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I 1 0t To: Bill alinen, City Manager From.- Richard B. Gasaway, Fire Chief RE.- Department Assistant-Firefighter-EMT Position s efforts The Purpose of this communication is to clarify matters relating to the fire department' to fill the existing department assistant (secretary) vacancy with a, person whose job duties would include both, administrative suPport and firefighting duties. Upon review of the May 12, 2008 council meeting, I understand there was some confusion regarding the wording of the position desicription. 1 would like to take this opportunity to offer clarificatiOn. First, the fire administration first discussed the need to, transition the position, from part-time to fulltime in 20017 due to increasing workload. This need has not changed. �Slecond, in anti" c ipati loin of Sue Wolter's retirement in 20108'1, we intended to conduct an evaluation of the position to ensure we would gain maximum utility from adding an additional fulltime position., We completed that evaluation in March 2o018, and concluded the position should be a dual -role position., serving as a, department assistant, and a firefighter. The logic driving this, ,decision relates, to the current and increasing challenges with attracting and retaining quality daytime-available firefighters. Our daytime staffing shortages are impacting our ability to safely provide service to the community. Having a department assistant who can also serve as a firefighter when needed appeared to be a logical way to contribute toward a solution with our daytime staffing challenges. 1. Third, the position description was worded as it was presented based on our belief that in order to ,attract and retain the right candidate (serving as both a department assistant and a firefighter- EMT) the position would need to be eligible for the state's Police and Fire pension -plan. In order to ensure we did this right, we turned to PERA for guidance. They, in turns, referred us to their March 2008 newsletter which states: