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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 6570 ORDINANCE NO. AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING REVENUE OF THE CITY IN EXCESS OF ITS TOTAL ESTIMATED INCOME AS SET FORTH IN THE ANNUAL BUDGET FOR ESTABLISHMENT OF A FIRE TRAINEE PROGRAM; PROVIDING A SEVERABILITY CLAUSE; MAKING THIS ORDINANCE CUMULATIVE OF PRIOR APPROPRIATION ORDINANCES; REPEALING ORDINANCES IN CONFLICT HEREWITH; AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT WORTH, TEXAS: SECTION 1. That the Fire Department of the City of Fort Worth shall be provided with such revenue as may be secured from the various sources included in Ordinance No. 6518 and in the Budget of the City Manager, and in addition there is hereby appropriated the amount of Twenty-seven Thousand, Six Hundred and Eighty-six Dollars 4$27,686) of excess reve- nue and/or unappropriated surplus to be used to meet the requirements of the Fire Department for the establishment of a Fire Trainee Program. SECTION 2. Should any part, portion, section or part of a sec- tion of this ordinance be declared invalid or inoperative or void for any reason by a court of competent jurisdiction, such decision, opinion or judgment shall in no way affect the remaining portions, parts, sections or parts of sections of this ordinance, which provisions shall be, remain and con- tinue to be in full force and effect. SECTION 3. That this ordinance shall be cu,-nulative of Ordinance No. 6518, but all other ordinances and appropriations for which provision has been heretofore made are hereby express- ly repealed if in conflict with the provisions of this ordi- nance. SE Cr ION 4. That this ordinance shall take effect and be in ful3 force and effect from and after the date of its passage, and it is so ordained. APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGALITY: ity Attorney Of City of Fort Worth, Texas Mayor and Council Communication DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: Establishment of Fire Trainee PAGE NUMBER Program 2 10/7/71 G-1832 1 Of In recent years, the Fort Worth Civil Service Commission, the City Personnel Office, the Fire Department and the administrative staff have made extensive efforts to increase the employment of minorities within the Fort Worth Fire Department. Within the past few months, the Civil Service Commission lowered the minimum age requirement from 21'-years of age to 18 and changed the minimum height requirement in an attempt to encourage more minority persons to apply for Fire Department jobs. When analysis of Personnel Department records revealed that some minority candidates failed to pass the physical examination, the Personnel Department initiated the practice of informing each job candidate that a physical examination would be required so that they could prepare them- selves in advance for this examination. Also, extensive efforts have been made to inform minority citizens of the availability of jobs in the Fire Depart- ment and the compensation and benefits provided by the City for its employees. As of October 1, 1971, there are sixteen vacancies for Fire Private positions. The Civil Service Commission scheduled a Fire Entrance Examination for August 28, 1971, and a total of 229 citizens signed up to take the-.examina- tion. Of this number, 52 or 22.66 per cent of the candidates were from a minority group. A total of 213 candidates actually took the examination on August 28, 1971, with 120 of the candidates achieving a passing score. Of the 45 minority applicants who took the exam, however, only 10 achieved a passing score, and only two of these were in the top 60. In addition to the written examination, candidates must also pass the physical exam and be cleared on a background check, but the State Civil Service Law is very specific with regard to the appointment of firemen and the procedures followed in making such selections. Based on the examination results described above, it appears that little, if any, progress can be made toward improving the percentage of minority employees in the Fire Department as directed by the City Council resolution on minority employment adopted on August 16, 197-1. Accordingly, the staff has developed a program, along the lines originally suggested by the Fire Chief, for the establishment of a Fire Trainee Program. Initiation of this program, as is being considered in other cities, will be an attempt to train Fire Private candidates prior to the administration of the Firemen's Civil Service. Exam so that minorities might do better in the entrance examination. Under the Civil Service Law, the list established for firemen is effective until exhausted or until one year expires. It is, therefore, necessary that these trainees remain in a training status and do other assigned tasks until it, is possible to administer a new Firemen's Exam. It is currently planned to start a new Fire Training Class on October 11, 1971. Instead of having 16 firemen in the new training class, it is proposed that the class consist of eight firemen, with the other eight positions to be reclassified to Fire Trainee at a salary of $508 per month. Attempts-will be made to fill DATE REFERENCE SUBJECT: Establishment of Fire Trainee PAGE NUMBER 10/7/71 G-1832 Program 2 2 of these eight Fire Trainee positions with employees eligible under the Emergency Employment Act. Establishment of the Fire Trainee position will equate the training program of the Fire Department with the current--practice in the Police Department. A similar Police Trainee Program was established on October 1, 1962. Although the level of minority employment in the Police Department is not equal to the goal recently established by the Council, it is substantially better than in the Fire Department. Personnel selected for these Trainee positions will be informed that their con- tinued employment after the training- program is completed will be contingent upon the results of the next open and competitive Fire Private Civil Service Examina- tion. This exam will be given again when the current list is exhausted or when a year has passed since the recent exam. Members of the Fort Worth Civil Service Commission have been consulted con- cerning this change and have expressed approval. State Civil Service law requires that, when established Civil Service positions are abolished as proposed by this change, such action be taken by City Council adoption of an ordinance. Recommendation It is recommended that: 1) The City Council approve an ordinance abolishing eight Fire Private positions from the 1971-72 Adopted Budget; and 2) The City Council approve the establishment of the Fire Trainee position at a salary of $508 per month as outlined above. RNL:ms SUBMITTED BY: DISPOSI BY COUNCIL: PROCESSED BY d� APPROVED 0 OTHER (DESCRIBE) /// • _ CITY SECRETARY ((//(( DATE '7 CITY MANAGER �O' //