Nashville Fire Department
March 15, 2013 Reorganization
Director Chief Billy Lynch:
[Below] you will find both the old and the new Organization Chart that will
be put into place March 15th, 2013.
As I said before when I arrived,
there were numerous Management and Financial issues that needed to be addressed.
I have taken a slow path so to engage as many employees, retirees, and brought
in Maximus to perform a Management Audit to try and make the best decisions for
the future of this Department.
When you manage a Department in a
Government setting you must remember, at all times, you work for: 1) the
taxpayers, 2) the Government, 3) the Department in which you are over, 4) the
employees of the Department.
In my travels to the Fire Halls and my
discussions with the employees various names came up as to the future direction,
and the most prominent was Assistant Chief Ricky White. I have discussed all the
issues with Chief White and have asked him to assist me in implementing the
Maximus Audit.
If you look at the structure, Chief White will
temporarily hold the position under me.
The structure is very clear.
Assistant Chief Larry Walker will be assigned the new role of Operations
Manager. Under Chief Walker, David White will assume day to day management of
the EMS component, and Assistant Chief Steve Holt will assume the day to day
oversight of firefighting. The Special Ops Function day to day oversight will
move to Assistant Chief Tim Henderson.
Quality Control in the structure
will continue under the Direction of Assistant Chief Joaquin Toon. Chief Toon
will continue direct relationship oversight on all medical runs and will work
closely with Dr. Corey Slovis (both EMS and firefighting).
Services
Section is under the Direction of Assistant Chief Al Thomas. Chief Thomas will
have oversight of the newly created Section, “Staffing and Planning”. This
Section is critical and will be developed fully over time. Assistant Chief Mike
Franklin will assume this new responsibility. Training \ Safety will be under
the direction of Assistant Chief David Birdwell. Like Staffing\Planning, this
section needs growth and with time and assignments it will become fully
functional.
Administrative Section is under the oversight of Deputy Chief
Danny Yates. Formerly Deputy Chief Larry Poole (retiring) had many of these
particular functions. Logistics, Fleet, Capital needs, Air Shop and other
responsibilities are critical support for all the Sections.
Fire
Marshal’s Office: This area is very critical and the four main components,
(Arson, Development, Special Events, Inspection) will continue all day to day
oversight under Danny Hunt, but the specific functions will be attached to
different sections. Arson, will be attached to Special
Operations---Development\Special Events to Services Division,-- Inspection to
Administrative Division.
Assistant Chief Charles Shannon will continue to
have oversight over the OEM Function. The Fire Department Finance Manager Leigh
Anne Hagar will take over the Finance function of OEM and Jamie Summers will
assist Chief Shannon with all HR issues. Chief Shannon also will assume the
Public Education component of the department along with the Honor Guard
Function,--Special Ceremonies and Chaplain Services while assisting when
necessary in the Public Affairs Section.
Deputy Chief Kim Lawson will
have oversight of the Public Affairs Section. This area ultimately is
responsible for all information being conveyed to the public by the Management.
This section will work to train those giving out public information along with
assisting the HR Component with a New Internal Affairs Section.---This component
when needed will utilize sources both inside and out to assist with any
investigations including utilizing our Trained Arson Investigators. The CISM
(Critical Incident Stress Management) function will also be included within this
section under the guidance of District Chief Ramona McKenzie.
The Finance
and HR Administration will continue under the present Leadership ---Budget
Control and Payroll: Leigh Anne Hagar---HR\Labor Relations & when necessary
Internal Affairs: Jamie Summers---Grants, Ambulance Billing\Outside Contractor:
Drusilla Martin. Structurally Ms. Martin will continue in the F&A role
previously held under Chief Halford.
I want to stress in all these
changes “ No one’s Civil Service is affected” nor will anyone’s salary be
reduced. Over time through attrition the classification of Deputy Chief will be
abolished.
The Team Concept being presented by the managers is to start
familiarizing themselves to all the work sites, listen to the issues and solve
those issues which are legitimate. The goal is to push down responsibility and
participation to the various ranks then hold responsible the managers for the
day to day growth of this department. As we move through this process it is
suggested that the Captains start evaluating quarterly their staff so that they
can gain a better feel of the areas needing attention – and their subordinates
can have a clearer idea of what is expected of them. They should view A) how the
employee handles themselves in their daily assignment or as in the field how do
the react under emergency circumstance. B) They should also view how the
employee interacts with other staff whether in an office or a hall. C)
Attendance---do they come to work as scheduled? D) How do they present
themselves as a positive influence for the Department?
The District Chief
should do the same for each Captain under his\her authority plus A) Are the
Captains doing the prescribed Training with their staff on a monthly Basis; B)
Are the Captains entering into Firehouse the necessary Training exercises?
This concept of the evaluations can be applied across different division
lines modified to meet the needs. This is where Ms. Summers (Fire HR) can assist
and will work with the team to make it a reality.
In closing, the goal of
the New Management Team is to continue to move in a positive direction while
ensuring the three major missions of the department move in the most efficient
and productive manner.
These are but the first moves; with more to
follow. This is a dynamic and developing process to get to where this department
needs to be. Thanks again for all your hard work.
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New Orgizational Chart
Old Organizational Chart
