GENESEE COUNTY HUMAN RESOURCES

COUNTY BUILDING I, BATAVIA, NEW YORK

 

ANNOUNCES

 

AN OPEN COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR:

 

FIRE CHIEF (CITY OF BATAVIA), O.C. #60-978

 

SALARY:  $75,146 - $91,144 annually (2017), City of Batavia.

 

VACANCY: One vacancy exists at present in the City of Batavia Fire Department.  This examination is also being held to establish an eligible list to fill future vacancies as they occur.  An eligible may receive only one permanent appointment from this list. Once appointed, there will be a Probationary Period of 8-52 weeks based on performance of duties. During this probationary period the Department Head has the ability to terminate employment, without cause.

 

 

                    LAST FILING DATE----------NOVEMBER 30, 2016

 

                                    EXAMINATION DATE----------JANUARY 7, 2017

 

CANDIDATES MUST HAVE BEEN LEGAL RESIDENTS OF GENESEE COUNTY, OR OF A COUNTY CONTIGUOUS TO GENESEE COUNTY, FOR A PERIOD OF AT LEAST TWO (2) MONTHS IMMEDIATELY PRECEDING THE DATE OF THE WRITTEN EXAMINATION, AND MUST HAVE CONTINUED THEIR RESIDENCY THROUGH THE PERIOD LEADING TO THEIR INITIAL APPOINTMENT.  ELIGIBLE RESIDENTS OF A CIVIL DIVISION MAY BE GIVEN PREFERENCE IN APPOINTMENT TO VACANCIES IN THEIR AREA OF RESIDENCY.

 

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS: Candidates must meet the following requirement on or before the last filing date:

Graduation from high school or possession of an appropriate equivalency diploma recognized by the NYS Department of Education, AND either:

 

A.   Two (2) years of full-time, paid experience as a Deputy Fire Chief. [IF CLAIMED, PLEASE INDICATE ALL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE ON YOUR APPLICATION].

OR:

B.   Four (4) years of full-time, paid experience as a Fire Captain. [IF CLAIMED, PLEASE INDICATE ALL RELEVANT EXPERIENCE ON YOUR APPLICATION].

OR:

C.   Any equivalent combination of experience and training. [IF CLAIMED, PLEASE INDICATE ALL RELEVANT TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE ON YOUR APPLICATION].

 

NOTE:  PHOTO ID WILL BE REQUIRED ON THE DAY OF THE EXAMINATION.

  

CANDIDATES, PLEASE NOTE: It is vital that you submit, with your application, all information necessary to show your qualification for examination.  APPLICATIONS WHICH DO NOT SHOW TRAINING AND/OR EXPERIENCE TO MEET MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS WILL BE DISAPPROVED, AND WE WILL NOT REFER TO OTHER APPLICATIONS ON FILE FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.

 

NOTE – FILING FEES: (The acceptance of your application is dependent upon your following these instructions accurately):

A fee of $25.00 is required for each separately-numbered examination for which you apply.  The required fee must accompany your application.  The fee may be submitted in the form of either CASH or CREDIT CARD (if delivered in person), PERSONAL CHECK or MONEY ORDER, (if by mail).  Personal Checks and Money Orders must be payable to the GENESEE COUNTY TREASURER.  Please write the examination number(s) on your personal check or money order.  YOUR APPLICATION FEE WILL NOT BE REFUNDED if you do not meet the requirements for admission to the examination. Compare your qualifications carefully to the requirements stated on the announcement and file only for those examinations for which you are clearly qualified. A waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are receiving unemployment and primarily responsible for the support of a household.  In addition, a waiver of application fee will be allowed if you are determined eligible for Medicaid, or are receiving Supplemental Security Income payments, or Temporary Assistance for Needy Family assistance or Safety Net Assistance, or are certified Job Training Partnership Act/Workforce Investment Act eligible through a State or local social service agency.  All claims for application fee waiver are subject to verification.  In order for us to verify your eligibility for an application fee waiver, you must complete a “Request for Fee Waiver” form and submit it with your application by the close of business on the Last Filing Date as indicated on the Examination Announcement. The “Request for Fee Waiver” form can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

