(a) The division of human resources shall create a register for appointment to positions in the firefighter academy.
(b) The examination for appointment to the fire academy shall be comprised of a two (2) phase process. Phase I shall consist of a written examination, a physical fitness test, and an oral examination. Phase II shall consist of a polygraph examination and a background investigation.
(c) Candidates shall be nineteen (19) years of age by the application filing deadline and shall not have reached their thirty-fourth birthday by the application deadline.
(d) Prior to each academy class, the director of human resources shall close the date for applications for each class to be published as required by KRS Chapter 424.
(e) The examination process shall be validated by the division of human resources.
(f) Phase I shall consist of the following:
(1) A job-related written examination shall be prepared and validated by the division of human resources. The test administrator shall provide each candidate with his score on the written examinations and shall indicate to each candidate whether he/she is eligible to proceed.
a. A different version of the written test will be given for each recruitment cycles.
(2) Each candidate shall complete and pass a job related physical fitness test which has been approved by the division of human resources.
(3) An oral examination shall be prepared and administered by the division of fire and emergency services.
a. The oral board shall consist of the following six (6) members:
1. One (1) fire lieutenant, a fire captain, and the fire chief or a designated representative not below the rank of major, appointed by the fire chief.
2. A paramedic, appointed by the fire chief.
3. A firefighter, appointed by the fire chief.
4. A professional member of the community appointed by the fire chief with approval from the director and commissioner of public safety.
5. At least one (1) African-American and one (1) female. One (1) individual shall not satisfy both requirements.
6. The director, or his designated representative, shall attend all sessions of the oral examination boards as a neutral advisor. He or his designee shall have no vote in any of the proceedings.
7. A member of the urban county council, to be appointed by the vice-mayor, may attend all sessions as a neutral observer. He shall not have a vote in any of the proceedings.
(4) After the written and oral examination process, the representative/test administrator shall compute the scores of the candidates' preference points equaling a two (2) percent upgrade will be applied to any candidate's score who has served in any branch of the United States military and who has received an honorable discharge.
(g) Phase II shall consist of the following:
(1) The fire chief shall establish the maximum number of candidates from the testing procedure who will proceed to Phase II of the hiring process. Phase II shall consist of a polygraph examination and a background investigation.
(2) Upon completion of Phase II, all components of Phase I and II will be reviewed and taken into consideration when recommending candidates for selection.
a. The division of fire shall supply the director with a list of those applicants whom the division recommends be eliminated from current and future hiring processes. The director shall accept the recommendation for elimination if the circumstances satisfy the requirements of KRS 95.440 and applicable sections of the Code of Ordinances. The aforementioned examination, test, and reports may also be used as a basis to remove a candidate at any other point in the process.
(h) When vacancies arise in the division, the chief shall select names from the eligible list equal to the number of approved positions and a sufficient number of alternates.
(i) After all requirements have been met, the chief shall forward his recommendation through the urban county government chain of command to the mayor with a recommendation for appointment. The mayor may accept or reject any recommendation made through the chain of command and shall have the sole prerogative to make the final selections. After the final selections are made, the mayor shall submit the recommendations to the urban county council for approval to make conditional offers. After conditional offers are made and accepted, each selected candidate shall undergo a physical examination or medical examination, psychological suitability screening test and drug screening. All candidates who successfully complete the physical examination or medical examination, psychological suitability screening test and drug screening shall begin their probationary period.
(j) If a candidate is selected for an academy and is unable to attend or complete the academy due to unforeseen circumstances, the director and chief will review the situation and decide if the candidate will be allowed deferral to the next academy. Any candidate who is allowed to defer to the next academy shall again pass applicable Phase I and Phase II requirements.
(k) Upon the completion of the orientation section of each academy class, the list shall be expired. However the director and fire chief shall have the discretion to exhaust or maintain the list.
(Ord. No. 135-82, § 1, 7-29-82; Ord. No. 97-83, §§ 1—3, 6-16-83; Ord. No. 198-84, § 1, 11-1-84; Ord. No. 247-86, § 1, 11-20-86; Ord. No. 155-87, § 1, 7-9-87; Ord. No. 317-87, § 1, 12-17-87; Ord. No. 34-88, § 1, 2-25-88; Ord. No. 187-88, § 1, 8-25-88; Ord. No. 17-90, § 1, 2-8-90; Ord. No. 27-91, § 1, 2-21-91; Ord. No. 64-91, §§ 1, 2, 4-4-91; Ord. No. 13-92, §§ 1, 2, 1-23-92; Ord. No. 135-93, §§ 1, 2, 7-8-93; Ord. No. 193-94, §§ 1, 2, 9-22-94; Ord. No. 60-95, § 1, 3-23-95; Ord. No. 90-95, §§ 3, 4, 5-4-95; Ord. No. 91-95, §§