Master Plan Nashua Fire Rescue, NH
After all eligible candidates have been interviewed, each panel member ranks the candidates relative to each
other. The Human Resources representative then determines the aggregate score for each candidate and
submits the panel's final rankings to the Fire Commission. It is the responsibility of the Fire Commission to
meet to compile and approve the promotional lists. The Fire Commissioners 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 are then ranked from the highest overall score to
the lowest overall score, and these shall constitute the promotional lists.
ESCI noted that there is new language related to the promotional process in the contract that was recently
approved for the period July 1, 2019, through June 30, 2023. Article 18, Section AA states that:
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.
NFPA 1022 is the Standard for Fire Officer Professional Qualifications. This standard identifies the minimum
job performance requirements (JPRs) for the various ranks of fire officers. ESCl recommends that the joint
labor management committee that reviews the current promotional process evaluates the process in its
entirety to ensure that the test components correlate to the current job descriptions and JPRs established by
the national standard as they relate to the positions within Nashua Fire Rescue. As the ultimate goal should
be to ensure a defensible promotion process in the event of a legal challenge, ESCI also suggests that Nashua
Fire Rescue re-evaluate the merits of including the civilian Board of Fire Commissioners within the
promotional process.
It is ESCI’s suggestion that Nashua Fire Rescue may be able to improve the current promotional process by
allowing the professional human resources and fire department personnel to conduct the entire process,
thereby eliminating the potential political influence that could be introduced by the inclusion of the elected
board.
Safety and Health
Article 12 of the collective bargaining agreement between the city and Local #789 states that:
There shall be established a departmental safety committee, a truck committee, an equipment committee and
other committees as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties, each comprised of one private and one officer
named by the Union and the Chief or designee. The committee shall meet as necessary and will keep minutes of all
proceedings. A copy of the minutes and any reports issued by the committee shall be posted at each station, anda
copy forwarded to the Fire Commission and the Union. There shall be compensation paid for attendance at
committee meetings by members of the bargaining unit unless they are on duty.
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ESC) Consulting International 69
