Feb 23, 2026 Fire Police Municipal Board Meeting

[1. Roll Call]

[00:00:03]

GOOD MORNING EVERYONE. CALLING TO ORDER THE FEBRUARY 23RD, 2026 MUNICIPAL FIRE AND POLICE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD MEETING.

MISS HARRIS, COULD WE HAVE A ROLL CALL? VOTE ON A QUORUM? YES, MR. JOSHUA NEUVILLE? PRESENT. MR. BRADLEY RICKS? PRESENT. MR. EDWIN BERAUD? PRESENT. MR. MICHAEL LEMING? PRESENT. MR. TODD STERLING? YOU HAVE A QUORUM.

THANK YOU, MISS HARRIS. AGENDA ITEM 2, CONSIDER MOTION TO APPROVE THE AGENDA.

[2. Consider Motion to Approve Agenda. (Part 1 of 2)]

MOTION BY MR. LEMING. SECOND BY MR. BERAUD. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES. AGENDA ITEM 3, CONSIDER MOTION TO APPROVE MINUTES FROM NOVEMBER 24TH,

[3. Consider Motion to Approve Minutes from: • November 24, 2025 • December 23, 2025]

I'LL SECOND. SECOND BY MR. LEMING. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE, MOTION CARRIES. AGENDA ITEM 4, CONSIDER MOTION TO APPROVE OR REJECT PERSONAL ACTION FORMS IN THE BATON ROUGE FIRE AND

[4. Consider Motion to Approve or Reject Personnel Action Forms in the Baton Rouge Fire and Police Departments.]

YOU HAVE THOSE? OKAY. THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, FIRE DEPARTMENT, THEY.

OKAY. [INAUDIBLE]. WE CAN. WELL, AS JUST A BIT OF DISCUSSION, ARE THERE ANY ISSUES WITH EITHER OF THOSE OR? NO ISSUES FROM POLICE. OKAY. AND THEN I WILL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ON AGENDA ITEM FOUR TO CONSIDER A MOTION TO APPROVE OR REJECT PERSONAL ACTION FORMS IN THE BATON ROUGE FIRE AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS. IF ANYONE IS INCLINED TO MAKE SUCH A MOTION.

I'LL MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE FIRE AND POLICE PERSONNEL ACTION FORMS. I SECOND. I, SO BECAUSE OF FIRE AND POLICE. SO WE HAVE A MOTION FOR MR. BERAUD. SECOND FOR MR. LEMING. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE, AGENDA ITEM 4 CARRIES. AGENDA ITEM 5, CONSIDER MOTION TO CALL FOR EXAMINATIONS IN THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR FIRE

[5. Consider Motion to Call for Examinations in the BRFD for: • Fire Inspector I • Fire Communications Officer II • Fire Communications Officer Ill]

IS THERE ANY NEED FOR DISCUSSION ON THIS AGENDA MATTER, IF ANYONE? OKAY. THEN IF ANYONE IS INCLINED TO MAKE A MOTION.

I MAKE A MOTION TO CALL FOR EXAMINATION FOR BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT FIRE INSPECTOR I, FIRE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER II, FIRE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER III. MOTION BY MR. LEMING, SECOND BY MR. RICKS. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.

[6. Consider Motion to Call for Examinations in the BRPD for: • Police Fingerprint Technician I]

DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION FOR AN EXAMINATION FOR POLICE FINGERPRINT TECHNICIAN I.

MOTION BY MR. BERAUD. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND.

SECOND BY MR. LEMING. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.

[7. Consider Motion to Review/ Accept Applications in the BRPD for: • Police Criminal Information Specialist I • Police Cadet]

IS THIS REVIEWING APPLICATIONS? YEAH, WE HAVE A APPLICATION.

THIS CADET APPLICATION YOU SAID WAS WE DON'T HAVE A POSTING FOR IT.

YES. SO THERE WERE NO THERE WASN'T AN OPEN POSTING PERIOD FOR.

POLICE YES, I JUST. YEAH, YEAH, ALICIA HAMILTON, I DON'T KNOW.

YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

AND SO THAT'S WHY I WAS LOOKING AT AND THEN GOING FROM THERE.

[00:05:21]

I THINK THAT'S THE EASIEST. ARE WE GOING TO HAVE TO MAKE A MOTION.

AND WE CAN AND WE CAN HAVE MULTIPLE MOTIONS ON A SINGLE AGENDA ITEM.

THERE'S NO ISSUE WITH THAT. WE DON'T NEED TO AMEND THE AGENDA OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

SO THE ITEM ON THE FLOOR IS AGENDA ITEM 7. CONSIDER MOTION TO REVIEW/ACCEPT APPLICATIONS IN THE BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR POLICE CRIMINAL INFORMATION SPECIALIST I AND POLICE CADET. ARE THERE ANY MOTIONS TO BE MADE AT THIS TIME? THIS IS A SEPARATE MOTION FOR. WE'RE GOING TO ACCEPT.

SO WE'VE GOT ONE LARGE AGENDA ITEM, BUT WE CAN MAKE MULTIPLE MOTIONS ON THAT AGENDA ITEM.

AND SO IF WE HAVE APPLICATIONS THAT NEED TO BE TREATED DIFFERENTLY FOR WHATEVER REASON, THEN LET'S MAKE THE MAKE THE MOTION, IF WE GET A SECOND, THEN WE'LL HAVE A SHORT DEBATE PERIOD WHERE WE EXPLAIN WHAT THE ISSUE IS, AND THEN WE'LL DO A FINAL VOTE ON IT. ALL RIGHT.

I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO REJECT THE CADET APPLICATION FOR ALICIA HAMILTON.

IS THERE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND. I WAS ABOUT TO OPEN UP FOR DEBATE.

SO MOTION BY MR. BERAUD, SECOND BY MR. RICKS.

I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR FOR DEBATE. MR. BERAUD, COULD YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT MORE ABOUT THE REASON FOR THE REJECTION? THERE WAS NO OPEN POSTING AT THE TIME THAT SHE FILED FOR HER DEBT APPLICATION.

OKAY. WAS THIS SOMETHING THAT WE HAD PREVIOUSLY OPENED FUTURE OPEN, OR IS THIS NOT SOMETHING WE'VE ADVERTISED AT ALL RECENTLY? TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE. I DON'T KNOW THAT IT WAS ADVERTISED.

IT'S BEEN ADVERTISED, BUT NOT DURING THIS TIME.

OKAY. YEAH. OKAY. HE HAS ANOTHER ONE TO REJECT.

BUT THIS. WE'LL TAKE HIM ONE AT A TIME. RIGHT.

OKAY. SO THE. FOR THE CADET APPLICATION FOR MISS HAMILTON, THERE WAS NO OPEN POSTING.

CORRECT. SO IT WASN'T OUT OF FORM. IT JUST WAS AN APPLICATION FOR A POSTING THAT CURRENTLY DOESN'T EXIST.

RIGHT. OKAY. IS THERE ANY OTHER DISCUSSION OR DEBATE THAT WE NEED ON THIS ITEM? HEARING NONE, I CLOSE THE FLOOR FOR DEBATE. WE HAVE A MOTION AND A SECOND.

ANY OBJECTION TO THE MOTION AS READ. HEARING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.

I ALSO HAVE ANOTHER MOTION TO REJECT A, IT'S NOT EVEN ON.

IT'S A FINGERPRINT TECH APPLICATION. FOR. DESTINY JOSEPH.

FOR DESTINY JOSEPH THAT WAS RECEIVED OUTSIDE THE POSTING PERIOD.

BUT IT WAS ON 7. WOULD THAT NOT BE ON AGENDA ITEM 9? IS THAT NINE. NO, THAT'S TEST RESULTS. OKAY, OKAY, IT'S GOING TO BE TEST RESULTS.

