City staff recommend matching fire chief recruitment flexibility to police chief; item to go to council committee

Department of Employee Relations staff told the Fire and Police Commission on Oct. 2 that a request from Ald. Charlene Moore prompted a proposal to give the fire chief the same recruitment flexibility currently included for the police chief. Andrea Knickerbocker, representing the Department of Employee Relations, said the communication does two things: it provides parallel salary-range recruitment flexibility for the fire chief and it clarifies the ordinance footnote to explicitly state that authority rests with the Fire and Police Commission. "This request came to DER from alderwoman, Charlene Moore," Knickerbocker said. Knickerbocker said the file will be transmitted to the Common Council27s Finance and Personnel Committee on Wednesday, Oct. 8, for final approval of the ordinance language. The executive director added that Chair Horowitz plans to attend that committee meeting. Commissioners asked for clarifications about sponsors and process; Knickerbocker said the request originated with one alderperson and that salary and positions ordinances are regularly transmitted to the council through the department's communications process. The commission voted by voice vote to approve the communication and forward the matter for council consideration.