21 - Amending the Composition of the Fire DepartmentItem No. 21
TO: Mayor, Mayor Pro -Tem & City Council
Grayson Path, City Manager
FROM: Thomas McMonigle, Fire Chief
SUBJECT: AMENDMENT TO CITY ORDINANCE 6.02.001
DATE: January 24, 2022
BACKGROUND: The City Council, through the above ordinance, determines the composition
of the fire department and the number of members in each rank. The current ordinance decrees
that the fire department shall be composed of the fire chief, assistant fire chief, and forty-nine
(49) members classified as follows: Four (4) deputy chiefs; Twelve (12) fire captains; Nine (9)
engineers/drivers; and Twenty-four (24) firefighters.
STATUS OF ISSUE: The Fire Marshal's Office is currently staffed by one (1) Deputy Chief
holding the title of Fire Marshal who is responsible for everything related to fire prevention,
plans review, fire inspections, and fire investigations. In order to satisfy an ever-increasing
workload and meet the needs of development, we are requesting the addition of one person to the
Fire Marshal's office. While we have used contract inspectors in the past, we believe that the
demands of the office justify an additional full-time position. This will be an additional position
within the department, holding the rank of Captain. We are asking that the ordinance be amended
to read:
The fire department of the city shall be composed of the fire chief, assistant fire chief, and fifty
(50) members classified as follows:
(1) Four (4) deputy chiefs;
(2) Thirteen (13) fire captains;
(3) Nine (9) engineers/drivers; and
(4) Twenty-four (24) firefighters.
BUDGET: The cost to implement this change will be absorbed in the approved budget for 2021-
2022. The additional position will be accounted for in future budgets.
RECOMMENDATION: Amend the ordinance to reflect the requested changes.
ORDINANCE NO.
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS,
AMENDING SECTION 6.02.001, "COMPOSITION," OF CHAPTER 6, "FIRE
PREVENTION AND PROTECTION," OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF
THE CITY OF PARIS, TEXAS; MAKING OTHER FINDINGS AND PROVISIONS
RELATED TO THE SUBJECT; PROVIDING A REPEALER CLAUSE, A
SEVERABILITY CLAUSE, A SAVINGS CLAUSE; AND DECLARING AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the employment of fire fighters in the City of Paris is governed by
Chapter 143 of the Local Government Code which authorizes and governs Civil Service
employment; and,
WHEREAS, Section 143.021 of said Chapter 143 of the Local Government Code
states that that the Civil Service Commission shall provide for the classification of all fire
fighters and police officers, and the municipal governing body shall establish the
classifications of police officers by ordinance; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Paris has established the classifications of fire fighters in
Chapter 6, Sec. 6.02.001 of the Code of Ordinances; and,
WHEREAS, the Fire Marshal's Office is currently staffed by one (1) Deputy Chief
holding the title of fire Marshal who is responsible for everything related to fire prevention,
plan review, fire inspections, and fire investigations; and
WHEREAS, in order to satisfy an ever-increasing workload and meet the needs of
development, the Fire Department is requesting the addition of one person to the Fire
Marshal's office holding the rank of Captain; and
WHEREAS, the City Council of the City of Paris, hereby approves the addition of one
additional position holding the rank of Captain to the Fire Marshal's office;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
PARIS, TEXAS:
Section 1. That the findings set out in the preamble to this ordinance are hereby
in all things approved.
Section 2. That Section 6.02.001 "Composition" of Chapter 6, "Fire Prevention
and Protection," of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas, is hereby amended to
read as follows:
Sec. 6.02.001 Composition
The fire department of the city shall be composed of the fire chief, assistant fire chief, and
fifty (50) members classified as follows:
"(1) Four (4) deputy chiefs;
"(2) Thirteen (13) fire captains;
"(3) Nine (9) engineers/drivers; and
"(4) Twenty-four (24) firefighters"
Section 3. That all provisions of the ordinances of the City of Paris, Texas in
conflict with the provisions of this ordinance are hereby repealed, and all other provisions
of the ordinances of the City of Paris not in conflict with the provisions of this ordinance
shall remain in full force and effect.
Section 4. That the repeal of any ordinance or part of ordinances affected by the
enactment of this ordinance shall not be construed as abandoning any action now pending
under or by virtue of such ordinance or as discontinuing, abating, modifying, or altering
any penalty accruing or to accrue, or as affecting any rights of the municipality under any
section or provisions of any ordinance at the time of passage of this ordinance.
Section 5. That it is the intention of the City Council of the City of Paris that this
ordinance and every provision hereof, shall be considered severable, and the invalidity or
partial invalidity of any section, clause, or provisions of this ordinance shall not affect the
validity of any other portion of this ordinance.
Section 6. That this ordinance shall become effective on January 24, 2022.
PASSED AND ADOPTED this 24th day of January, 2022.
Paula Portugal, Mayor
ATTEST:
Janice Ellis, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Stephanie H. Harris, City Attorney