THIS IS AN APPLICATION. SO IT BASICALLY IT'S NOT ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE IT'S, IT WOULD BE.

THIS WAS ON A PREVIOUS AGENDA. NO THIS IS THE SAME MOTION.

THIS IS THE SAME AGENDA ITEM. NO, NO, I UNDERSTAND THAT.

OH YEAH, JUST TWO THINGS ARE SEPARATE. WHAT I'M ASKING IS THAT.

SO, YOU SAID THAT THIS WAS FOR FINGERPRINT TECHNICIAN.

CORRECT. WHICH I ASSUME BASED ON THE FACT THAT WE HAVE TEST RESULTS, IS SOMETHING THAT WE PREVIOUSLY POSTED FOR AT A PREVIOUS MEETING.

YEAH. OKAY. AND SO I'M SAYING THAT THIS ISN'T LISTED SPECIFICALLY ON THE AGENDA BECAUSE AGAIN, WE HAVE NO PUBLIC POSTING RIGHT NOW FOR THIS.

CORRECT. OKAY. YEAH. SO THIS WAS A MOTION TO REJECT.

AND WHAT WAS THE POSITION AND THE NAME AGAIN? FINGERPRINT TECHNICIAN. JUST GENERALLY OR I OR II OR? SHE ONLY PUT FINGER. YEAH. IT DOESN'T SAY WHAT? OKAY. AND WHAT WAS THE NAME? DESTINY. DESTINY JOSEPH.

WE HAVE A MOTION TO. MR. BERAUD. NOT TO FURTHER COMPLICATE THE MATTER IS, WAS THAT FOR THE POSITION WE JUST CALLED IT FOR AN EXAM IN.

SO, AND THAT'S WHAT MY CLARIFYING QUESTIONS WERE FOR.

WHAT I THINK THAT IS FOR THE RESULTS THAT WE HAVE UNDER AGENDA ITEM 9 THAT WE'VE, THE TEST HAS ALREADY HAPPENED AND WE GOT A NEW APP. AND THIS IS MY GUESS BASED ON READING THE TEA LEAVES THAT WE GOT AN APPLICATION FOR SOMETHING THAT WE HAD POSTED AND CLOSED AND DONE AN EXAMINATION FOR

[00:10:04]

AND SO NORMALLY IT WOULD SIMPLY BE ON THE AGENDA TO ACCEPT OR REJECT, BUT THIS IS SO LATE THAT IT'S NOT EVEN ON THE AGENDA IS MY UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH. AM I ACCURATE IN THAT? YEAH BECAUSE WE'RE ACCEPTING.

OKAY. I MEAN I THINK IT IS ON THE AGENDA. I MEAN IT SAYS TO REVIEW APPLICATION BRPD I GUESS.

OKAY I SEE IT IS. TECHNICALLY BECAUSE THEIR BULLET POINTED, THERE'S NO GENERALIZED.

FAIR ENOUGH. NOW, AS FAR AS THE REMEDY FOR THESE FOLKS, WOULD IT JUST BE TO APPLY FOR WHAT WE JUST OPENED UP? I, AS FAR. I WOULD THINK SO. JUST FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PUBLIC.

OF COURSE. THEY COULD JUST REAPPLY ONCE WE GET IT POSTED.

I THINK SO. OKAY. AND SO YOU'RE COMFORTABLE THAT THIS IS COMFORTABLY UNDER THIS AGENDA ITEM AND THAT WE CAN HANDLE. NO. NOT REALLY. THAT WAS MY CONCERN AS WELL.

I WOULD PROBABLY AMEND THE AGENDA TO ADD THAT ONE SPECIFIC POSITION THAT NEED TO BE BY UNANIMOUS CONSENT, THAT WE'RE AMENDING THE AGENDA AND NOT TAKE IT THAT WAY.

OKAY. FOR THE SAKE OF EASE, I'LL. I'LL FINISH NUMBER 7 AND THEN COME BACK.

I MEAN, FRANKLY, MY INCLINATION IS TO FINISH 7 AND PROBABLY ADD THAT TO THE END OF THE AGENDA, SO WE'RE NOT HAVING TO REORDER THE ENTIRE AGENDA AND JUST TAKE IT UP AS THE LAST THING THAT THAT WE HANDLE.

BUT OKAY. WE'LL CALL THAT MOTION AS, AS TABLED FOR NOW, AS NOT DIRECTLY APPLYING TO THE AGENDA ITEM THAT WE ARE ON. BUT WE WILL WE'LL DEAL WITH AMENDING THE AGENDA AFTER WE HAVE WRAPPED UP AGENDA ITEM 7.

MR. BERAUD DOES THAT, IS THAT ALL OF THE ONES THAT ARE KIND OF OUT OF OUT OF ORDER AND, AND DO YOU HAVE ANY OTHER MOTIONS THAT YOU CAN MAKE UNDER AGENDA ITEM 7? ARE THERE ANY, IS THERE A MOTION TO ACCEPT ANY APPLICATIONS? A MOTION TO ACCEPT FINGERPRINT CRIMINAL INFORMATION SPECIALIST I AND POLICE CADET APPLICATION.

SO, MR. BERAUD, JUST TO HAVE YOU, I THINK WE'VE BEEN TALKING ABOUT FINGERPRINTS SO LONG THAT I BELIEVE YOU SAID FINGERPRINT AGAIN.

OH. IT DID. SO I THINK YOU SIMPLY MISSTATED. SO IF YOU WOULD RESTATE YOUR CONSIDER A MOTION TO REVIEW/ACCEPT APPLICATIONS FOR POLICE CRIMINAL INFORMATION SPECIALIST I AND POLICE CADET. ALL RIGHT. MOTION BY MR. BERAUD.

DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND. SECOND BY MR. LEMING? ANY NEED FOR FURTHER DISCUSSION? IS THE MOTION CLARIFY ITS STANDS THE ONE THAT WE REJECTED? SO I THAT'S A GOOD POINT. SO THIS WOULD BE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE REMAINING APPLICATIONS FOR POLICE CRIMINAL INFORMATION SPECIALIST I AND POLICE CADET BECAUSE WE HAVE ALREADY DISPENSED WITH ALICIA HAMILTON.

ALL RIGHT. SO WE, WE'VE ALREADY HAD A MOTION REJECTING ALICIA HAMILTON'S CADET APPLICATION, CORRECT? CORRECT. OKAY. AND SO THE MOTION THAT WE HAVE ON THE FLOOR IS TO ACCEPT ALL OTHER APPLICATIONS OTHER THAN MISS HAMILTON'S, CORRECT? OKAY. MISS HARRIS IS DO YOU HAVE THAT DOWN OR DO WE NEED TO RESTATE YOU HAVE.

OKAY. SO WE HAVE A MOTION, WE HAVE A SECOND, A LITTLE BIT OF DEBATE TO CLARIFY ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR DEBATE? HEARING NONE. MR. LEMING. THEN HEARING NONE, I'LL CLOSE THE FLOOR TO DEBATE.

MOTION IS ON THE FLOOR. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.

THEN LET'S GO AHEAD AND AMEND THE AGENDA NOW.

[2. Consider Motion to Approve Agenda. (Part 2 of 2)]

JUST. DESTINY JOSEPH. DESTINY JOSEPH FOR THE POSITION OF POLICE FINGERPRINT TECHNICIAN I, OR I GUESS IT DOESN'T.

IT DOESN'T SAY. SO, THE CHAIR MOVES TO AMEND THE AGENDA TO ADD AS AGENDA ITEM 12 AND TO RELABEL AGENDA ITEM 12 AS AGENDA ITEM 13.

