The Human Resources Division’s mission is to provide customer service to Fire Department employees as well as the general public. This mission is shared by the Division’s three sections: Personnel Services, Payroll, and Exam. Services include the administration of employment exams, issuance of Fire Department badges, processing of new employees, coordinating promotions and bonuses, administering various orientations and making certain that employee time and compensation are reported accurately.

The Personnel Services Section provides general administrative services to Fire Department staff and the public. General services include new employee orientations, employee benefit enrollments, employment opportunity reception and examination information, savings bond program enrollment; maintenance and security of personnel files, identification cards, badges, performance evaluations and special programs, such as promotional ceremonies and County service awards. Additionally, specific services provided to Fire Department staff include all activities related to hiring, transfers, promotions and terminations, including processing of bonuses, hiring from temporary agencies, workforce reduction implementation, retirement, address and name changes, photo identification cards and background check fingerprinting, and scheduling pre-employment and annual physicals. Personnel Services also maintains and distributes the Department’s employee placement reports which track where employees are assigned within the organization.

The Payroll Section is responsible for processing the payroll for Fire Department employees by certifying its accuracy and timely compensating employees for work performed. Activities include processing time cards variances, industrial accidents benefits adjustments, employment verifications, garnishments, direct deposits requests, state and federal tax forms, pay or benefit discrepancies, schedule changes, vacation pay advances, sick leave buy back requests, leave donation requests, and preparing letters to agencies for salary histories at the request of employees.

The Exam Section is charged with recruiting and selecting qualified and competent applicants for the employment process. Staff ensures that candidates meet both the minimum and selection requirements for the Department’s posted positions. Activities include working with division managers to develop an exam bulletin, exam selection plan, and identify subject matter experts to participate in administering the exam. The job analysis process is conducted by staff to identify worker characteristics that should be assessed in an exam.

The Classifications Unit within Exam Section is responsible for providing personnel consultation services to employees and managers regarding position allocations, job classifications, and organizational structures.