Augusta commission members to discuss fire department hiring todayBy Susan McCord Staff Writer Tuesday, April 20, 2010 2:03 PM Augusta Commissioner Joe Jackson says he wants to take on a "good 'ol boy" system of hiring at the fire department, but two other commissioners have other ideas for improvement. Jackson said he wants to implement a system that takes into account prior training and certification, as well as a "fitness for duty" requirement. "This is not a fat issue, this is a training issue," Jackson said. Commissioners J.R. Hatney and Bill Lockett have raised other concerns about hiring in the department. Recently, several new fire department hires were terminated during the training process that all new hires are required to complete. "Why train them, and not hire them?" Lockett asked. At least one of the new hires slated for re-hire, Rev. Dr. Frank Beckles, has alleged unfair treatment. Hatney said hiring at the department needed a "complete review" with participation of Augusta's human resources and equal employment opportunity departments. A commission subcommittee of Jackson, Hatney, Lockett and Commissioner Joe Bowles, meets at 4 p.m. today in commission chambers. Please login or register to add a comment E-mailPrintTwitterFacebookFollow Latest News Comments corgimomTuesday, Apr. 20 7:30 PMLogin or register to post commentsRecently, several new fire department hires were terminated during the training process that all new hires are required to complete. "Why train them, and not hire them?" Lockett asked Because they DID SOMETHING AGAINST THE RULES OR DIDN"T PASS THE TESTS, THAT"S WHY. Because a whole lot of them think it's really glamourous and then find out that the training is a whole lot harder than they thought, or they find out that they don't have what it takes. -ONLY A DUMB BASTARD MAN OR WOMAN, WOULD BELIEVE THAT STATEMENT, MANY OF THE NEW FIREMEN, DID PASS ALL OF THEIR TESTS, OBEYED ALL OF THE RULES AND DEPARTMENTAL REGULATIONS, HAD PASSED ALL PHYSICALS, AND DRUG TESTS. AND WAS UNFAIRLY TERMINATED BY TRAINING CHIEF, CHRISTOPHER JAMES....