THE TO AGENDA ITEM 12 A MOTION TO REJECT THE APPLICATION FOR FINGERPRINT

[00:15:05]

YOU ROLL. CALL IT THEN. MISS HARRIS, IF WE COULD GET A ROLL CALL. VOTE.

ROLL CALL. OKAY. OKAY. MR. JOSHUA. NEWVILLE? YES. MR. BRADLEY RICKS? YES. MR. EDWIN BERAUD? YES. MR. MICHAEL LEMING? YES. MR. TODD STERLING? THE MOTION CARRIES. THEN TO GO BACK TO THE AGENDA IN ORDER.

[8. Consider Motion to Review/ Accept Test Results in the BRFD for: • Chief Fire Safety Officer • Fire Public Information Officer • Assistant Chief Training Officer • Chief Fire Communications Officer • Assistant Chief Fire Communications Officer • Chief Fire Investigator • Chief Training Officer • Training Officer]

DO I HAVE A MOTION? YOU ARE 100% CORRECT. TO OPEN THEM UP.

IN ALL OF THEIR LAYERS.

BECAUSE WE'RE MID MEETING, I DON'T JUST TELL ME IF I'M WRONG, BUT I DON'T THINK THERE'S AN ISSUE WITH ME JUST OPENING ALL THREE AT THIS TIME.

THESE ARE THE GRADES FOR FIRE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER AND POLICE FINGERPRINT TECHNICIAN I.

YES. SO, I, I'M SIMPLY ANNOUNCING WHAT I'M PULLING OUT OF THE ENVELOPES.

AND THEN WE CAN KIND OF DO OUR MOTIONS INDEPENDENTLY FROM THERE, BUT I DON'T WANT TO OPEN THEM ALL UP AND THEN SAY, I'VE OPENED ALL. I'D RATHER JUST ANNOUNCE IT AS I GO.

JUST FOR CLARITY. BUT ANY THAT ARE FOR SEPARATE AGENDA ITEMS, FEEL FREE TO KEEP THEM SEPARATE.

THESE ARE THE RESULTS FOR THE CHIEF FIRE SAFETY OFFICER AND POLICE SERGEANT EXAMINATION.

OKAY.

[00:20:09]

UNLESS THEY'VE BEEN PULLED OUT. YEAH, YEAH. OKAY.

WHAT'S GOING ON?

[00:30:18]

[00:30:23]

FIRE SAFETY OFFICERS I, I'LL PASS OVER.

I'M INCLINED TO LOOK AT THE LETTERS TO SEE IF IT WASN'T.

I DO NOT REMEMBER SEEING IT. OKAY. DO YOU REMEMBER SEEING CHIEF FIRE SAFETY OFFICER? LET ME SEE THAT LETTER, BRO. CUZ I KNOW I OPENED THREE.

OKAY, SO THE TALLY ON THE APPLICATIONS FOR CHIEF FIRE SAFETY OFFICER, THERE WERE 2 PASS, 0 DID NOT PASS, 0 DID NOT SHOW. FOR FIRE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, 1 PASS, 0 DID NOT PASS, 0 DID NOT SHOW. ASSISTANT CHIEF TRAINING OFFICER 3 PASS, 0 DID NOT PASS, 0 DID NOT SHOW.

CHIEF FIRE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER 1 PASS, 0 DID NOT PASS, 0 DID NOT SHOW.

ASSISTANT CHIEF FIRE COMMUNICATIONS OFFICER 3 PASS, 0 DID NOT PASS, 1 DID NOT SHOW.

CHIEF FIRE INVESTIGATOR 1 PASS, 0 DID NOT PASS, 0 DID NOT SHOW.

CHIEF TRAINING OFFICER 1 PASS, 0 DID NOT PASS, 0 DID NOT SHOW.

TRAINING OFFICER 2 PASS, 0 DID NOT PASS, 0 DID NOT SHOW.

DO I HAVE A MOTION TO ACCEPT THE TEST RESULTS? MOTION BY MR. RICKS. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND.

SECOND BY MR. LEMING. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.

AGENDA ITEM 9, CONSIDER MOTION TO REVIEW/ACCEPT TEST RESULTS IN BATON ROUGE POLICE DEPARTMENT FOR POLICE SERGEANT,

[9. Consider Motion to Review/ Accept Test Results in the BRPD for: • Police Sergeant • Police Fingerprint Technician I]

SECOND BY MR. BERAUD. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. CHIEF, I BELIEVE AGENDA ITEM 10 IS SIMPLY INFORMATIONAL.

[10. Notification from the BRFD Effective as of January 10,2026 the Following Provisional Appointments Have Occurred: • Assistant Public Information Officer Justin Hill has been Placed into a Provisional Public Information Officer. • Firefighter Billy Zachary has been Placed into a Substitute Appointment to Assistant Public Information Officer. • Arson Investigator David Moran has been Placed into a Provisional Appointment to Chief Arson Investigator. • Arson Investigator Trey Jackson has been Placed into a Substitute Appointment to Assistant Chief Investigator. • Firefighter Tiffany Foster has been Placed in a Substitute Appointment to Arson Investigator. • Fire Inspector I San Gilbert has been placed in a substitute appointment to Fire Inspector II • Firefighter Roderic Jones has been placed in a substitute appointment to Fire Inspector I.]

[00:35:07]

ASSISTANT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER JUSTIN HILL HAS BEEN PLACED INTO A PROVISIONAL PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER.

FIREFIGHTER BILLY ZACHARY HAS BEEN PLACED INTO A SUBSTITUTE APPOINTMENT TO ASSISTANT PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER.

ARSON INVESTIGATOR DAVID MORAN HAS BEEN PLACED INTO A PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENT TO CHIEF ARSON INVESTIGATOR.

ARSON INVESTIGATOR TREY JACKSON HAS BEEN PLACED INTO A SUBSTITUTE APPOINTMENT TO ASSISTANT CHIEF INVESTIGATOR.

FIREFIGHTER TIFFANY FOSTER HAS BEEN PLACED IN A SUBSTITUTE APPOINTMENT TO ARSON INVESTIGATOR.

FIRE INSPECTOR I SAM GILBERT HAS BEEN PLACED IN A SUBSTITUTE APPOINTMENT TO FIRE INSPECTOR II.

FIREFIGHTER RODERICK JONES HAS BEEN PLACED IN A SUBSTITUTE APPOINTMENT TO FIRE INSPECTOR I.

AND CHIEF, THANK YOU FOR LETTING US KNOW, AND FOR INFORMATION.

AGENDA ITEM 11, CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON BEHALF OF BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO CONSIDER PROPOSED CLASSIFICATION CHANGES FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS. OKAY, ONCE I CALL IT, I'LL CALL A BREAK AND LET EVERYONE KNOW IT'LL BE PUBLIC COMMENT.

SO AGENDA ITEM 11 WILL BE TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON BEHALF OF BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT TO CONSIDER PROPOSED CLASSIFICATION CHANGES FOR THE FOLLOWING POSITIONS FIREFIGHTER, FIRE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, AND FIRE CAPTAIN.

WE WILL BE HAVING PUBLIC COMMENT BEFORE WE REACH THAT.

HOWEVER, WE'RE GOING TO HAVE A FIVE MINUTE RECESS BEFORE WE TAKE UP THIS MATTER, SO WE WILL COME BACK.

IT'S CURRENTLY 10:14, LET'S CALL IT 10:20. WE WILL ADJOURN.

