HomeMy WebLinkAboutJFMC FEBRUARY 7, 2019 FIRE MERIT COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF JEFFERSONVILLE, INDIANA
Regular Proceedings
February 7, 2019
ROLL CALL: The roll call was conducted and those present were: Commissioner Smith, Commissioner
Futz Brown, Commissioner Dyson.
GUEST: Eric Hedrick, ChiefJFD, Bruce DeArk, Assist Chief,JFC,Joe Hurt, President Jeffersonville
Firefighters I.A.F.F. Local 558, Brad Tetley, Vice-Pres Jeffersonville Firefighters I.A.F.F. Local 558,Bryan
Emerson, Secretary Jeffersonville Firefighters I.A.F.F. Local 558.
MINUTES TO BE APPROVED:
Minutes from the January 3, 2019 and Special Meeting January 10, 2019.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA:
Agenda not presented
CLAIMS TO BE APPROVED:
No claims to be approved at this time.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS:
1. Election of Officers-Zack Stewart, Attorney for the Fire Merit Commission reported that Corporate
Counsel Les Merkley stated Commission needed to elect President,Vice-President, Secretary.
Commissioner Dyson made the MOTION to Table until the March meeting, seconded by Commissioner
Smith, PASSING on a vote of 3-0.
2. Fire Merit Commission Rules—Zack Stewart requested to table until March meeting. Commissioner
Smith made the motion to TABLE, seconded by Commissioner Dyson, PASSING, on a vote of 3-0.
NEW BUSINESS:
1. Overview of Fire Merit Commission—Eric Hedrick,JFD Chief and Joe Hurt, President, Firefighter Local
558 Union.
Chief Hedrick state that the hiring process every two (2)years just completed the hiring list six (6)
months and have eighteen (18) months before the process starts again. Just recently completed the
promotional list that is also every two (2)years and this process is completed. At this time there are no
pending disciplinary actions and at this time no pressing issues. Union President Hurt stated he was
excited with the new appointments and feels the meetings will be more structure. As President, he
represents 90 members in the local and 86 active members. During the hiring processes that he has
been involved with found prior hiring process less focus on minorities and in the past few years the
focus is changing on the hiring process to include all interested applicants and focusing on minorities.
President Hurt and the Local 558 Union has initiated a Human Relation's Committee with five (5)total in
membership with three (3) minority members of the five (5) and meet on a Quarterly basis.
1
President Hurt continue explaining in the hiring process the candidates use to fill out the application and
it stated on the application to fill out in blue ink, if the blue ink was not used then these applications
were pulled from the group of candidates applications in Human Resources. The Union, Administration
and Human Resources are presently working on having the applications online, with a computer located
in the Human Resources Department for those wanting to complete in HR. President Hurt remarked he
would be putting together a summary for the Commission Members of why and how the Human
Relations Committee was formed.
Chief Hedrick informed the Commission there will be seven (7) openings between now and August and
would like to train all seven (7) at the same time, as it is more cost effective for the department. Of the
seven (7) one is to replace, a firefighter retiring and the other six (6) are additional thanks to the City
Council. Chief Hedrick spoke in regards to the hiring process, Chief will present the list to the Fire Merit
Commission Attorney who will go down the list and offer the opportunity to be hired onto the Jeff Fire
Department. Each candidate must have a valid CPAT(Candidate Physical Ability Test) card at the time of
the offer. The candidates cannot be thirty-six(36) years old, can be thirty-five (35) and eleven (11)
months, have to complete the ladder test, with one Commission Member present at the time of the
test.The candidates whom are considered eligible goes through the Human Resources (HR) process that
includes backgrounds, INPRS (Indiana Public Retirement System) which can take up to six (6)to eight (8)
weeks.
ADJOURNMENT: With no further action to be taken by the Fire Merit Commission, Commissioner Dyson
made the motion to ADJOURN, seconded by Commissioner Smith. Meeting adjourned at 7:12 P.M.
APP''VED BY:
// ,
1' U4A ., /rte
homas Spatalding, Vi e-Presid-
spec fully S emitted By:
Vicki Conlin, City Clerk
2