City of Galesburg Fire Department Operating Under Council Manager Government Since 1957 DATE: July 2016 TO: FROM: Prospective Firefighter Candidates Thomas E. Simkins, Fire Chief The members of the Galesburg Board of Fire and Police Commissioners and I welcome you to the process that can lead to you becoming a member of our outstanding department. As you may know, Galesburg has a population of approximately 32,000 citizens. If you visit our community, we invite you to tour the numerous historical, recreational, and cultural sites. You will find Galesburg to be a place that is large enough to offer a variety of educational and social opportunities but small enough to retain a "hometown" atmosphere. We are proud of the Galesburg Fire Department and emergency services operations. The Fire Department consists of 43 full time firefighters. The emergency services operations include extinguishing fires and responding to calls for assistance in other hazardous and life threatening situations. For example, members of our department are called to assist in medical emergencies due to sudden illness or physical injury and to protect the public from hazardous incidents such as those caused by severe weather, chemical spills, and natural gas and utility problems, just to name a few. There are three fire stations strategically located through the City. Central Fire Station is located in the Public Safety Building, 150 South Broad Street. The Brooks Street Station is located in the southwest area at 1575 East Brooks Street. The Fremont Station is located at 1455 West Fremont Street in the northwest area of Galesburg. We are also pleased to have the Hawthorne Centre Regional Fire Training Site located at 2233 Veterans Drive. We are looking for men and women who are committed to join our team of firefighters in providing our citizens with professional and compassionate emergency medical and fire suppression services to the Galesburg community. Our residents depend on the quick thinking, intelligence and dependability of our emergency responders. The Galesburg Fire Department proudly represents those who successfully provide quality services to our citizens. We are pleased that you are considering the possibility of joining the Galesburg Fire Department. Attached you will find information regarding the Firefighter Candidate Testing process. After carefully reviewing the information, if you have additional questions or need to update your contact information, please e mail her at jmoser@ci.galesburg.il.us. Galesburg Fire Department Page 1
Application deadline: September 21 The Galesburg Board of Fire and Police Commissioners conducts all testing for the Galesburg Fire Department. Application packets will be available online at the City s website under the jobs quick link. ALL applicants must complete an online application. Resumes will not be accepted in lieu of completing an application. GENERAL REQUIREMENTS 1. Citizenship: Applicant must be a citizen of the United States. 2. Physical Requirements: No minimum or maximum, must be comparable for overall body size and structure. 3. Age: May test at age 20 but must be 21 years of age by date of appointment; or not more than 35 years of age at the time the final eligibility list is posted. Exception: Applicants who fall under one of the exceptions as outlined in the Illinois Compiled Statues may still be eligible to apply (see: 65 ILCS 5/10 2.1 6.3 and 5/10 2.1 26) 4. Education: High School diploma or equivalent. 5. Driver s License: Must possess a valid driver s license; be able to safely and competently operate a motor vehicle and to obtain Class B non CDL within 12 months following appointment. REQUIRED documentation to be turned in via email, mail or in person on or before 09/24/2016: 1. Waiver/Release of Liability (page 5 of this document) 2. Copy of Driver s License 3. Copy of certified Birth Certificate 4. Copy of high school diploma or equivalent If applicable provide: 1. Copy of official college transcripts 2. Copy (front & back) of CPAT dated 09/24/2015 or later (bring original to Testing) Please note, copies will NOT be made for you the day of the test. Come prepared! FIREFIGHTER TESTING: SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24, 2016 Hawthorne Centre Regional Training Site 2233 Veterans Drive, Galesburg ORIENTATION MEETING 8 a.m. MANDATORY. No admittance after meeting starts. PHYSICAL ABILITY TESTING 8:30 am Showers will be available on premise. WRITTEN TEST Time to be determined p.m. Galesburg Public Safety Building Auditorium 150 South Broad Street, Galesburg FIREFIGHTER Galesburg Fire Department 150 South Broad Street Galesburg, IL 61401 P: 309/345 3756 F: 309/343 1340 E: jmoser@ci.galesburg.il.us www.ci.galesburg.il.us Galesburg Fire Department Page 2
