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seniority points shall be the eligible candidates considered in accordance with
promotional policy by the Fire Commissioners for the first vacancy._ However, for
vacancies in the Fire Marshal Division, as of January 1, 2021, to be eligible to take
the exam, members must have their Fire Inspector _I and Fire Investigator
certifications. For each additional vacancy, the candidate who attains the next
highest combined scores shall be added to the list of candidates. If the foregoing
process results in there being less than five (5) candidates available for
consideration, the Fire Commission shall consider the candidates who do pass the
examinations in accordance with previous arbitration decisions. In the event the
Fire Commissioners wish to consider candidates' conformance to performance
standards, written copies of such performance standards shall be furnished to each
member of the bargaining unit at least six (6) months prior to the date of such
consideration. As part of the testing process, the Fire Commissioners may require
all candidates for positions in the Mechanical and Fire Alarm divisions to
participate in a practical skills examination process. This Paragraph D shall apply
to all promotions to classifications other than Deputy Chief, Captain, and
Lieutenant.

E. The written examinations for Lieutenant and Acting Lieutenant will
be given in March. The day of the written examination will be rotated through the
four different platoons. The results of the written examination will stand for
twenty-four (24) months from May | next following the administration of the
examination. The posting for the examinations will contain the information in
items (1) and (2) of Paragraph I. For the rank of Lieutenant, the nine (9)
candidates who pass the written examination and attain the highest combined
scores of the written examination and in-grade service year points shall be the
eligible candidates considered in the interview process described in Paragraphs J

and K below. +bese—-seeres cet beseeatable tench shee eHhe premetonit
pfeees.

F. Written examinations for Captain and Deputy Chief will be given in
March or April. The list of those who pass the written examination will stand for
twenty-four (24) months from May | next following the administration of the
examinations. For the rank of Captain, the six (6) candidates who pass the written
examination and attain the highest combined scores of the written examination and
in-grade service year points shall be the eligible candidates considered in the
interview process described in Paragraphs J and K below. For the rank of Deputy
Chief, the three (3) candidates who pass the written examination and attain the
highest combined scores of the written examination and time in-grade points shall
be the eligible candidates considered in the interview process described in

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Paragraphs J and K below. -hese-seoreswitt -be-available-at-each—stageofthe
promotor harecess

G. In the event that there is a tie for the ninth (9") candidate for a
Lieutenant vacancy; the sixth (6") candidate for a Captain vacancy; or the third
(3) candidate for a Deputy Chief vacancy, all candidates affected by the tie scores
shall continue in the process.

Should a tie occur as noted above, then at the Deputy Chief and oral
interview steps (Paragraphs J and K), the highest ranked candidate shall be given a
number equal to the number of candidates being considered and then so on to one
(1) point for lowest ranked candidate. However, in no case shall the final
promotional lists exceed the following number of candidates:

Lieutenant nine (9);
Captain six (6); and
Deputy Chiefs three (3).

H. Promotional opportunities occurring because of vacancies and new
positions which the Fire Commissioners wish to fill on a permanent basis, and for
which qualified candidates are not available on a current list under D, E and F
above shall, except in an emergency be posted within ten (10) days after the
vacancy occurs. The test date for each such vacancy shall be posted for a period of
twenty (20) days, and each person eligible to take the test who is on vacation or
other extended leave shall be sent a notification of the posting by mail. For
positions in the Suppression Division, the tests shall not be scheduled earlier than
six (6) months after the initial date of posting to allow for study time. For
positions in the Specialist Division, tests shall not be scheduled earlier than-fers—
frve{45)_ ninety (90) days after the initial date of posting to allow for study time.

I. All test postings shall include the following information:

1. The study materials on which the examinations will be based.

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2. All tests will be based upon relevant sources not to exceed
1,400 pages of material. Starting January |, 2021, all tests for the Fire
Marshal Division will be based upon relevant sources not to exceed 1,000

pages of material.

