147.10 SELECTION OF CHIEF.

   (a)    Candidates for the position of Chief of the Fire Department shall meet the following minimum eligibility criteria:

      (1)   A minimum of ten (10) years of continuous service with the Norwalk Fire Department or any other full-time fire department;

      (2)    Have held the rank of chief, assistant chief, or captain, or the equivalent rank, for a minimum period of one (1) year, or the rank of lieutenant, or the equivalent rank, for a minimum period of three (3) years, in the Norwalk Fire Department or any other full-time fire department;

   (b)    The Chief of Fire shall be selected by a Selection Board established pursuant to subsection (d) herein. The Chief shall be selected from among the eligible candidates in accordance with subsection (c) based upon the following:

      (1)    An evaluation of each candidate's prior service record including, but not limited to supervisory and management experience, field experience, education and training, and disciplinary history.

      (2)    The results of such written examinations as deemed appropriate by the Selection Board. If a written examination is utilized, it shall be administered by the Civil Service Commission and shall address fire department leadership and management issues. The passing score on the written examination shall be set by the Selection Board. Protests of questions shall not be allowed. The Selection Board may make passing the written examination a condition precedent to continuing with the selection process.

      (3)    The results of psychological examinations, performed by qualified examiners, as deemed appropriate by the Selection Board. Any such examination shall include an evaluation of the candidate's fitness and suitability to command and to assume and perform the duties of the position of Chief and may include such other psychological, emotional, personality and mental health evaluations or assessments as the Selection Board may determine to be appropriate. The psychological examination may also include a psychiatric examination if such is recommended in the psychological evaluation and deemed necessary by the Selection Board. As a condition of consideration for the position of Chief, all candidates shall execute any authorizations necessary to cause full and complete written results of all examinations/evaluations to be released to and utilized by the Selection Board.

      (4)    Individual interviews of each candidate by the Selection Board.

   (c)   In the event of a vacancy or imminent vacancy in the position of Chief of Fire, the following procedure shall be followed:

      (1)    The President of Council shall convene a meeting of the Selection Board in accordance with subsection (d).

      (2)    The Selection Board shall announce the vacancy and set a deadline for the submission of applications for the position.

      (3)    The Selection Board shall determine the types and number of examinations to be administered in accordance with subsection (b). In the event a written examination is to be administered, sufficient time shall be allotted for study before the examination.

      (4)    Upon receipt of the results of the examination or examinations administered in accordance with subsection (b), the Selection Board shall review the same and, in its discretion, determine whether each candidate passed or failed such examination or examinations. The Selection Board shall then conduct interviews of the candidates and make its selection for the position of Chief of Fire based upon the factors set forth in subsection (b).

      (5)    The Mayor shall appoint as Chief of Fire the candidate selected by the Selection Board.

   (d)    The Selection Board shall be comprised of the following:

      (1)    The President of Council, or his or her designee from Council, who shall act as Chairperson of the Selection Board.

      (2)    The Director of Safety/Service.

      (3)    The Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission or his or her designee from the Civil Service Commission.

      (4)    An expert in the field of fire department management selected by the Selection Board from outside of the Norwalk Fire Department.

      (5)    An elector of the City not employed by or with the City selected by the Safety Committee of Council and approved by the Selection Board.

   (e)    The resignation or removal of any member of the Selection Board during the selection process shall not constitute grounds to delay the selection process or invalidate the selection of chief made by the Selection Board.

   (f)    Ohio R.C. 124.34 shall govern the demotion, suspension and removal of the candidate selected pursuant to the above criteria.

(Ord. 2022-046. Passed 12-20-22.)