 

TYPICAL WORK ACTIVITIES:

Responds to and assumes command at all major fires and other emergencies;

Directs the operation of departmental in-service activities;

Plans, directs, and schedules the activities of all firefighting units to achieve maximum coverage;

Directs the inspection of multiple dwellings and places of public assemblage to point out and assist in the correction of fire hazards and to insure compliance with

fire prevention laws and ordinances, and prepares written records and reports as required;       

Reviews reports and makes inspections to determine the condition and efficiency of all firefighting units;

Directs and inspects the maintenance of repair of all firefighting equipment and apparatus;

Directs and inspects routine building maintenance of fire stations;

Maintains discipline and promotes the morale of the fire department;

Plans and assigns personnel for specialized firefighting and fire prevention duties;

Recommends the purchase of supplies and the replacement of firefighting equipment;

Attends meetings and conferences and addresses interested groups as part of a planned program of fire prevention education.

 

SUBJECT OF EXAMINATION: a written test designed to evaluate knowledge, skills, and/or abilities in the following areas:

 

1.   Administrative Supervision

2.   Educating and Interacting with the Public

3.   Fire Administration Job Simulation Exercise

4.   Fire Emergency Job Simulation Exercise

5.   Preparing Written Material

 

USE OF A CALCULATOR IS PROHIBITED FOR THIS EXAMINATION.

 

EXPANDED SUB-TEST DESCRIPTION:

Administrative Supervision-These questions test for knowledge of the principles and practices involved in directing the activities of a large subordinate staff, including subordinate supervisors. Questions relate to the personal interactions between an upper level supervisor and his/her subordinate supervisors in the accomplishment of objectives. These questions cover such areas as assigning work to and coordinating the activities of several units, establishing and guiding staff development programs, evaluating the performance of subordinate supervisors, and maintaining relationships with other organizational sections.


Educating and Interacting with the Public
-These questions test for knowledge of techniques used to interact effectively with individuals and/or community groups, to educate or inform them about topics of concern, to publicize or clarify agency programs or policies, to negotiate conflicts or resolve complaints, and to represent one's agency or program in a manner in keeping with good public relations practices. Questions may also cover interacting with others in cooperative efforts of public outreach or service.


Fire Administration Job Simulation Exercise
-This job simulation exercise tests for the ability to develop and maintain fire department programs and activities. The questions will be based on a simulated set of administrative issues that a Chief Officer may be asked to analyze and respond to in a working day. The questions cover such areas as organizational relationships, planning, staffing, managing resources, budgeting, public relations, rules and regulations, and political and social concerns impacting the fire service.


Fire Emergency Job Simulation Exercise
-This job simulation exercise tests for the ability to manage an emergency incident. The emphasis is on command-level actions and decisions in handling the incident from start to finish. The questions will cover such areas as principles and tactics of firefighting, accountability at a fire scene, hazardous materials, cause investigation, emergency medical care, community relations, and the incident command system, including interacting with other agencies and the media.


Preparing Written Material
-These questions test for the ability to present information clearly and accurately, and to organize paragraphs logically and comprehensibly. For some questions, you will be given information in two or three sentences followed by four restatements of the information. You must then choose the best version. For other questions, you will be given paragraphs with their sentences out of order. You must then choose, from four suggestions, the best order for the sentences.

 

A Guide for the Written Test for Fire Chief/Assistant Fire Chief is available at the New York State website:www.cs.ny.gov/testing/localtestguides.cfm. Candidates not having access to a computer or the internet may request copy of the test guide from the municipal civil service office conducting this examination using the contact information found elsewhere on this announcement.

 

CROSS-FILING: If you have applied for other local government or state examinations, call or write to each civil service agency to make arrangements no later than two weeks before the date of the examinations.  You must notify all local government civil service agencies with whom you have filed an application of the test site at which you wish to take your examinations.  The “Cross-filer Form” for Genesee County can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

 

NOTE: Religious Accommodations, Persons with Disabilities or Active Military: If special arrangements for testing are required, please indicate this on your application. An explanation of your need for special testing accommodations must be attached to your application.  If due to disability – medical documentation must be provided.