GALESBURG FIREFIGHTER TESTING DETAILS Physical ability test is a pass/fail test. Candidates who have a CPAT (Candidate Physical Ability Test) card will not have to participate in Sections I and II of the test but will have to successfully complete Section III the ladder climb. Showers will be available on premise. Section I Note: All Section I tasks must be completed in a cumulative total time of less than 4 minutes 55 seconds. Carry a 50 foot section of 2.5 inch rolled fire hose to the fourth floor of the burn tower; Pull a 50 foot rolled section of 2.5 inch fire hose attached to.5 inch utility rope to the fourth floor of the burn tower; Using a 9 pound dead blow hammer to drive a length of railroad tie a distance of five feet; Advancing (walking) a 100 foot length of charged 1.75 inch hose a distance of 75 feet; and Lifting the 100+ pound dummy under the arms and dragging it backwards a distance of 100 feet. Section II A timed 1.5 mile run/walk (ages 21 29 under 13:46 minutes; ages 30 34 under 14:31 minutes). Section III Climb a 60 foot aerial ladder and descend same in two minutes or less. Applicants who successfully complete all stations and sections will be allowed to continue to the Written Test. WRITTEN TEST Test forms are obtained by the Commission from an independent testing center and contain sections on general aptitude, reading comprehension, and basic fire safety questions (no previous knowledge is required). A passing grade on the written test will be at or above the median score for all applicants participating in the test. ORAL INTERVIEW Oral interviews will offered to the top 20 candidates approximately two weeks after the written test is administered. Those candidates will be contacted via e mail with the appointment details. FIREFIGHTER HIRING PROCEDURES A Preliminary Eligibility List of candidates is established listing those who have successfully completed written and oral interview testing. Ranking points on the eligibility list is determined by adding 2/3 of the written test score and 1/3 of the oral interview score. Candidates are notified via email of their option to exercise the use of military, education or experience points prior to the release of the Final Firefighter Eligibility List. Additional points may be added to an applicant s preliminary score if he or she has met specified military service, medical training certification, educational levels or previous paid/career firefighting experience requirements. Preference points are not cumulative; points will not be granted in multiple categories. Specific criteria details will be given to the candidates that are on the Preliminary Eligibility List. Once the Final Firefighter Eligibility list is established it is in effect for two years and all hiring is done from that list until it expires. If all candidates are used off a list before the two year period is up, testing will be conducted again and a new list will be developed. FILLING A FIREFIGHTER VACANCY When a vacancy occurs on the department, the candidate in the top spot (according to score) is contacted to determine if he or she is interested in pursuing the opening. The candidate has the option to pass once, if he/she does not accept the next time they are contacted, the Commission reserves the right to strike that candidate from the list. If the candidate accepts, the Galesburg Police Department Investigation Division conducts an extensive background check on the individual including contacting references, former employers, fingerprint study, psychological profile and polygraph test. Upon successful completion of the background check, a comprehensive Employment Physical is scheduled. If a candidate is successful in completing all components of the preemployment screening process, the candidate is offered a position. If he or she accepts, the candidate is appointed as a probationary firefighter for one year. PROBATIONARY PERIOD REQUIREMENTS The probationary firefighter will be sent to a six week State Certified Basic Firefighter Operative school at the department s expense as early as possible in their probationary year either in the spring or fall. If the firefighter is not already an EMT, he or she will also be enrolled in an EMT course during the probationary year. The firefighter Galesburg Fire Department Page 3
must successfully complete the Firefighter Basic Academy (Firefighter Basic Certification through volunteer fire departments does not satisfy this requirement), pass tests in Certified Firefighter subject categories, become a certified EMT B and receive a satisfactory employee evaluation at the end of their probationary year to be appointed a certified member of the Galesburg Fire Department. WAGES AND BENEFITS SALARY Effective January 1, 2016, the starting base salary for a probationary firefighter is $16.51 hourly. Upon successful completion of a firefighter's first year the employee progresses from step A to step B. Generally, employees progress annually to step E as outlined in the salary schedule. The annual increase is contingent upon the employee meeting the required standards of performance. A firefighter will only attain step "F" only if he or she completes one academic year of Fire Science courses