OFD Members Earn Certifications/Designations: After completing over 600 hours of training, Lt. Shawn Clawson and Firefighter Richard Kenney recently obtained state certification as Paramedics. This brings the total to six Paramedics in the department (with another awaiting test results). And, on March 9, Chief Dennis Kirin was re-designated a “Chief Fire Officer” (CFO) by the Commission on Professional Credentialing of the Center for Public Safety Excellence, Inc. He earned this professional designation following review by a team of peers and members of the Commission. The Commission noted that Chief Kirin has demonstrated through education, leadership and management skills that he possesses the requisite knowledge, skills, and abilities required for a “Chief” in the fire and emergency services profession.
National League of Cities Leadership Training Institute Comes to Cleveland: On June 28-30, the NLC brings “The Changing Landscape of Cities: Finding Harmony in Today's Economic Climate” to northeast Ohio. You may be interested in attending this three day session that will address issues cities are faced with as a result of the national economic situation.
Ohio: Green and Growing Conference a Financial Success: Last summer, the City Council agreed to be a co-sponsor of a regional conference on sustainability along with Oberlin College and ICLEI. The City agreed to support the start-up costs of the conference with a $5,000 sponsorship investment, with the understanding that the City and College would split any surplus after all conference expenses were reconciled. On Thursday, a check in the amount of $2,910.25 was received from the College as a result of that final accounting. In addition to recognition, publicity and the sense of accomplishment as a result of the holding the conference, the City also received free registration to the conference for a number of City Councilmembers, commission members and staff.
Drug-Free Workplace Training to be Held for all Employees: One of several opportunities the City is pursing to reduce its workers compensation costs is participation in the Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation’s Drug Free Workplace Program (DFWP). The DFWP is an incentive program designed to help employers establish safer and more cost-effective workplaces. We will join hundreds of other Ohio employers in implementing a program to keep employees safe and reduce the chance of an accident caused by substance use. The DFWP encourages employers to detect and deter substance use and misuse, and take appropriate corrective action. Substance use is often the silent and unseen cause of work-related accidents. Estimates of the cost of substance use to employers vary, ranging from $7,000 to $25,000 annually per substance user. By implementing this program, the City will be eligible for a 15% discount on our workers compensation premiums. However, the greatest value of this program is in its long-range benefit of having a safer workforce and community. Part of the program requirement will be to train all employees.
Senator Brown’s Staff and Other Federal Officials Provide Stimulus Briefing: On Thursday, several members of Senator Sherrod Brown’s staff and representatives from other federal agencies provided a briefing on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (a.k.a. stimulus bill) for municipal officials, individuals and business persons interested in learning how to take advantage of provisions in the Act. A lengthy review of the Act prepared by the Senator’s office is found elsewhere in the packet. The status of state and federal funding opportunities is constantly changing, so City staff are regularly monitoring state and federal websites and receiving updates from a number of sources. As there are provisions to assist small business and individuals, please advise residents interested in information or how to get assistance, to visit recovery.ohio.gov or http://brown.senate.gov/issues_and_agenda/issues/recovery/.
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