J. The names of all eligible candidates as defined in Paragraphs C
through F above shall be submitted by the Assistant Chief to the Deputy Chiefs for
their recommendation, no scores will be provided only that the candidate has
passed and is moving on in the promotional process. The Deputy Chiefs, meeting
together, shall review and consider each candidate's abilities, past performance,
and compliance with Nashua Fire Rescue rules and regulations. The Deputy
Chiefs, acting as one body, shall rank the candidates relative to each other. For
Lieutenant candidates, the Deputy Chiefs shall give their highest ranked candidate
nine (9) points and so on to one (1) point for their lowest ranked candidate. For
Captain candidates, the Deputy Chiefs shall give their highest ranked candidate six
(6) points and so on to one (1) point for their lowest ranked candidate. For Deputy
candidates, Deputy Chiefs shall give their highest ranked candidate three (3) points
and so on to one (1) point for their lowest ranked candidate. The rankings shall be
given in a sealed envelope to the Human Resources Department at the conclusion
of the Deputy Chiefs’ review and consideration. The Deputy Chiefs’ ranking shall
be provided by the Human Resources representative to the panel set forth in
Paragraph K below prior to the oral interview process and to the Board of Fire
Commissioners at the time the final promotional lists are determined. Should the
Deputy Chiefs be unable to reach agreement on the rankings for any position, the
procedure set forth in Paragraphs K. 3 & 4 below shall be utilized. In the case of a
tie score between candidates, the candidate with most time in-grade shall be ranked
higher.

K. — The oral interview process shall be administered as follows:
1. Eligible candidates as defined in Paragraphs D through H above

shall be interviewed by a panel that consists of a quorum of the Board of
Fire Commissioners and the Chief of the Department or designee.

2. A representative from Human Resources will assist in the
process.
3. After all eligible candidates have been interviewed, each panel

member shall rank the candidates relative to each other. For Lieutenant
candidates, panel members shall give their highest ranked candidate nine (9)

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points and so on to one (1) point for their lowest ranked candidate. For
Captain candidates, panel members shall give their highest ranked candidate
six (6) points and so on to one (1) point for their lowest ranked candidate.
For Deputy candidates, panel members shall give their highest ranked
candidate three (3) points and so on to one (1) point for their lowest ranked
candidate.

4, The Human Resources representative will collect all rankings
and add the points for each candidate to determine the aggregate score for
each candidate. All scores shall be given to the Human Resources
representative and they will notify by mail candidates who have passed with
NO scores just that the candidate has passed_and is moving on in the
promotional process. Once the interviews are complete and all scores are
added then all candidates shall be notified by mail their final score and
placement on the promotional list. The Lieutenant candidates receiving the
highest aggregate score shall be awarded nine (9) points for the interview
and so on to one (1) point for the lowest aggregate score. Captain candidates
receiving the highest aggregate score shall be awarded six (6) points for the
interview and so on to one (1) point for the lowest aggregate score. The
Deputy Chief candidate receiving the highest aggregate score shall be
awarded three (3) points for the interview and so on to one (1) point for the
lowest aggregate score. The Human Resources representative will submit the
panel’s final rankings to the Fire Commission. In the case of a tie score
between candidates, the candidate with most time in-grade shall be ranked
higher.

L. The Fire Commission shall meet to compile and approve the
promotional lists. The Fire Commissioners shall add the points from the oral
interview and Deputy Chiefs’ rankings to the combined written examination score
and years of service point / in-grade points for each candidate. The candidates
shall be ranked from the highest overall score to the lowest overall score and these
shall constitute the promotional lists. In the case of a tie score between candidates,
the candidate with most time in-grade shall be ranked higher.