WE ARE AT RECESS FOR NOW. IT'S NOW 10:20. CHAIR CALLS THE MEETING BACK TO ORDER. SO EVEN THOUGH I'VE ALREADY READ IT AS A REMINDER, WE ARE NOW ADDRESSING AGENDA ITEM 11,

[11. Conduct a Public Hearing on Behalf of BRFD to Consider Proposed Classification Changes for the Following Positions: • Firefighter • Fire Equipment Operator • Fire Captain]

AT THIS POINT, I WILL OPEN THE FLOOR TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

IF EVERYONE WOULD PLEASE STATE THEIR NAMES BEFORE AND SPELLING IF NECESSARY, SO MISS HARRIS CAN GET IT DOWN.

YES. GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS JAKE MORGAN. I'M THE PRESIDENT OF THE BATON ROUGE FIREFIGHTERS ASSOCIATION. J A K E.

THAT'S A JOKE. MR. MORGAN. I RISE IN OPPOSITION TODAY OF A COUPLE OF PROPOSED CHANGES TO OUR CLASSIFICATIONS.

FOR FIREFIGHTER, FIRE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR AND CAPTAIN, THERE'S WORDING CHANGE ON EMT.

NO ISSUE THERE. WHAT IS CONCERNING FOR US IS THE CHANGE TO FIRE CAPTAIN, WHERE YOU MUST HAVE A CERTIFICATION IN ORDER TO BE CONFIRMED IN YOUR CLASS. OKAY.

THE CERTIFICATION IS OFFICER I, WHICH IS COMPOSED OF INSTRUCTOR I AND OFFICER I.

ITS TWO WEEKS OF TRAINING. THAT THAT YOU THAT YOU GOT TO HAVE TO OBTAIN THIS.

IT'S NOT NECESSARY FOR THIS CERTIFICATION TO BE PUT IN CIVIL SERVICE.

REASON BEING IS THAT THE FIRE CHIEF PUT THIS IN HIS POLICY LAST YEAR.

OKAY, SO AS A POLICY READS, WE HAVE TO OBTAIN IT TO BE CERTIFIED IN OUR CLASS AS CURRENT AS CURRENT.

THIS PROPOSED CHANGE TO CIVIL SERVICE, I BELIEVE YOU MIGHT BE IN RECEIPT OF A LETTER SAYING THE SAME THING AS I'M SAYING, BUT THEY WOULD PUT THE RESPONSIBILITY ON YOU GUYS TO KEEP UP WITH EVERYBODY'S TRAINING AND CERTIFICATIONS.

AND AS THE BOARD, I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU GUYS WOULD WANT TO DO THAT.

AND ONCE AGAIN, IT'S NOT THAT WE'RE AGAINST THE TRAINING AT ALL. THIS IS A NATIONAL CERTIFICATION. OUR UNION STANDS ON TRAINING, ESPECIALLY DEPARTMENT PROVIDED TRAINING FOR US TO BECOME MORE PROFICIENT AT OUR JOBS.

OKAY, NO ISSUE THERE. WE JUST DON'T FEEL LIKE IT NEEDS TO BE PUT IN THE CIVIL SERVICE.

SO. THANK YOU. THANK YOU, MR. MORGAN. THE FLOOR IS OPEN.

IF. YES, SIR. MIKE PATERNOSTRO, I'M CAPTAIN AT THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

I WROTE MY NOTES DOWN BECAUSE I WAS UP ALL NIGHT, SO Y'ALL KIND OF BEAR WITH ME JUST A SECOND.

IT'S ALL GOOD. SEE. WE ARE AGAINST THE CERTIFICATION AS BEING A PART OF THE PROMOTIONAL PROCESS.

GET THEM OPEN UP HERE. THIS OBJECTION IS ABOUT OPPOSING TRAINING AND OUR PROFESSIONALISM OR PROFESSIONALISM IT IS ABOUT PROTECTING SENIORITY BASED PROMOTIONAL RIGHTS AND EQUAL

[00:40:01]

CIVIL SERVICE PROMOTIONS ARE SENIORITY BASED.

THE LOUISIANA FIRE CIVIL SERVICE IS BUILT ON THE TIME IN SERVICE AND CLASSIFICATION.

PROMOTIONAL EXAMS, THE RANK, ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES.

THEY DO NOT DETERMINE WHO GETS TO COMPETE. ANY REQUIREMENT THAT LIMITS WHO MAY SIT FOR AN EXAM DIRECTLY AFFECTS SENIORITY RIGHTS.

THE CERTIFICATION BECOMES A GATEKEEPER. THE CERTIFICATION DETERMINES WHO MAY SIT FOR THE PROMOTIONAL EXAM.

IT INCLUDES A WRITTEN TEST NOT ADMINISTERED BY THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD, THE STATE EXAMINERS, PLACING CONTROL OF ACCESS OUTSIDE THE CIVIL SERVICE SYSTEM.

IT'S EQUAL OPPORTUNITY IS THE CENTRAL PROBLEM HERE.

CERTIFICATION CLASSES HAVE LIMITED SEATS, IRREGULAR SCHEDULE, AND SHIFTING CONFLICTS.

SOME FIREFIGHTERS WILL REALISTICALLY OBTAIN ACCESS WHILE OTHERS WILL NOT, VIOLATING EQUAL OPPORTUNITY PRINCIPLES.

PERSONAL TIME AND EXPENSE ARE DISQUALIFYING, REQUIRING FIREFIGHTERS TO OBTAIN CERTAIN CERTIFICATIONS ON THEIR OWN, AND TIME, EXPENSE AND ELIGIBILITY TO FINANCE AND SCHEDULING FLEXIBILITY EXCLUDING OTHERWISE ELIGIBLE SENIOR FIREFIGHTERS.

AM I SAYING THIS CLEARLY ENOUGH AT THE MOMENT? LIKE I SAID, I AM A LITTLE TIRED.

THIS IS NOT A CIVIL SERVICE EXAM. CIVIL SERVICE EXAMS ARE UNIFORM, OPEN AND ADMINISTERED UNDER BOARD CONTROL.

THE CERTIFICATION TEST IS NONE OF THOSE YET CONTROLS ACCESS TO PROMOTION.

IT'S BOARD RESPONSIBILITY WE FEEL TO PROTECT UNIFORM APPLICATION OF CIVIL SERVICE RULES, APPROVING THE REQUIREMENT WOULD DELEGATE CONTROL OF PROMOTIONAL ACCESS TO AN EXTERNAL PROCESS. I REJECT THIS CERTIFICATION AS A PREREQUISITE TO TESTING OR REQUIRE SAFEGUARDS ENSURING EQUAL ACCESS FOR ALL ELIGIBLE FIREFIGHTERS. THANK YOU ALL. I HOPE I WAS CONCISE READING RIGHT OFF OF A PIECE OF PAPER, BUT LIKE I SAID, WAS UP SINCE 3:00, SO BEAR WITH ME. I WOULD ASK IF YOU COULD SPELL YOUR LAST NAME FOR US.

IT'LL BE EASIER IF YOU JUST SAW IT. P A T E R N O S T R O.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE FLOOR REMAINS OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

MORNING. GOOD MORNING. COREY ARTIETA, BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT. SO FIRST OF ALL, I'D LIKE TO START OFF JUST BY GIVING A LITTLE BIT OF CONTEXT.

SO WHEN YOU'RE ORIGINALLY HIRED ON WITH THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT YOU GO THROUGH WHAT WE CALL A ROOKIE SCHOOL, RECRUIT SCHOOL.

AND FROM THE START OF THAT RECRUIT SCHOOL, IT HAS MADE VERY IMPORTANT TO YOU WHAT HOW MUCH YOUR SENIORITY IS IMPORTANT TO YOU, AND THAT'S EARNED THROUGH TESTS THAT YOU DO THROUGHOUT THE SIX MONTHS THAT YOU'RE IN ROOKIE SCHOOL.