concurrent with Department practice and may not progress to Step G until obtaining an Associate Degree in Fire Science from an accredited academic institution. Upon completion of five years of service with the City a firefighter will receive 2% longevity pay computed on base salary. Additional 2% increments are earned at 10, 15 and 20 years of service for a maximum of 8% longevity. GROUP BENEFITS Group medical and dental coverage are available for the employee at a minimal contribution. If the employee wishes to obtain coverage for family members, the employee pays an additional contribution amount. A Section 125 tax deferred plan is available for health plan contributions, medical and childcare expenses. WORK SCHEDULE Firefighters work a 24 hour shift, followed by 48 hours off duty. After factoring in Kelly Days, this averages a 53 hour work week. Unless pre approved time off is scheduled, firefighters work weekends and holidays. KELLY DAYS Firefighters are scheduled for 6.75 24 hour Kelly Days (mandatory scheduled days off) per year. CONSOLIDATED TIME OFF (CT0) New firefighters shall accrue 9.48 hours of CTO bi weekly (248 hours annual total) according to the Firefighters Local #555 contract. SICK LEAVE Firefighters will accrue sick leave at a rate of 6.46 hours per bi weekly pay period. RETIREMENT/PENSION Firefighters (hired after January 1, 2011) who retire at age 55 with 10 or more years of creditable service will be entitled to a retirement pension at 2.5% of his or her final average salary for each year of service. At age 50, firefighters may retire if they have 10 or more years of creditable service, but their retirement benefit will be reduced by 0.5% for each month that the firefighter is under age 55. The maximum retirement pension for these firefighters is 75% of final average salary. (40 ILCS 5/4 109(c); 40 ILCS 5/3 111(d)) LABOR UNION REPRESENTATION Firefighters' Local #555 negotiates a labor contract for its members with the City of Galesburg. Galesburg Fire Department Page 4
City of Galesburg Board of Fire and Police Commissioners 150 South Broad Street Galesburg, IL 61401 P: 309/345 3756 F: 309/343 1340 WAIVER/RELEASE OF LIABILITY APPLICANT FOR PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT made between the undersigned, an applicant for employment as a firefighter with the Galesburg Fire Department of the City of Galesburg, Illinois, (the Applicant ) and the City of Galesburg, Illinois; its Board of Fire and Police Commissioners; the City s and the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners employees, agents, representatives and assigns (specifically any testing agency employed by the City or its Board of Fire and Police Commissioners) (hereinafter collectively referred to as the City ), witness: Whereas, the Applicant has applied to the City for employment as a firefighter; and, Whereas, the City is required to subject the Applicant to competitive testing process; and, Whereas, the Applicant has agreed to submit to a variety of examinations including a written examination, physical ability/agility, oral interviews, medical examinations and such other examinations, and to undergo a thorough background investigation, as deemed appropriate by the City; and, Whereas, the City has agreed to administer said exams, on an as needed basis and as provided by the rules and regulations of the City s Board of Fire and Police Commissioners, without expense to the Applicant; and, Whereas, both parties hereto, agree that the examination process is conducted for the purpose of obtaining well qualified individuals to fill the position sought by the Applicant, the parties hereto agree as follows: Applicant, in consideration of the payment, by the City, of the fees associated with the conduct of examinations to be taken by the Applicant, hereby agrees to waive any claims the applicant may now have or may have in the future (specifically including any claim as to personal injury and/or damages) arising from Applicant s participation in any examination (specifically including a physical ability/agility examination) or background investigation conducted by or for the City as part of its pre employment screening process for the position of firefighter. The Applicant further states that this waiver is given voluntarily and with the knowledge that the Applicant is waiving any and all liability the City may incur as to the Applicant resulting from the Applicant s participation in the pre employment screening process. The Applicant specifically waives the right to written notice required of any former employer pursuant to the Personnel Records Review Act, 820 ILCS, 40/7(1). The Applicant also acknowledges that the Applicant had the opportunity to discuss the import of this Waiver with legal counsel of Applicant s own choosing. Witness our hands and seals on. Date CITY OF GALESBURG, ILLINOIS BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSIONERS Applicant Signature By: Commissioner Galesburg Fire Department Page 5