(A) Persons interested in membership in the Swansea Fire Department should be referred to the Fire Chief, who shall keep a list of interested persons.
(B) An applicant for membership shall submit an application to the Fire Chief. Among other requirements, the application shall inform the applicant of the need for a criminal background check prior to employment with the village. The Fire Chief will conduct, or cause to be conducted, a criminal background check of the applicant after receiving the applicant’s written consent. The Fire Chief shall refer the applicant for a physical agility test to determine whether the applicant can perform the physical requirements of the position. After the physical agility test has been completed, the application and the results of the physical agility test shall be forwarded to the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees may, in its discretion, make a conditional offer of employment to the applicant. The offer shall be conditioned upon the results of a physical examination. After the physical examination, the Board shall approve the applicant’s membership if the results of the applicant’s physical examination indicate that the applicant is qualified to perform the requirements of the position.
(C) An applicant for membership shall assume liability for injuries incurred in performing the test to indicate that the applicant can perform the physical requirements of the position, and shall sign a release which releases the village of liability for any injury incurred in performing that test.
(D) New members shall be placed on a one-year minimum probationary period and will not be removed from probation until he or she has completed the certification process developed by the Illinois State Fire Marshal, or equivalent hours meeting National Fire Protection Association (“NFPA”) 1001 standards. During this probationary period, should the Fire Chief find the probationary member unfit as a firefighter, he or she shall be dropped from the roll, with the advice and consent of the Village Board of Trustees. The Fire Chief shall report to the body when a member is released from probation.
(Prior Code, § 5-710)
(E) A member may, for work, health or personal reasons, request and obtain from the Fire Chief a leave of absence from the Department. This request shall be in writing and include only a general and not a specific reason for the request. Members of the Armed Forces of the United States of America may take leaves of absence for any period of time reasonably necessary to perform his or her duties for the Armed Forces of the United States of America. All other members may take leaves of absence for a period of up to six months. The Fire Chief may extend this period for extenuating circumstances, but in no case beyond 12 total months. If a leave of absence is granted, all issued equipment shall be returned to the Swansea Fire Department and placed in the equipment inventory.
(Ord. 1783, passed 6-5-2017)