Reorganizing Waterford’s Fire Service

This coming Monday, June 6, 2011, the Waterford Representative Town Meeting (RTM) will most likely pass changes to the Town Code of Ordinances that will provide the basis for reorganizing Waterford’s Fire Service as directed by the voters when they approved the Charter Revisions to eliminate the Fire Commission and replace it with a Director of Fire Services.  This transition must be complete by November 1, 2011 so the Board of Selectmen will have slightly more than four months to search for and hire the new Director of Fire Services.

The major changes to the Code of ordinances outline the responsibilities and authority of the Director of Fire Services, the new Board of Fire Chiefs, and the Board of Selectmen (BOS).  The proposed changes were adapted for Waterford from the Code of Ordinances of Farmington, CT.  The Farmington Fire Service is similar to Waterford Fire Service.

The changes will provide a firm chain of command from the First Selectman to the paid and volunteer fire fighters.  In brief, the Director of Fire Services, a new position, will report directly to the First Selectman and take policy and administrative direction from the First Selectman.  For administrative purposes, the fire fighters will report to the Director of Fire Services.  Operationally, the firefighters will report to the respective Chief of their Fire Department.  The new Board of Fire Chiefs will serve in an advisory capacity to the Director of Fire Services.  The details of the changes according to the proposed ordinance changes are shown below.

The BOS appoints the Director of fire services, the fire marshal, and all deputies.  The BOS approves all budgets for the Fire Service and all agreements with the Fire Companies and the Waterford Ambulance Service.  The BOS will also approve any disbursement of funds to the fire companies and any equipment or apparatus purchases made to support the volunteer companies, the ambulance service, or any emergency medical services.

The new Board of Fire Chiefs (BFC) is required to meet at least six times a year to manage and conduct the operations of the fire service.  The BFC will assist the Director of fire services in establishing policy, rules and procedures; assist the Director of Fire Services in training coordination, recruitment, equipment and apparatus specifications, and development of strategic and tactical plans for future equipment and facilities.  The BFC also appoints a representative to the Emergency Management Advisory Council

The Fire Chiefs, individually, are the supervisors of the volunteer fire fighters and responsible for carrying out the directive of the Director of Fire Services at their stations.  They command the fire ground operations either in person or through designated officers, and direct the full time firefighters when on scene or at the fire station.  They are responsible for the operation of fire protection and emergency medical equipment and apparatus. These directions and operations must be consistent with all policies, rules, and procedures set by the Director of Fire Services.

The Director of Fire Services, according to the proposed ordinance “…is hereby charged with managing the Fire Service and with directing and being responsible to the First Selectman for the coordination of all fire, rescue, and emergency medical services provided by the Town…” (WCO 2.36.030).  This defining charge is then elaborated upon in the ordinance change to the following authority and responsibilities:

1.      Establish standard policies, rules, and procedures for fire fighting, rescue and other emergency and safety services throughout the Town.  These policies, rules and procedures “…shall be consistent with policies and directives from the First Selectman and shall comply with the Town Charter, personnel policies and applicable collective bargaining agreements.”
2.     Coordinate the training program, improve efficiency, recruitment and community awareness.
3.     Develop specifications for needed equipment and determine purchase requirements.
4.     Evaluate Risk Management issues.
5.     Develop annual budget recommendations.
6.     Develop strategic and tactical plans for any future equipment and facilities.
7.     Plan and implement new programs.
8.     Represent the Fire Service before the BOS, the Board of Finance (BOF), the RTM, or any other Town agencies
9.     Coordinate the needs of the Fire Service and coordinate programs to meet those needs.
10.   Make recommendation to the First Selectmen and Fire Chiefs “regarding the direction, discipline, suspension and relief from active duty of any paid employee or voluntary member in the Service.”
11.   Be Third in line for a State of Emergency Succession of Command if the First Selectman is incapacitated after the Director of Emergency Management and the Police Chief.
12.   Be a member of the Emergency Management Advisory Council.
13.   Be the overall supervisor of any paid firefighters
14.   Appoint a member of the fire Service to the Retirement Commission
15.   Oversee the administration of the Tax Abatement for volunteer fire fighters, including submitting a certified copy of firefighters eligible for the abatement to the Tax Collector.
16.   Establish the number of calls required for eligibility in Tax abatement program
17.   Hear and rule on any appeal of a fire zone established by the Fire marshal
18.   Appoint a hydrant supervisor
19.   Hear and rule on any appeals regarding a notice of violation of the hydrant requirements.
20.   Approve any “rapid Entry System” for residential and commercial buildings
21.   Approve release of any key or lock product used for the rapid entry system.
22.   Report to the First Selectman
23.   Be a member of the Information Technology Committee

The next step, assuming the ordinance is approved as presented, is for the Human Resources Director to prepare a job Description for the position, have it approved by the Personnel Review Board, posted and promulgated.

 The Board of Selectmen , as noted above, is responsible for hiring the new Director of fire services from qualified candidates.   There should be sufficient time to do this before the November, 2011 deadline.