6.4. SR 07-10-2000Item ~ 6.4.
TO:
FROM:
Mayor and City Council Members
Bruce A. West, Fire Chief ~/~//
DATE:
July 10, 2000
SUBJECT: Fire Inspector/Administrative Assistant Position
At this time I would like to give you a brief summary of the hiring process for
this position. After council approval to advertise for the above-noted position,
a job vacancy advertisement was placed in the Minneapolis Star Tribune. The
application period was from May 19, through June 9, 2000. Fifteen
applications were received for the position. The applications were reviewed to
select the candidates who met the minimum qualifications as set forth in the
job vacancy announcement. Eleven candidates met the minimum
qualifications and a letter was sent out stating the next step in the hiring
process, which consisted of a fire inspector's test given by the Anoka Vo-Tech
and held at the Elk River Fire Department. The fire inspector's test was a
validated test through the Minnesota State Fire Inspector's Certification
Board.
Eight of the eleven eligible candidates were present to take the fire inspector's
test. As stated in the letter to the eligible testing candidates, the test
consisted of eighty questions and the candidates were able to bring any
reference material with them to help in completing the test. All of the test
candidates were aware that the minimum score to move forward in the hiring
process was eighty percent or better.
Three of the eight candidates attained a score of eighty percent or better and
were interviewed for the position. The candidates interviewed for the position
were Mike Post, Mike Crepeau, and Cliff Anderson. After completion of the
candidate interviews, the committee reviewed, discussed, and selected the
clear choice for the position.
On behalf of the interview committee for the position of fire
inspector/administrative assistant, I would like to forward the committee's
recommendation for the position. Clifford Anderson has been highly
recommended to fill the position of fire inspector/administrative assistant.
Cliff Anderson was the clear choice of all three members of the interview
13065 Orono Parkway ' P.O. Box 490 · Elk River, MN 55330 ' TDD & Phone: (612) 441-7420 ' Fax: (612) 441-7425
Memo to City Council
Page 2
committee. The interview committee consisted of Mike Trunnell, first
assistant chief for the Elk River Fire Department; Nyle Zikmund, fire chief for
Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Moundsview; and Doug Freeby, fire marshal for the
Anoka-Champlin Fire Department. As fire chief I also sat on the interview
committee.
I would like to thank Mike Trunnell, first assistant chief for the Elk River Fire
Department and the other committee members for their time during the
interview portion of the hiring process. I fully concur with the interview
committee's choice for the fire inspector/administrative assistant position.
I will be present at the July 10th City Council meeting, along with first
assistant fire chief, Mike Trunnell, on behalf of the interview committee. If
you have any questions prior to the City Council meeting of July 10, 2000,
please feel free to contact me at the Elk River Fire Department, (763) 441-
4919.
Recommendation
I have reviewed the terms and conditions of employment with city
administrator, Pat Klaers and finance director, Lori Johnson. I am requesting
City Council approval to hire Cliff Anderson to fill the position of fire
inspector/administrative assistant beginning July 31, 2000, at a starting
salary of $44,500, with a move to $46,000 after successful completion of the
six-month orientation process. A job profile will be completed for this position
by July 1, 2001. The results will be forwarded to the personnel committee for
their recommendation. Any change in the pay plan will be retroactive to July
1, 2001.
Attachments
s:Xoffsite\fireXnewhire.doc
Mailing Address:
2015 - 1St Ave. N.
Anoka, MN 55303
Phone: (612) 4,?.1-6631
Headquarters:
2301 - 3rd Ave. N.
Anoka, MN 55303
Phone: (612) 421-6631
Suly 6, 2000
Chief Bruce West
Elk Rivar Fire D~l~a, tment
415 Jackson Ave.
Elk River, MN 55330
Subject: Oral interviews.
Dear Chief Wcst;
I mentioned this to you that evening, but I was sincerely honored to be invited to sit on your oral
review board on June 28, 2000. This was not'the first such panel. I have been a par~ of, but I must
tell you that my decision on a final candidate was never more clear in my mind. I believe this
was substan~ated by thc unanimous decision of the panel to reco~0mend Mr. Anderson for ~e
position.
During the trip back home and throughout the evening I was questioning in my mind the motives
of the other finalist from within your Department. I am not sure .about his reasons for applying
for this position but can't help wondering if he might not be challenging you on making a
decision when there is more than one "in-house" candidate as a finalist. I'm not at all sure that
he is seriously seeking this position.
Again, thanks for the opportunity to be a part of this panel.
Anoka-Champlin Fire Marshal
sPnng
Lal c Park
unds View
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HI:Al
VIA FACSIMILE
763-441-3299
To~
From:
Date:
Re:
Bruce West, Fire Chief of Elk River
Elk River City Council
Elk River City Administrator
Nyle Zikmund, Fire Chief
July 6, 2000
Fire Inspector Position
Based upon my 18 years in the fire service, the past five as full time chief ufa department
that protects 66,000 people with 65 volunteers, and as a chief who has five fire
marshals/inspectors that work for him as well as six public educators (one full time and
five part time), I endorse to you the following;
Candidate Cliff Anderson is the clear choice for your current open position and Ibc other
two candidates are distant seconds. I felt so strongly in this regard that I volunteered to
Chief West to write this memo or appear before council. Should applicant Anderson not
be chosen or not be able to accept, I would recommend reposting the opening. Although
the other two candidates could do the job, it is my experience that more qualified
individuals are available.
Any full time position within city government, and especially in the fire service, is
typically one of very long term if not for life (in terms of career life). Fire inspections are
~,=,,h,,~l,, ,'dtic~l !o the long-term continuance of your cost efficient volunteer operation
~n~ ,,,,; .,o~,,~,~,,,,- },,,.,~,u~ the very foundation tbr the volunteer operation to occur.
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