AND THAT SENIORITY THAT YOU EARN THROUGH THERE WILL STAY WITH YOU THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF YOUR CAREER.

WHETHER YOU'RE NOT, YOU GET SOME TIME OFF, YOU MIGHT DROP IN SENIORITY, BUT THAT CAN HAVE A LOT OF EFFECT ON PROMOTIONS AS YOU MOVE THROUGHOUT YOUR CAREER.

ON AVERAGE RIGHT NOW, IT TAKES YOU ABOUT TEN YEARS TO PROMOTE TO DRIVER SOMEWHERE ON AVERAGE, DEPENDING ON WHERE YOU'RE AT IN SENIORITY, PROBABLY ANOTHER 4 OR 5, 6 YEARS TO PROMOTE AFTER THAT TO CAPTAIN AND THEN SO FORTH AND SO ON AS YOU FINISH OUT YOUR CAREER. WHEN YOU GRADUATE ROOKIE SCHOOL, WHEN I GRADUATED ROOKIE SCHOOL IN 2008, THE ONLY CERTIFICATIONS YOU NEEDED AT THAT TIME WERE HAZMAT AWARENESS, HAZMAT OPERATIONS CERTIFICATION, AND A FIREFIGHTER I CERTIFICATION.

AND THAT WAS ALL YOU WERE REQUIRED TO HAVE. YOU ALSO HAD TO HAVE YOUR EMT IN ORDER TO GRADUATE OR IN ORDER TO KEEP YOUR JOB AFTER A YEAR, BUT THE CERTIFICATIONS YOU NEEDED TO GRADUATE WERE THOSE THREE.

2009, OKAY, THEY STARTED IT WHERE YOU HAD TO HAVE FIREFIGHTER II TO GRADUATE, ALL RIGHT.

SO THROUGHOUT THAT TIME, THERE'S NEVER BEEN AN ISSUE WITH HAVING TO HAVE ANY MORE CERTIFICATIONS.

THAT AND GUYS HAVE GONE THEIR CAREERS. AND IF YOU WANTED TO TAKE THE INITIATIVE TO GO AND GET THOSE CERTIFICATIONS, MORE CERTIFICATIONS, IT WAS COMPLETELY ON YOU ONES THAT WERE OFFERED THROUGH THE FIRE DEPARTMENT OR ONES THAT YOU COULD EITHER GO OUT AND GET OUT ON YOUR OWN. WHAT I HAVE A PROBLEM WITH IS THE TIMING OF WHEN THIS IS NOW BEING BROUGHT UP, OKAY.

THESE OTHER GUYS THAT WERE IN THE CLASSES BEFORE ME, 06-07, ARE NOW BECOMING INTO THAT PART OF THE TIME WHERE THEY'RE GETTING READY TO MAKE THAT PROMOTION TO CAPTAIN, AND THEY'RE GOING TO AND ACCORDING TO THIS, WHAT WAS ORIGINALLY PROPOSED, WHICH THIS WASN'T ACTUALLY REVIEWED. SO I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M CLEAR ON IT. WHAT THE ORIGINAL PROPOSAL, THE HEARING THAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS THAT THESE WERE NEEDED TO BE CONFIRMED IN YOUR POSITION, RIGHT. AND ACCORDING TO THE STATE EXAMINER'S LETTER, RIGHT.

WHICH I THINK IT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE READ INTO THE MINUTES OR READ INTO FOR RECORD.

BUT SHE STATES IN THERE THAT THEY REQUIRED YOU NOT TO THEY RECOMMEND YOU NOT TO HAVE THIS AS A PART OF YOUR CONFIRMATION, RIGHT? RATHER MAKE IT PART OF THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENT TO TAKE THE TEST.

OKAY. SO GUYS WHO'VE HAD FIREFIGHTER I, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THEIR CAREER ARE NOW AT THAT POINT IN TIME WHERE THEY'RE GETTING READY TO MAKE

[00:45:05]

OKAY. ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO MENTION IN HERE ABOUT AS FAR AS THAT GOES, OKAY.

IS PART OF THE, AND WE'RE JUST PUTTING THESE GUYS IN A TOUGH SPOT, RIGHT.

AND I THINK A LOT OF WHAT COMES DOWN FROM THAT IS WHAT THEY'RE SAYING RIGHT NOW WHERE IT'S BEEN, IS THAT EXPERIENCE COUNTS FOR SOMETHING, RIGHT? SO A FEW OF THE EXAMPLES I HAVE IS LIKE THE FIRE CHIEF CERTIFICATION, RIGHT? THE REQUIREMENTS. A FEW OF THESE. OKAY. THEY TALK ABOUT WHAT THEY NEED TO BE THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS TO EVEN APPLY FOR THAT EXAM.

OKAY. BACHELOR'S DEGREE, EIGHT YEARS OF FULL-TIME EXPERIENCE, TWO YEARS OF ADMINISTRATIVE RESPONSIBILITIES.

IF YOU HAVE TEN YEARS, YOU ONLY NEED TWO YEARS OF SUPERVISORY EXPERIENCE, OKAY? AND YOU HAVE TO HAVE TEN YEARS OF FULL TIME EXPERIENCE.

IF YOU HAVE 15 YEARS, YOU ONLY HAVE TO HAVE A HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA, OKAY.

THIS POSITION, OTHER CLASSIFIED POSITIONS, WHETHER THEY BE PROMOTIONAL OR CLASS OR COMPETITIVE POSITIONS ALL THROUGHOUT OUR WHOLE DEPARTMENT, THERE'S NOT ANYTHING IN THERE THAT HAS A BIG NEED FOR CERTIFICATIONS, OKAY, THAT REQUIRES CERTIFICATIONS TO GO IN THERE.

A LOT OF OUR DIVISIONAL PROMOTIONAL POSITIONS ARE THREE YEARS OF WORTH OF EXPERIENCE.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO HAVE ANY CERTIFICATIONS. SO THAT ALONE SPEAKS FOR ITSELF, THAT EXPERIENCE ALONG THE LINE COUNTS FOR SOMETHING, OKAY. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO TRAINING. I'M NOT OPPOSED TO GETTING CERTIFICATIONS.

ALL RIGHT? I JUST WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THAT'S VERY CLEAR. BUT THE TIMING OF WHEN THIS BEING IS HOW THIS IS BEING PROPOSED IS WHAT I IS WHAT I REALLY DISAGREE WITH.

OKAY. NOW, IS THERE A WAY TO POSSIBLY BE ABLE TO DO THIS TO WHERE YOU COULD ADD THIS INTO THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS MOVING FORWARD? YES, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO DO THAT, THEN LET'S DO IT ACROSS THE BOARD.

LET'S DO IT FOR THE WHOLE DEPARTMENT, RIGHT. AND THEN WHY ARE WE ALSO COMING DOWN ON THESE FIRE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, THE FIRE CAPTAINS, THESE ARE THE TWO LOWEST POSITIONS AS FAR AS OUR ORGANIZATIONAL CHART IS CONCERNED, OKAY. SO WHY ARE THESE LOWEST POSITIONS BEING THE ONES THAT ARE HAVING THE CERTIFICATION QUALIFICATIONS PUT ON THEM WHEN WE'RE NOT STARTING EITHER IN THE DIVISIONS OR WHY ARE WE NOT STARTING AT THE TOP TO MAKE THE QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS FOR PEOPLE IN THE IN THE ADMINISTRATION POSITIONS HIGHER, RIGHT? I MEAN, WE'RE ASKING THESE GUYS TO HAVE BASICALLY MORE CERTIFICATIONS THAN IS REQUIRED FOR A DISTRICT CHIEF AND ASSISTANT CHIEF, CHIEF OF OPERATIONS, A DEPUTY CHIEF, SO FORTH AND SO ON.

