HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOM 0346.014 1996-1998
t 9-15-1997 2~23PN FROGi ANAIC1EA INSTANT PRINT 808 885 5655 P_1
9/15/97
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To: All Council Members C' ~ ~ ~ ~ .
?om Heach, Fire FSgther of 30 Years
From: COU~JIY L, ~ ~~~^n
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Subject: Fire Aeoartment Promotional Prxeas Improvements
The current promotional and recruitment process in the fire department serves
to perpetuate the political patronage system. It doss not serve tho best enteresta
of our clients, the citizens, nor good government, you.
The best and brightest have been passed over time and again in favor pf the
mediocre--but loyal atsd subservient. Those that have kissed uq--haves gone up.
The problem stoma dirootly from th• fact that the office of mayor has the
ewer to vetp,ar:d the power to aggoint department heads. The solution is for the
County Council to make Lhe office oP mayor be that of Council Chairperson (with
NO veto powers) arxi give the management of this county to a non-political, totally
auslified professional County Manager. Such a Manager would then be empowered to
appoint (with Counsel approval) all department heads based noon skill, experience,
and merit--- rather thnn maleab111ty, loyalty, and subservience... and mediocrity.
Such s chance would require a County Charter change created by this Council.
with such a system in glace xe x111 see a dramatic Smpro~emsnt in all depart-
ments' effectiveness, efficiency, and moat of all morale, When people aro part
of a merit system that works, they tend tp do their beat. It nays.
As for Personnel Director Michael 9en'a suggestions for test security: they
should be implemented immediallelp. Better late than never!
Aa for his refusal to allow video taping of interviews, I strongly disagree.
A permanent recordshonldba maci• e:(. interviews for review Sf there is a dispute
as to xho said what, Biaa either way could be proved or disputed. Th• Civil
Service can afford this arx] should have done it long ago to assure fairness.
Oaos~ Die 35~ C.
)fie lie. F/Q
flee ~ Presented Fc
lest. i>~ SFP 16 ~
9-15-1997 2-27PM FROM NIAIHEA INSTANT PRINT 8DS 885 5655 P.1
Concerning the two proposals for commissions by Council members:
As fang as the Mayor chooses Fire Commission members how unbiased and non-
political can they be4 Might he choose people he "ewes" or whom he wishes to owe
h1m4 It ,just gives him more power. Unless the Council chooses the members (without)
mayoral approval needed and draws from each district it is really tha mayor choosing.
Also: it must be the Commission members who choose the department heads. The idea
Ss far the Commission to be outside of the mayors political grasp and influence.
pnd outside of politics period while on the Commission. Except to vote of course.
I would like to thank the Cpucil for their time and efforts to help us 1n
the Fire Department. We realize that it is not easy to salve this problem. But
we, 11ke you realize that enough ie enough. The kind pf appointment we ~uat seen
in the finance department is Sust the sort pf thing we have had to endure for years
Sn our organization.
You have the power to atop such sbuaes Sn the futuro. I believe public
opinion is very much with ouch a Charter change. ?lease, do ao.
Mahalo,
c om al/ch~~~~~"""
p.3. I'm sorry I could not attend the meeting 9/16/97. I could not get time off
from work. `de are short of pereonnel...especially Fire Equipment Operators.