M. Promotions shall be made within forty-five (45) days of the vacancy
from the names on the promotional lists. Regardless of vacancies, a promotional
list for the Lieutenant, Captain and Deputy Chief ranks will be formulated by May
lst and stand for twenty-four months or until depleted. Promotions from these
promotional lists will be made as vacancies in the applicable ranks occur. When a
vacancy occurs, the Fire Commissioners shall, except as provided below, offer the

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candidate ranked first on the appropriate promotional list the first vacancy and so
on until the list is exhausted or expires. The Fire Commissioners may skip over
candidates on the promotional lists for suspensions imposed within three (3) years
of the promotional opportunities. The Fire Commissioners may skip over
candidates on the promotional lists for written warnings imposed within six (6)
months of promotional opportunities, except that candidates for Deputy Chief
vacancies shall be skipped over no more than one (1) time; candidates for Captain
vacancies shall not be skipped over more than two (2) times; and, candidates for
Lieutenant vacancies shall not be skipped over more than three (3) times. The
candidate’s name will remain on the list and will be reconsidered each time a
vacancy occurs subject to the Fire Commissioners’ right to skip over the candidate
until the list expires or is depleted or the discipline is removed from the candidate’s
file. In the event that the list 1s exhausted, the Deputy Chief’s review (Paragraph J)
and the oral interview process (Paragraph K), will be used to formulate another list
using the eligible candidates specified in Paragraphs D through F. Seniority points
and time in rank points will be recalculated as of the date a vacancy occurs and
candidates may change position on the promotional list as a result. N. For the rank
of Lieutenant and Acting Lieutenant, an applicant must have completed five (5)
consecutive years of service as a Fire Private with the Nashua Fire Department to
be eligible to take the examinations. Eligibility for the tests to be given under
Paragraph E above shall be determined as of March 1. Eligibility for the tests to be
given under Paragraph H above shall be determined as of the date the vacancy
occurs. However, a Fire Private whose anniversary date for five years of service
falls within the period during which a promotional list is current will be allowed to
take the examinations, provided that such Fire Private's eligibility for promotion
will not become effective until the Fire Private's anniversary date. Sole
consideration and absolute preference shall be given to those who have completed
five (5) consecutive years with the Department unless they are shown not to be
qualified.

N. — For the rank of Lieutenant and Acting Lieutenant, an applicant must
have completed five (5) consecutive years of service as a Fire Private with the
Nashua Fire Department to be eligible to take the examinations. Eligibility for the
tests to be given under Paragraph E above shall be determined as of March 1.
Eligibility for the tests to be given under Paragraph H above shall be determined as
of the date the vacancy occurs. However, a Fire Private whose anniversary date
for five years of service falls within the period during which a promotional list is
current will be allowed to take the examinations, provided that such Fire Private's
eligibility for promotion will not become effective until the Fire Private's
anniversary date. Sole consideration and absolute preference shall be given to

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those who have completed five (5) consecutive years with the Department unless
they are shown not to be qualified.

O. For the rank of Captain, an applicant must have completed two (2)
consecutive years of service as a Lieutenant with the Nashua Fire Department to be
eligible to take the written examination. Eligibility will be determined as of March
1 for the tests under Paragraph F above and as of the date the vacancy occurs for
the tests under Paragraph H above. However, a Lieutenant whose anniversary date
for two (2) years of service falls within the period during which a promotional list
is current will be allowed to take the examination provided that such Lieutenant’s
eligibility for promotion becomes effective on the Lieutenant’s anniversary date of
two (2) years as Lieutenant.

P. For the rank of Deputy Chief, an applicant must have completed one
(1) year of service as a Captain with the Nashua Fire Department to be eligible to
take the written examination. Eligibility will be determined as of March 1 for the
tests under Paragraph F above, and as of the date the vacancy occurs for the tests
under Paragraph G above. However, a Captain whose anniversary date for one (1)
year of service falls within the period during which a promotional list is current
will be allowed to take the examination provided that such Captain’s eligibility for
promotion will not become effective until the Captain’s one year anniversary date.

Q. The Training Division will be known as the Training/Safety Division.

Q.1. The Superintendent of Training/Safety shall be known as the Captain
of Training/Safety. The Captain of Training/Safety will have the same duties and
responsibilities as that of the former Superintendent. The Captain of
Training/Safety shall be placed on the payroll grade and step grid at the grade and
step provided for Superintendents.

The employee holding the position of Captain Training/Safety, as defined in
this paragraph, may take promotional tests for line positions, based on his/her line
rank and service time prior to promotion to Lieutenant Training/Safety or Captain
Training/Safety, whichever came first.

