SECTION 8. DEPARTMENT OF FIRE.

   The fire force shall consist of a Fire Chief and such officers and employees as may be provided by City Council. The Fire Chief shall be appointed by the Mayor, subject to the approval of a majority of all members of City Council, and shall be subject to removal by the Mayor, provided that upon removal of the Fire Chief, the Mayor shall state in the notice of termination the reason for the termination. In addition to any other candidate-screening process established by the Mayor, all candidates shall submit to an examination approved by the Mayor to test the candidates’ qualifications, knowledge, skills, and aptitudes. Candidates for the position of Fire Chief need not be City employees at the time of their application. The Fire Chief shall be subject to the same limitations on political activities that apply generally to classified civil servants. Original appointments to the rank of Firefighter in the Fire Department shall be by open competitive examination and the Mayor shall appoint from the top ten candidates certified by the Civil Service Commission. Appointments to any rank below Fire Chief and above Firefighter shall be by promotional examination and the Mayor shall appoint from among the top three candidates certified by the Civil Service Commission. The Civil Service Commission shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this Section with respect to classified civil servants. With the exception of the Fire Chief, all full-time employees of the Fire Department shall be in the classified civil service.

(Amended 11-4-03.)