SO I KNOW THERE'S GOT TO BE A WAY TO BE ABLE TO DO IT, BUT IF WE'RE GOING TO MOVE THIS DEPARTMENT FORWARD AND WE WANT TO MAKE FUNDAMENTAL CHANGES AND IT'S GOT TO BE ACROSS THE BOARD, WE CAN'T JUST COME IN HERE AND SINGLE OUT TWO SPECIFIC POSITIONS, RIGHT. AND ASK THEM TO GO IN HERE AND GET THESE CERTIFICATIONS.

YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO NEED A LOT OF THESE GUYS RIGHT NOW ARE SET TO MAKE THESE PROMOTIONS, AND YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY PUTTING THEM IN A SPOT WHERE, YOU KNOW, IF THEY DON'T GET THEM, WELL, THEY'RE GOING TO POSSIBLY BE THEY COULD BE PROMOTED WORKING TEST PERIOD AND THEN BE DEMOTED, OKAY. I THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. I KNOW I HAVE ANOTHER FELLOW FIREFIGHTER COMING UP HERE WISH TO SPEAK, SO I WON'T TAKE UP TOO MUCH OF HIS TIME EITHER. BUT APPRECIATE THE TIME.

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME UP HERE AND SPEAK TODAY. THANK YOU ALL. THANK YOU. FIREFIGHTER.

IF YOU COULD HOLD FOR JUST A SECOND. DO WE NEED TO READ THIS INTO THE RECORD, OR IS IT BECAUSE IT'S PART OF THE MATERIALS? IT'S PART OF THE. WE DON'T HAVE TO. CORRECT. WE CAN IF WE WANT.

OKAY. JUST FOR CLARIFICATION, I'M A RELATIVELY NEW CHAIR OF THIS BOARD, I KNEW THE LETTER THAT YOU REFERENCE IS IN THE BOARD MATERIALS, AND I WAS CHECKING WITH OUR ATTORNEY WHETHER IT NEEDS TO BE READ IN OR NOT.

FOR THE SAKE OF CLARITY, I WILL LIKELY READ IT IN LATER, BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE IF IT NEEDED TO BE READ IN, I WAS GOING TO DO IT IMMEDIATELY, BUT IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S MORE PERMISSIVE THAN.

YEAH, AND I'M JUST GOING OFF OF WHAT THE STATE EXAMINER RECOMMENDED WE RESPECTFULLY REQUEST THAT THE RECEIPT OF THIS LETTER BE NOTED INTO THE HEARING MINUTES AND THE COMMENTS BE INCLUDED IN DISCUSSION AND TAKE PLACE. SO JUST SOMETHING I READ IN THERE AS FAR AS HER RECOMMENDATION FOR THE, FOR THAT, IF WE'RE GOING TO USE HER RECOMMENDATION TO FURTHER ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION ABOUT CERTIFICATIONS AND WHAT THE WHAT THE BOARD IS POSSIBLY GOING TO RECOMMEND, I FEEL LIKE SHE'S JUST RECOMMENDING IT. ABSOLUTELY.

[00:50:02]

SO THEY ARE, THIS LETTER IS PART OF THE RECORD. OKAY. THANK YOU. ABSOLUTELY.

THE FLOOR IS STILL OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. HOW ARE YOU DOING? MY NAME IS DANIEL WEIMER. I'M A BATON ROUGE FIREMAN.

I WAS HIRED IN 2009. I'M STARTING MY 17TH YEAR OF SERVICE, AND I WILL BE ELIGIBLE TO GET PROMOTED TO FIRE CAPTAIN WITHIN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

I'M IN OPPOSITION FOR IMPOSING FIRE OFFICER I AND INSTRUCTOR I CERTIFICATION AT IN THE CLASSIFICATION PLAN FOR CAPTAIN.

I THINK THAT BATON ROUGE FIRE CAPTAIN IS A VERY SPECIAL POSITION IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

YOU GET HIRED, AND YOU ARE A FIREFIGHTER IN THE BACK SEAT OF A TRUCK FOR TEN YEARS.

YOU'RE ARM'S LENGTH AWAY FROM THE MAN DRIVING THE TRUCK.

YOU'RE IN TRAINING FOR THOSE TEN YEARS TO BE THE DRIVER.

THEN YOU GET TO BE DRIVER. WONDERFUL. YOU'RE ELIGIBLE FOR PROMOTION.

YOU PROMOTE JUST BASED ON BEING CERTIFIED IN THE RANK.

PREVIOUS YOU PASSED THE CIVIL SERVICE EXAM. YOU GET TO BE A DRIVER.

YOU'RE NOW SITTING THREE FEET AWAY FROM A CAPTAIN.

YOU GET TO DO THAT FOR ANOTHER DECADE. YOU GET TO WATCH THAT CAPTAIN MAKE DECISIONS.

YOU GET TO HELP TAKE SCENE CONTROL. YOU GET TO STEP INTO THAT POSITION WHENEVER THAT CAPTAIN IS NOT ON DUTY OR OFF SICK.

AND YOU, YOU GET TO TRULY PERFORM THAT JOB WHEN YOU'RE NOT CERTIFIED IN THAT POSITION YET.

SO IT TAKES A LONG TAKES A LONG TIME TO GET THERE.

IT TAKES A, IT TAKES YOUR WHOLE CAREER. TWO DECADES.

IT'S THERE'S NO OTHER JOB AROUND WHERE YOU HAVE TO HAVE 20 YEARS OF EXPERIENCE TO BE ELIGIBLE FOR THAT.

NOW, THAT IS SPECIFIC TO THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

OTHER DEPARTMENTS AROUND HERE DO NOT HAVE THAT. THEY MIGHT HAVE A CAPTAIN THREE, 4 OR 5 YEARS IN.

SO IT'S NOT REALLY YOU CAN'T COMPARE US, ANYBODY AROUND.

NOW WHEN YOU IMPOSE THIS ON FIRE CAPTAINS HAVING THESE EXTRA CREDENTIALS, THAT'S GOING TO BE SOMETHING SPECIFIC TO THE SUPPRESSION DIVISION.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE OTHER DIVISIONS IN THE IN THE DEPARTMENT, THERE MAY BE ADDITIONAL CREDENTIALS TO GET INTO THOSE DIVISIONS, BUT THERE ARE NO OTHER CREDENTIALS TO CLIMB THE RANKS OF THOSE DIVISIONS AND PROMOTIONAL CLASSES.

SO YOU CAN HAVE SIX YEARS IN SUPPRESSION. YOU CAN GO BE A SAFETY OFFICER.

YOU CAN CLIMB THE RANKS OF SAFETY OFFICER. YOU CAN RETIRE AS THE CHIEF OF SAFETY WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONAL CREDENTIALS IN THE CLASSIFICATION PLANS OR THE RULES AND OPERATIONS TO ACHIEVE THAT. AND YOU CAN LOOK YOURSELVES AT THE CLASSIFICATION PLAN ACROSS THE DEPARTMENT AND SEE THAT THERE'S NO OTHER REQUIREMENTS THERE.

I THINK IT IS, IT SHOWS THAT YOU CAN GO INTO SUPPRESSION, AND YOUR TIME IN SUPPRESSION CAN BE TRADED FOR FORMAL EDUCATION AND OTHER DIVISIONS IN LIEU OF BACHELOR'S DEGREES AND ASSOCIATE'S DEGREES TO GO INTO THESE OTHER ELEVATED SPOTS.

BUT WHENEVER YOU'RE TRYING TO USE YOUR TIME IN SUPPRESSION AS FORMAL EDUCATION, IT'S NOT WORTH A 40 HOUR CERTIFICATE.

