academy entrance exam.
Union President Sons told the commission that eight department members are awaiting paramedic school and said allowing six students to attend would ease current bottlenecks. Commissioner Pouch said the commission will stay in close communication with department administration while awaiting St. Mary’s response on capacity.
What’s next: The commission did not take a final vote on changing the Engineer testing rules at this meeting; the recommendation is conditioned on the academy’s capacity change and will be revisited when more information from St. Mary’s is available.
