WESTFIELD — The Fire Department is looking for a few good men and women because of a new model for the state’s Civil Service.
“We’re really excited about this,” said Department Deputy Chief and Fire Prevention Officer Christopher King about the change in the Civil Service provisions, which was echoed by the city’s Personnel Director Amy Larkham.
“This is a great opportunity for us to find some local people who are interested in serving our city,” Larkham said.
The new Civil Service model is considered a “hybrid pathway,” according to the Massachusetts Municipal Association.
Larkham said the new model allows a municipality to set up its own “Local Registration Program,” which is designed to facilitate the hiring process, ensuring that candidates are hired on merit.
“Typically, potential candidates would go to Civil Service to take the exam and then get put on a list according to their score,” she said.
With the new program, municipalities can appoint entry-level police and fire positions through the local registration program without taking the exam and waiting for an opening.
But there is a caveat; municipalities can’t only use the registration program to hire more than 50% of its personnel – at least 50% of the total force must still be Civil Service qualified.
Larkham said there was also another feature of the program that will help with police officers or firefighters looking to make a lateral move to another community.
“Before, an officer needed the approval of their chief and the chief of the department they wanted to move to before they could move,” she said.
That provision of Civil Service was to keep departments from poaching employees from other municipalities, Larkham said.
“They won’t have to do that anymore,” she said.
While the city would prefer not to have to rely on Civil Service for its public safety personnel, Larkham said it would test the new program to see if it works.
Police Capt. Steve Dickinson said the police department will use the new program to hire officers who have already undergone training and several years of experience.
The Fire Department announced Friday that it is hiring.
Larkham said the department has two openings now and that at the Fire Commission last week, Fire Chief Patrick Egloff said he was expecting two or three retirements in the spring.
For those interested in a career with the Fire Department, the starting average pay for a paramedic with a qualifying bachelor’s degree is $77,000, with additional pay incentives.
It is a full-time position with paid fire academy training, yearly uniform allowance, and excellent benefits with educational incentives and a pension.
The minimum requirements to apply for the position of EMT or paramedic are completing a state-approved training program, having a high school diploma or GED and a valid driver’s license.
Application packets are available at the Fire Department at 34 Broad St. between 8:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
The application period ends on Jan. 30.
For more information, email King at c.king@cityofwestfield.org.
