Dec. 11—ANDERSON — The Anderson City Council is being asked to create a merit commission to oversee hiring and promotions in the fire department.
The council Thursday will consider the re-establishment of a merit system for the fire department.
A merit system was approved by the city council in 2006, but it was disbanded a year later. At the time, the merit system had not been voted on by union members before adoption.
Cody Leever, president of Anderson Firefighters Local 1262, said in a statement the union is supportive of the creation of a merit system.
“This initiative represents a significant step toward ensuring transparency, fairness, and professionalism in our ranks, benefiting not only our firefighters but the entire Anderson community we serve,” Leever said.
He said union members throughout Indiana worked last year to have the Indiana General Assembly mandate the establishment of merit systems for cities and departments the size of Anderson.
“The merit system professionalizes our profession, elevating our department to meet the demands of modern public safety while honoring traditions of service and sacrifice that define firefighting,” Leever said.
The proposed ordinance establishes a five-member commission, all residing in Anderson, with two members from different political parties elected by the fire department members; two appointed by the mayor from different political parties; and one appointed by the city council.
The term of office is four years.
All meetings, except for executive sessions, would be open to the public.
The positions of chief, deputy chief, division chief and EMS shift captain are exempt positions and would remain as mayoral appointments.
The AFD Merit Commission can determine who gets hired onto the department and who gets promoted.
Commissioners aren’t paid for their work.
Once commission members are appointed, they will have 90 days to adopt rules governing hiring, promotions or demotions and disciplinary action or dismissal.
The ordinance also addresses potential conflicts of interest by prohibiting a commission member from discussing or voting on any matter concerning a family member.
It outlines that a relative of a commission member includes the following: spouse; parent or stepparent; child or stepchild; brother or sister; niece or nephew; uncle or aunt; daughter-in-law or son in-law; cousin; and sister-in-law or brother in-law.
Follow Ken de la Bastide on Twitter @KendelaBastide, or call 765-640-4863.