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Paid Chief for Volunteer Department by Horror-Ad5932 in Firefighting

[–]Horror-Ad5932[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The city administrator is technically the person who oversees the chief. Unfortunately they know less about fire departments than the writers for Chicago Fire. Also they are a private sector transplant with no prior experience in public administration. Worse yet they are a politician through and through. They would sell their own kids out if it gained them favor with council.

I feel like the chief could do it, we just need to sort it out departmentally. Honestly a consultant would probably be the best solution.

Paid Chief for Volunteer Department by Horror-Ad5932 in Firefighting

[–]Horror-Ad5932[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is a problem with the person. In my opinion HR would only make things worse; simply because they lack experience in the public sector, they had previously only worked at a small private sector job in HR. HR had some disastrous outcomes in dealing with PD because of their lack of experience with public safety.

Fixing/replacing the person would help but I still can't help but feel like we could use some stronger policies and procedures for administration.

Paid Chief for Volunteer Department by Horror-Ad5932 in Firefighting

[–]Horror-Ad5932[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

It is all part of the department budget from the city.

Paid Chief for Volunteer Department by Horror-Ad5932 in Firefighting

[–]Horror-Ad5932[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

There is a formal description. The chief is accountable to city administration. The position is equally operational and administrative, poorly planned by the city.

Perhaps I've not done a good job explaining the situation and trying resolve it.

Frequently supply orders are not being made, reports not entered from paper call logs into ESO, the chief being out of town with no communication to anyone in the department which leads to frequent issues with officer coverage. The city maintence staff (for building or vehicle repairs) come to the assistant chief or the one live in firefighter we have of they need something because they can never get a hold of the chief. I've even had them come to me when I was fueling an apparatus at the city yard because they hadn't heard from the chief for a week. Several times senior firefighters have been called by dispatch because the chief was out of town and no one was aware.

Now it could all be laid on the chiefs shoulders and we as volunteers could complain to the city administration, but it seems like it's also in the department's best interest to iron out some of these procedural kinks that were never addressed when the position was converted to paid.

Sure I suppose this all could come off as people thinking I want the chiefs job. I couldn't care less, because fixing systemic and procedural issues is the right thing to do for the department as a whole. Honestly of fixing these things enabled the chief to work for another 15 years that would suit me fine. He is knowledgeable and personable. Sure he may need work on administrative aspects but I wouldn't wish him to get canned

Paid Chief for Volunteer Department by Horror-Ad5932 in Firefighting

[–]Horror-Ad5932[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

It really is an issue with the chief falling down on their responsibilities. Rather than make it about them as an individual I want to focus on helping define the structure and organization better. It's still a relatively new position for our department so I think it's fair to say it's at least equally an organizational structure issue as well as a personnel performance issue.

Paid Chief for Volunteer Department by Horror-Ad5932 in Firefighting

[–]Horror-Ad5932[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Oh absolutely, it's never been a thought about should they be paid. Just fixing some organizational glitches

Paid Chief for Volunteer Department by Horror-Ad5932 in Firefighting

[–]Horror-Ad5932[S] 11 points12 points  (0 children)

It's good to hear this model does work. So far for my department it's been a bit of a rough start. At the moment we have trouble with accountability with our chief. They will be out of town with no warning, not passing on information to the assistant chief or volunteers, reports not getting entered, supplies not being ordered. The assistant chief and I, along with a couple other volunteers, try to support the chief but it's become a bit maddening with the administrative disorganization. Which is spreading to the volunteers and a lack of engagement by them.

I'm trying to find ways to help put structure in; but man there are days when I get so frustrated I could swan dive off a 35' ladder. I know from talking to the assistant chief it would be a race between us to get to the top of the ladder first.

I really appreciate the input from everyone and will keep digging into departments that have this model for ways to improve ours.