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FIRE BOARD <br />CITY OF RAMSEY <br />ANOKA COUNTY <br />STATE OF MINNESOTA <br /> <br />The Ramsey Fire Board conducted a meeting on Tuesday, February 4, 1997, in the Fire Station at <br />the Ramsey Municipal Center, 15153 Nowthen Boulevard NW, Ramsey, Minnesota. <br /> <br />Members Present: <br /> <br />Councilmember Sheila Beyer <br />Boardmember Jon McLaughlin <br />Boardmember Chris Weiss <br />Fire Chief Dean Kapler (ex-officio) <br />City Administrator Ryan Schroeder (ex-officio) <br /> <br />Members Absent: <br /> <br />Mayor Tom Gamec <br />Chairperson A1 Pearson <br />Boardmember David Lewandowski <br /> <br />Fire Chief Kapler announced that this would be an informal meeting as there is no quorum present. <br />He added that he would like to use the Fire Board as a "think tank" to bring a new idea to with <br />facts and data and get ideas back plus feelings and opinions. <br /> <br />BOARD BUSINESS <br /> <br />Case #1: New Fire Fighter Hiring and Bi-Annual Physical Ability Testing <br /> Procedure <br /> <br />Fire Chief Kapler reported that last year at the Fire Chief's Conference in St. Cloud he was <br />introduced to a physical ability test for evaluating both new applicants and current fh:e fighters. <br />This training was endorsed by the Northwest Hennepin County Fire Departments. All of these <br />procedures are common activities. They would be used for new people on the department and <br />every other year for existing people. Three of the tests are currently used by the Ramsey Fire <br />Department. The ladder test is a good one but would have to be altered for Ramsey to reflect the <br />way the aluminum roof ladder is stored on Engine #1. Chief Kapler stated he likes the hose test <br />but doesn't feel it's all that meaningful. This testing would strengthen our entrance exam. He <br />added that he had this reviewed by Administrative Services Manager Walte Smith and she is fine <br />with it. <br /> <br />Councilmember Beyer thought this program was fine also. <br /> <br />City Administrator Schroeder inquired what happens if someone doesn't pass the test. <br /> <br />Chief Kapler suggested they would be put on medical leave until they can perform the test <br />satisfactorily. It's not an iron man competition and he feels it's a real functional test. <br /> <br />Boardmember McLaughlin stated that the things on the test are things that we could be asked to do <br />at any fire incident. We should all be able to do this. <br /> <br />Mr. Schroeder asked about the course and where it would be set up. <br /> <br />Chief Kapler stated the course could be set up here. <br /> <br />Boardmember McLaughlin added there is no permanent set up for the test. You just set it up when <br />you're ready to do the tests. <br /> <br />Fire Board/February 4, 1997 <br /> Page I of 6 <br /> <br /> <br />