 

ACTIVE MILITARY MEMBERS: Any member of the armed forces of the United States who has duly filed an application to compete in a scheduled competitive examination but was deprived of the opportunity to compete in the examination due to active military duty could be provided with a special military make-up examination.

Current members of the Armed Forces may apply for Veteran’s credits by filing an “Application for Veteran’s Credits” (Form VC-1).  The “Application for Veteran’s Credits” can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website at, www.co.genesee.ny.us. Proof of military status must also be presented and verified in order for consideration of granting of “conditional” Veteran’s credit.  Acceptable proof may include a military I.D. card, military orders, or other official military document that substantiates active military service at time of exam. This documentation and VC-1 Form must be received prior to the establishment of the Eligible List for this examination.  The “conditional” status of the additional credits will remain until proof is provided indicating that the service was in time of war and that the veteran received an honorable discharge, or was released under honorable circumstances.

 

VETERANS: Additional credits are available to veterans who meet certain established requirements.  Veterans who have not exhausted their credits should make application for their use, if desired.  A COMPLETED APPLICATION FOR VETERANS CREDITS (FORM VC-1) AND a COPY OF SEPARATION PAPERS (FORM DD-214) MUST BE RECEIVED BEFORE THE ELIGIBLE LIST FOR THIS EXAMINATION IS ESTABLISHED IN ORDER TO UTILIZE ADDITIONAL CREDITS.  DISABLED VETERANS MUST SUBMIT, IN ADDITION, A COPY OF FORM VC-3 (AUTHORIZATION FOR DISABILITY RECORD). The “Application for Veteran’s Credits” can be obtained at Genesee County Human Resources, 15 Main St., Batavia, NY 14020 or from our website at, www.co.genesee.ny.us.

 

ADDITIONAL CREDIT AUTHORIZED:  Additional credits shall be allowed for children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty, as “child” in this section in competitive examinations for original appointment.  (a) On all eligible lists resulting from competitive examinations, the names of eligible persons shall be entered in the order of their respective final earned ratings on examinations, with the name of the eligible person with the highest final earned ratings at the head of such list, provided, however, that for the purpose of determining final earned ratings, children of firefighters and police officers killed in the line of duty shall be entitled to receive an additional ten (10) points in a competitive examination for original appointment in the same municipality in which his or her parent has served.  (b) Such additional credit shall be added to the final earned rating of such child, as the case may be, after he or she has qualified in the competitive examination and shall be granted only at the time of establishment of the resulting eligible list.

 

PLACE TO FILE: To get an application, come in or send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to: Genesee County Human Resources, County Building I, 15 Main Street, Batavia, NY 14020 or download from website: www.co.genesee.ny.us. Phone 344-2550, Ext. 2221.

Applications mailed to us must be postmarked with a date no later than the last filing date indicated on this announcement.

All correspondence will be sent only to the address provided on the application for examination. It is your responsibility to inform the Genesee County Human Resources office of any change of address. Correspondence returned for incorrect address will not be forwarded.  All address changes must be submitted to the Genesee County Human Resources office in writing.

 

APPLICANTS: Please contact this office three days prior to examination if you have not been notified by us, as to your eligibility to participate in this examination.

This examination is being prepared and rated by the New York State Department of Civil Service in accordance with Section 23-2 of the Civil Service Law.  The provisions of the New York State Civil Service Rules and Regulations dealing with this rating of the examination will apply to this test.

 

THE COUNTY OF GENESEE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF AGE, RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, GENDER, CREED, NATIONAL ORIGIN, PHYSICAL OR MENTAL DISABILITY, MARITAL STATUS, VETERANS STATUS, DISABLED VETERANS STATUS, OR STATUS AS A MEMBER OF ANY OTHER PROTECTED GROUP OR ACTIVITY IN ALL ASPECTS OF EMPLOYMENT.