Q.2. This will be part of Emergency Services Group (Suppression)
Q.3. Four (4) Lieutenant positions shall be created and then filled per

Article 18, these positions are responsible for training, administration,
documentation and coordination, as well as Emergency Scene Safety Officer.

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Q.3.a. If the Board of Fire Commissioners does not fund the Lieutenant
positions set forth in paragraph Q.3. above, the Board of Fire Commissioners may
create and fund an “Assistant Superintendent” Position to be known as the
“Training/Safety Lieutenant”, to be assigned to the “Training/Safety Division”.
This Training/Safety Lieutenant shall work four (4) ten-hour days.

(0.3.a. above is from the sidebar agreement of 10/1/12)

The employee holding the position of Lieutenant Training/Safety, as defined
in this paragraph, may take promotional tests for “line” positions based on his/her
line rank and service time prior to promotion to Lieutenant Training/Safety, as
defined in this paragraph.

Q.4. Training Superintendent, 4-10 hour days per week, Training /Safety
Lieutenant, 10/14 schedule.

Q.5. Training/Safety Lieutenants instruct basic Fire Fighter evolutions.
Example: hose, ladders, SCBA, pumps, EMS etc.

Q.6. Training/Safety Lieutenants are available for Station Assignments as
per Article 36, Section C.

Q.7. Training/Safety Lieutenant positions are covered positions seven (7)
days per week twenty-four (24) hours per day, and will be part of officers’
overtime list.

Q.8. All Lieutenants promoted before July 1, 2003 are not transferable to
the Training/Safety Division under Article 4, they are however allowed to request
assignment in the Training Safety Position.

Q.9. As soon as practical all suppression officers will be given the State of
New Hampshire Fire Standards and Training, Incident Scene Safety Officer on
duty.

R. — In order to fill vacancies in the rank of Assistant Superintendent, a test
will be given. Employees who are currently third ranking specialists in that
division will be considered eligible to take the test. If only one Third Ranking
Specialist passes the test, he shall be promoted to Assistant Superintendent. In the
event that there is no third ranking specialist in that division, no third ranking

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specialist passes the test, or no third ranking specialist chooses to test, then all
members of Nashua Fire Rescue who have completed one (1) year of service will
be eligible to take the exam. However, for vacancies in the Fire Marshal Division,
as of January 1, 2021, to be eligible to take the exam, members must have their
Fire Inspector | and Fire Investigator certifications. Eligibility will be determined
as of the date the vacancy occurs. If no Third Ranking Specialist passes the exam
but, more than one other employee does pass the exam, then the current
promotional policy will be used to promote the Assistant Superintendent.

S. In order to fill vacancies in the rank of Superintendent or Fire
Marshall a test will be given. Employees who are currently Assistant
Superintendents in that division will be considered eligible to take the test. In the
event that there are no Assistant Superintendents, no Assistant Superintendents
pass the exam, or no Assistant Superintendents choose to test, then current Third
Ranking Specialists in that division will be eligible to take a test for the position.
In the event that no Third Ranking Specialists exist, no Third Ranking Specialists
pass the exam, or no Third Ranking Specialists choose to test, then all members of
Nashua Fire Rescue who have completed one (1) year of service will be eligible to
take a test for the position. However, for vacancies in the Fire Marshal Division,
as of January 1, 2021, to be eligible to take the exam, members must have their
Fire Inspector | and Fire Investigator certifications. Eligibility will be determined
as of the date the vacancy occurs. If subsequent tests are, in fact, needed after the
initial test due to no candidates having passed the test, then, Assistant
Superintendents and Third Ranking Specialists from the division will remain
eligible to take those exams as they occur. If one (1) Assistant Superintendent
passes the examination on the first attempt, he/she will be given the appointment.
If more than one employee passes an exam for the Superintendent position, the
current promotional policy will be used to promote one of the candidates.

If a Third Ranking Specialist takes and passes a test during this process, and
he is the only Third Ranking Specialist in the division, then he/she shall be
promoted to Assistant Superintendent if there is an opening in that position as a
result of this process.

