137.06 APPOINTMENTS SUBJECT TO CIVIL SERVICE RULES; QUALIFICATIONS.

   (a)   All appointments to the Division of Fire, shall be subject to the Rules and Regulations of the Civil Service Commission. All personnel in the Fire Department shall be at least eighteen (18) years of age and be a high school graduate or possess equivalent experience and/or relevant education.
(Ord. 2005-078. Passed 5-3-05.)

   (b)   It shall be a condition and qualification for examination and appointment to the Division of Fire that any individual to be so appointed after July 1, 1986, shall have fulfilled the requirements for certification as an emergency medical technician paramedic by the State of Ohio. An applicant may provide either State or National Certification as an emergency medical technician paramedic at the time of filing an application to become a fire fighter; provided, however, that proof of State Certification as an emergency medical technician paramedic must be shown prior to an applicant being placed on the eligibility list for the position of fire fighter.

   (c)   Those members presently within the Fire Department holding emergency medical service or paramedic certificates shall continue to hold such certificates and continue to be qualified to operate and work in emergency medical service vehicles, in order to maintain a minimum of eight or more qualified paramedics within the Fire Department at all times. Any present paramedic may be exempt from continuing his or her certification due to health or physical inability to perform paramedic services only upon application to and approval by the Fire Chief.

   (d)   Unless a present member of the Fire Department is specifically exempted by the Fire Chief, the loss of qualification of certification as a paramedic shall be grounds for disciplinary action only after a hearing under the Civil Service Rules by the Safety Director.

   (e)   The loss of qualification or certification as a paramedic prior to appointment to the Fire Department shall be valid grounds for the non-appointment of new personnel to the Fire Department or after appointment grounds for disciplinary action and/or discharge only after a hearing under the Civil Service Rules by the Safety Director.

(Ord. 2004-202. Passed 12-21-04.)