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Special City Council Meeting Monday,May 27, 2015 Page 12 Fire Chief Tim O'Neill summarized Fire Department needs as it continued to transition from a part- to full-time department or combination in the future, and steps needed over a period of time to accomplish that goal. For the 2016 phase, Chief O'Neill noted the next step would be a supervisory step, with the proposed re-establishment of the Assistant Chief position, the most important step in the transition from his perspective. Chief O'Neill noted that the Department had taken a step back to deal with union and healthcare issues and stabilize the department. In his review of current supervision, Chief O'Neill noted supervision was done during the day from Sunday through Friday with twelve-hour shifts of two battal- ion chiefs, and otherwise done by part-time supervisors, which had been the make-up of the depaitment since its inception in the 1950's. Over the last decade, and with significant technology and workload changes, and a change in the type of calls, Chief O'Neill noted different levels of expertise were now needed. Chief O'Neill stated that the need was now for 24/7, 365 day supervision, which he wanted to concentrate on for the 2016 budget. As part of the plan discussed last year, Chief O'Neill noted the estimated cost for that position was $150,000, but as he progressed through the 2015 budget, it ap- peared that this number may not be achievable for new money in the 2016 budg- et, nor would it be supported by the City Council and community, causing him to review again how to achieve it. In looking for a create solution and in further re- organization of the Department, Chief O'Neill suggesting utilizing what was available today, and get the budget numbers down as low as possible, preferably budget neutral while still meeting the goal of 24-7 supervision. Chief O'Neill stated that they had been able to achieve that and proposed reinstat- ing the Assistant Fire Chief position, which while not a new position since it had been part of the department in the past, would allow the battalion chiefs back on the street while supervising, but restructuring for more operational involvement and removing a majority of their administrative duties, which this position would then assume. Chief O'Neill advised that the Assistant Chief would work normal hours in administering the department, while the battalion chiefs would continue to run shifts,providing 24/y community service. Chief O'Neill noted this would also address the needed succession plan, with the Assistant Chief trained an positioned to take over the Fire Chief's position, mak- ing the transition easier long-term. Chief O'Neill noted this would also have bat- talion chiefs on the street with a level of experience far above that currently being provided, and available to train firefighters, and have a higher skill level staff in- teracting with the community on a full-time basis, significantly increasing the ser- vice level to the community. By reinstating the Assistant Chief position and hav-