I THINK THAT'S RIDICULOUS. AND I THINK IT'S INSULTING TO THE MEN ON THE FLOOR. AND I WOULD APPRECIATE IT IF YOU DON'T PUSH THIS THROUGH.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU. THE FLOOR REMAINS OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

CHIEF. GOOD MORNING. GOOD MORNING. MICHAEL KIMBALL, THE FIRE CHIEF FOR THE CITY OF BATON ROUGE. I APPRECIATE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO COME SPEAK.

THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROCESS THAT WE'VE BEEN WORKING TOWARDS FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS OF THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT OF GETTING OUR MEN AND WOMEN TO THE NATIONAL CERTIFICATION. AS YOU'VE HEARD THE PICTURE THAT WAS PAINTED TODAY, YOU'VE HEARD SOME OF IT IS FACTUAL, SOME OF IT IS. THE WHOLE TRUTH IS NOT BEING PUT OUT THERE.

THERE'S NO HIDDEN AGENDA IN THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT. CERTIFICATIONS WAS NEVER REALLY PUSHED IN OUR DEPARTMENT.

DAY ONE FIRE. DAY ONE EMPLOYEE, YOU GET THE MINIMUM STANDARD TO BE A FIREFIGHTER FROM THAT POINT FORWARD.

IF YOU STAY IN THE SUPPRESSION DIVISION, YOU NEVER HAD TO MEET A NATIONAL STANDARD CERTIFICATION TEST.

IT WAS MENTIONED THAT THE DIVISIONS CURRENTLY IN OUR CLASSIFICATION PLANS TODAY, SOME DIVISIONS DO HAVE TO HAVE THE CERTIFICATION TO BE CERTIFIED IN THOSE POSITIONS. I WANT TO CLARIFY THAT THAT IS A TRUE STATEMENT THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE IF SICK IN SOME POSITIONS.

OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN MEET THE STANDARD OF THE NATIONAL WITH THE NATIONAL STANDARD IS.

I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN FIND ANOTHER PROFESSION AND LAW ENFORCEMENT PUBLIC SAFETY GUY CAN ONLY COMPARE TO FIRE AND POLICE AS A POLICE OFFICER.

ARE THERE CERTIFICATIONS YOU HAVE TO OBTAIN TO DO YOUR JOB? I'M SURE THERE IS. THE FIRE SERVICE HAS THEM JUST IN THE BATON ROUGE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

IN THE PAST WE'VE NEVER DONE THAT. SO AGAIN, CHANGING THAT CULTURE TO GET OUR MEN AND WOMEN TO HOLD THAT STANDARD.

WHY DO WE START AT THE FIREFIGHTER, FIRE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR, FIRE CAPTAIN.

[00:55:01]

AND WE'VE GIVEN THE TIME THAT I THOUGHT WAS FAIR.

WE GIVE A WE TALKED ABOUT IT FOR A YEAR, HELD THE CLASSES, PUT IT OUT IN POLICY AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS YEAR AND HAVE CONTINUED TO HOLD CLASSES.

THE BIGGEST THING THAT WE'VE HEARD WAS THAT WE WANT TO BE ABLE TO DO IT WHILE WE'RE ON DUTY.

WE WAS HOSTING THE CLASSES OFF DUTY. WE HAVE MADE THAT CHANGE TO ACCOMMODATE OUR MEN AND WOMEN TO HAVE THEIR CLASSES ON DUTY.

AS OF TODAY, TO SHOW YOU THAT THE MEN AND WOMEN ARE BUYING INTO THIS, 88 PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN INSTRUCTOR I, 84 HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED. OFFICER I, 64 HAVE TAKEN IT, 60 HAVE SUCCESSFULLY PASSED.

WE HAVE BEEN VERY GOOD WITH OUR TRAINING DIVISION TO TRAIN OUR PEOPLE.

I AM GOING TO SIT HERE TODAY AND OPENLY TELL YOU A PIECE OF PAPER DOES NOT MAKE A PERSON A GOOD FIREFIGHTER, IT DOES NOT. WHAT FIRE EQUIPMENT OPERATOR WEIMER TALKED ABOUT IS 100% TRUE.

WHAT YOU LEARN THROUGH THOSE DECADES OF HANDS ON, THAT'S WHERE YOU GET A LOT OF YOUR KNOWLEDGE.

BUT AGAIN, AS A LAWYER, YOU UNDERSTAND THE LEGAL IMPACTS THAT IT MAKES.

I'M TRYING TO PROTECT THESE MEN BY HELPING THEM TO THE NATIONAL STANDARDS IS MY ULTIMATE GOAL.

NOT TO HURT NOBODY, NOT TO PENALIZE NOBODY. MY GOAL IS TO PROMOTE EVERY SINGLE INDIVIDUAL IN THIS DEPARTMENT, BUT MAKE SURE THEY'RE ABLE TO MEET THE STANDARD.

WE HAVE HAD LENGTHY CONVERSATIONS WITH OUR UNION REPRESENTATIVES BACK AND FORTH.

SO I'M GOING TO ASK THAT WE WITHDRAW THIS MOTION AND I WILL JUST KEEP IT IN MY POLICIES TO HAVE THIS TO PROMOTE.

CHIEF [INAUDIBLE]. HERE YOU AND UNDERSTOOD. ONE QUESTION JUST BASED ON WHAT YOU SAID, JUST FOR OUR EDIFICATION, IN CASE THIS EVER COMES BACK UP. WHAT ARE THE PROS OF MEETING THESE NATIONAL STANDARDS, IF ANY, OTHER THAN JUST BETTER TRAINING. BUT ARE THERE ANY KIND OF PROS THAT YOU CAN ENUMERATE THAT KIND OF ILLUSTRATE WHY YOU WANTED TO PUSH IN THIS DIRECTION? WELL, THE PROS IS TO SHOW THAT OUR INDIVIDUALS THAT ARE OUT HERE EVERY SINGLE DAY SERVING THE CITY MEET THE STANDARD.

YES, THEY HOLD THE STANDARD OF THE CIVIL SERVICE TEST, BUT IS THAT TRULY A CERTIFICATION TO MEET THE NATIONAL STANDARD? WHERE THE CLASS 1 DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES, THE FIRST AND THE LONGEST LASTING CLASS 1 DEPARTMENT IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, THAT'S SOMETHING TO STAND ON AND BE PROUD OF. I WANT TO MAKE SURE OUR MEN AND WOMEN MEET THE STANDARD TO BACK THAT UP, AND THEY DO IT EVERY SINGLE DAY RIDING THESE FIRE TRUCKS. BUT TO HAVE THAT PIECE OF PAPER TO SHOW THEY MEET THE STANDARD, I THINK IT PUTS US A LITTLE HIGHER ON THE PEDESTAL. AGAIN, IT'S VERY EASY TO OBTAIN.

OUR MEN AND WOMEN HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE BECAUSE THEY'VE BEEN DOING THE JOB. THE PRO IS IS PROTECTING THEM AND MOVE THIS DEPARTMENT FORWARD.

I GO BACK TO WHEN WE HIRED SOMEBODY, WE MADE THEM GET THE NATIONAL STANDARD TEST TO BE A MINIMUM FIREFIGHTER.

THE BASELINE FIREFIGHTER. OUR GOAL AND MY OBJECTIVE IS TO CONTINUE TO BUILD MEN AND WOMEN UP TO PROGRESS THROUGH THIS DEPARTMENT.

WHY STOP AT A FIREFIGHTER? WHY NOT PROGRESS AND BUILD UP DOWN THE ROAD TO WHERE THIS CAN EVOLVE INTO OUR DISTRICT CHIEFS, OUR ASSISTANT CHIEF, THE CHIEF OPERATIONS AND THE FIRE CHIEF? THAT IS MY ULTIMATE GOAL. THANK YOU CHIEF. THANK YOU.