S.1. For purposes of clarification in R and S above, “divisions” will include:
Training/Safety, Fire Alarm, Mechanical, and Fire Marshals. Additionally, the
rank of Superintendent will include the highest ranking position in the division,
Assistant Superintendent will include the 2™ highest ranking position in the
division, and Third Ranking Specialist will include the 3“ highest ranking position
in the division.

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T. The Department will give good faith consideration pursuant to
previous arbitration decisions to the candidates presented pursuant to Paragraphs C
through J above. If all of the candidates presented are shown not to be qualified for
promotion, then the examinations may be given by the Fire Commissioners to
persons inside or outside the Department. Absolute preference under this paragraph
shall be given to those in the ranks in accordance with this Article 18 unless those
from the ranks are shown not to be qualified.

U. — Any person demoted shall be notified in writing within twenty-four
hours as to the reasons for the demotion. Such notice shall first be given to the
employee involved and to the Union.

V. A-positien-deseriptien-questiennaire job description will be completed
for the position of Dispatches-Clerkt+ainer Supervisor. When a vacancy arises in

this classification, the posting for the position will include the-positien-deseription
questiennaize job description and the testing for the vacancy will be based on the
requirements of the position as described therein. Individuals promoted to this
position must meet all the position requirements within six (6) months to fill the

position —OualtHed indeaciedts—s] secer-e the paspate for this pesHign—as
desettbedtinder Article 13 Sections CL C2 C3 and C+

W._ The Fire Prevention Bureau shall be known as the Fire Marshall's
Office. The Superintendent of Fire Prevention shall be known as the Fire Marshall.
The Assistant Superintendents shall be known as Inspector/Investigators. The
Public Education Officer shall be known as Inspector/Public Education Officer.
The purpose of this paragraph is to reflect the title changes only and all other
conditions relating to these positions remain unchanged.

X. Non-fire suppression divisional employees, who have passed the
current fire fighter exam written and physical, shall be given preference by
seniority for interdivisional transfers to fire suppression in the event that a vacancy
occurs. All bargaining unit employees shall be given preference in the filling of
any interdivisional vacancy that may occur in any other division when the position
does not require an examination. Members in all cases pertaining to this section
shall have otherwise met the then current qualifications for said position as
established by the City of Nashua’s Board of Fire Commissioners, Fire Standard
and Training Commissioners, and the New Hampshire Retirement System.

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Y. In order to be eligible to be promoted to any rank or position,
employees must take a test for that position regardless of the number of employees
competing for the position.

Z. Once atest has been posted, the promotional process that was in effect
on the date of the posting shall be the process that is used until the subsequent
promotional list expires or the eligible candidates on that list are exhausted.

AA. Upon signing of this contract, the union and the administration shall
establish a joint labor management committee to review the current promotional
processes. This committee shall have four (4) members from the union, (4)
members from administration and one (1) mutually agreed upon full voting
member, who is not affiliated with either organization. The committee shall review
this Article 18, and propose changes to this Article to the Board of Fire
Commissioners and the Union. This committee shall be formed within 60 days of
signing and shall have a report for members to vote on by September 1, 2021.

Article 19 - GRIEVANCE PROCEDURE

A. — It shall be the purpose of this grievance procedure to settle grievances
between the City and the Union as expeditiously and fairly as possible. Any
difference as to the interpretation of this Agreement in its application to a
particular situation, or as to whether it has been observed and performed, shall be a
grievance under this Agreement and the parties shall observe the following
procedure for the adjustment and settlement of such grievance.

Step I:
Within thirty (30) days of when the grievant knew or should have known of the act
or condition on which the grievance is based, the grievance shall be reduced to
writing, signed by the employee and the Union, and presented to the Deputy Chief
or Division Supervisor. If the grievance is not settled within seven (7) workdays of
its receipt by the Deputy Chief or division supervisor, then

Step I:
The Union may take the matter up with the Chief by submitting to him a written
copy of the grievance together with such other evidence as it wishes him to
consider. The Chief shall have fourteen (14) calendar days within which to render
a written decision to the Union. If the Union does not receive a reply from the
Chief within fourteen (14) calendar days or if it 1s not satisfied with the decision of

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