DO ANY OTHER BOARD MEMBERS HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? YES. SO, CHIEF, I YOU KNOW, I AM A HUGE PROPONENT OF EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION.

I WENT THROUGH IT. GOT MORE THAN YOU COULD IMAGINE.

DOES THAT MAKE YOU A GREAT FIREFIGHTER? NO, NOT SO MUCH.

I WAS A GOOD FIREFIGHTER, I WASN'T GREAT, YOU WERE A GREAT FIREFIGHTER.

I DON'T KNOW THAT YOU HAD THE CERTIFICATIONS THAT I HAVE. YOU MAY, YOU MAY NOT.

SO MY, I GUESS MY POINT IS YOU HAVE FIREFIGHTERS THAT GATHER THIS EXPERIENCE THAT.

YOU HAVE ONE JUST PASSED AWAY. HE WAS THE BEST FIREFIGHTER, THE BEST DRIVER THAT YOU COULD EVER WANT, BUT HE COULDN'T GET TO THAT NEXT LEVEL. SO MY CONCERN IS, IS WHAT IS GOING TO DO TO HINDER THOSE PEOPLE, TO HURT THOSE PEOPLE THAT GET TO THAT POINT AND CAN'T GET TO THE NEXT LEVEL.

AND LIKE I SAID, GREATEST FIREFIGHTER DRIVER YOU WOULD, YOU COULD HAVE EVER IMAGINED, BUT HE JUST COULDN'T GET TO THAT NEXT LEVEL.

SO I THINK AND I APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

I THINK THAT IS A I THINK YOU'RE GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION BY DOING THIS.

I THINK INCENTIVE IF YOU GIVE IF YOU GIVE THE GUYS THE INCENTIVE TO DO THIS, WHAT YOU'RE DOING, IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S WORKING. IT SOUNDS LIKE YOU'RE PROVIDING THE TRAINING FOR THESE EXAMS, AND IT SOUNDS LIKE IT'S WORKING TO GET TO THAT LEVEL, BUT COMING THROUGH THE CIVIL SERVICE BOARD TO HAVE THIS CHANGED AND PUT INTO LAW, I THINK WE'RE I DON'T THINK THAT'S THE RIGHT PLACE TO DO THAT BECAUSE AND THE REASON BEING IS BECAUSE IT TAKES IT OUT OF OUR HANDS.

[01:00:04]

SO I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT THIS IS THE RIGHT ARENA TO PUT THAT IN.

I AGREE WITH WHAT YOU'RE DOING AND I SUPPORT THAT 100%, BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE RIGHT, YOU KNOW, AREA TO DO IT IN. YOU KNOW, IN THE FUTURE.

I YOU KNOW, I JUST THINK IT NEEDS TO BE OTHER AVENUES, YOU KNOW, GIVE THE GUYS INCENTIVES OR WHATEVER YOU GOT TO DO TO DO THAT.

BUT I JUST DON'T KNOW THAT IT WOULD BE THE RIGHT TO PUT THIS INTO LAW, INTO CIVIL SERVICE.

AND MR. RICKS, I DO AGREE WITH YOU, AND I GUESS YOU ONLY KNOW WHAT YOU KNOW.

AND I HAD LOOKED AT PREVIOUS CLASSIFICATION PLANS THAT PUT THAT IN THERE AND TALKING.

I THOUGHT IT HAD TO GO THROUGH THE CLASSIFICATION PLAN TO BE ABLE TO USE IT FOR PROMOTION.

AFTER GOING THROUGH THIS PROCESS AND TALKING TO THE STATE EXAMINERS, I HAVE NOW REALIZED THAT'S NOT TRUE.

AS A FIRE CHIEF AT THE POINT AUTHORITY, I CAN PUT THAT IN MY POLICIES AND DICTATE IT FROM THERE.

GREAT. ANY OTHER COMMENT FROM MEMBERS OF THE BOARD? CHIEF. THANK YOU. THE FLOOR REMAINS OPEN FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.

ANY FURTHER PUBLIC COMMENT? HEARING NONE. THE FLOOR IS NOW CLOSED TO PUBLIC COMMENT.

I WOULD.

HAVE TO AMEND THE AGENDA, THAT'S A WHOLE LOT OF EFFORT. NOW THAT PUBLIC COMMENT IS CLOSED.

DO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD. THE CHIEF HAS REQUESTED OR HAS WITHDRAWN HIS REQUEST.

MY INCLINATION IS TO MOVE TO TABLE THIS AGENDA ITEM, AND THAT FUNCTIONALLY KILLS THIS AGENDA ITEM FOR THIS MEETING.

AND IF IT WERE EVER WANTED TO BE BROUGHT BACK UP, IT WOULD NEED TO BE PUT ON THE AGENDA AGAIN.

I THINK THAT'S THE THE CLEANEST WAY TO DO IT PROCEDURALLY. THIS ISN'T ME SAYING THAT WE HAVE TO DO THAT, BUT PROCEDURALLY, I THINK THAT'S THE CLEANEST WAY. BUT IF ANY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD WE DO NOT HAVE TO FOLLOW WITH THE CHIEF ASKS, SO DO ANY MEMBERS OF THE BOARD HAVE ANY OTHER THOUGHTS OR MOTIONS THAT THEY WOULD LIKE TO MAKE? OKAY. THEN HEARING NONE, THE, IN CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA ITEM 11, THE CHAIR MOVES TO TABLE AGENDA ITEM 11. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY MR. RICKS. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE, THE MOTION CARRIES.

MISS HARRIS, WOULD YOU PLEASE READ WHAT OUR AMENDED AGENDA ITEM 12 IS?

[Additional Item]

THE AMENDED AGENDA ITEM FOR NUMBER 12 WOULD BE TO REJECT AN APPLICATION FOR POLICE CADET FOR ALICIA HAMILTON.

SHE APPLIED OUTSIDE OF THE POSTING PERIOD. ALSO TO REJECT AN APPLICATION FOR FINGERPRINT TECHNICIAN FROM DESTINY JOSEPH WHO APPLIED OUTSIDE OF THE POSTING PERIOD.

LET ME CORRECT IT. LET ME GET IT. I BELIEVE, AND TO MY, WHAT I HAD WAS THAT IT WAS, AND I JUST WANTED TO CONFIRM I THINK WE HAVE ALREADY HANDLED MISS HAMILTON. I BELIEVE THAT THE AMENDMENT IS SIMPLY TO CONSIDER A MOTION TO REJECT FINGERPRINT, OR THE APPLICATION FOR FINGERPRINT TECHNICIAN OF DESTINY JOSEPH.

OKAY. IS THAT'S WHAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN DOWN? OKAY.

THEN IN CONSIDERATION OF AGENDA ITEM 12, DO I HAVE A MOTION? I'LL MAKE THE MOTION TO REJECT THE APPLICATION FOR FINGERPRINT TECHNICIAN FOR DESTINY JOSEPH.

MOTION BY MR. BERAUD. DO I HAVE A SECOND? I SECOND.

SECOND BY MR. LEMING. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE.

THE MOTION CARRIES. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I HAVE.

DO MEMBERS OF THE BOARD HAVE ANY OTHER BUSINESS THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED PRIOR TO A MOTION TO ADJOURN? HEARING NONE. AGENDA ITEM 13. CONSIDER A MOTION TO ADJOURN THE MEETING.

THE CHAIR SO MOVES. DO I HAVE A SECOND? SECOND BY MR. RICKS. ANY OBJECTION? HEARING NONE. MEETING IS ADJOURNED.

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.