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HomeMy WebLinkAboutF & P Meeting Minutes 03022020City of Galesburg Board of Fire and Police Commission • Public Safety Building 150 South Broad Street • Galesburg, IL 61401 • 309/345-3729 • www.ci.galesburg.il.us City of Galesburg Operating Under Council – Manager Government Since 1957 Board of Fire and Police Commissioners TO: Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Chairman Robert Fulton, Commissioner Thomas Peters, Commissioner Anne Gengenbacher FROM: Amanda Jennings, Secretary II DATE: March 9, 2020 SUBJECT: March 2, 2020 Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Meeting Minutes The regular meeting of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners was called to order by Chairman Robert Fulton on Monday, March 2, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the Administrative Conference Room, City Hall, 55 West Tompkins Street, Galesburg, Illinois. Those present were: Chairman Robert Fulton (via phone), Commissioner Thomas Peters, Commissioner Anne Gengenbacher, Fire Chief Randy Hovind, Police Chief Russ Idle, Fire Deputy Chief Brad Stevenson, Rev. Glen Bocox, Fire Chaplain, Secretaries Jenni Moser and Amanda Jennings Public Citizen Comment None Approve Commissioner Peters motioned to approve the minutes of the December 16, 2019 regular meeting. Commissioner Gengenbacher gave a second motion. Motion approved. Correspondence A letter was received from Campion, Barrow and Associates advising of a rate increase effective March 1, 2020. The increase consists of an additional $15 per candidate assessment for a total cost of $440. Chairman thought this was reasonable since there has not been an increase in at least two years. Their reports are very comprehensive and the Commission has been using this company for a very long time. Dr. Campion is highly qualified and accepted throughout the State. Commissioner Peters motioned to approve the rate increase which was seconded by Commissioner Gengenbacher. All were in favor. Old Business The certified police candidate hiring process was discussed. Chairman Fulton feels additional testing is needed. Chief Idle suggested giving candidates the entry level written exam and possibly adding a structured point system. Commissioner Peters recommends adding more questions to the interview. All agreed the need to possibly do both. Commissioner Gengenbacher requests both Chief’s opinion for interview questions and answers. She is curious to learn the expectations for hiring candidates. Additional background checks are completed in-house and have proved to be valuable. Chairman requested a motion to add the police entry level written exam to the certified testing process. Commissioner Gengenbacher gave the first motion with Commissioner Peters seconding. Motion carried. Chairman Fulton requested Amanda notify City Attorney Brad Nolden of the addition for the Rules and Regulations. City of Galesburg Board of Fire and Police Commission • Public Safety Building 150 South Broad Street • Galesburg, IL 61401 • 309/345-3729 • www.ci.galesburg.il.us Additional discussion was held on updates needed to the Commission’s Rules and Regulations. Chief Hovind recommended seven changes. He submitted a memo to the Commission detailing these changes on December 16, 2019. One of the proposed changes is having fire candidates sign a medical liability waiver versus having a doctor’s release to participate in the physical agility. Chairman Fulton is concerned about the potential for a medical emergency. Chief will research other departments and consult with Attorney Nolden. Deputy Chief Stevenson explained the update to the EMT classifications. EMT-B will no longer be recognized. The wording should be changed to be listed just as “EMT.” Chairman Fulton agrees to fall in line with the national recommendation. Further discussion was held on separating the language for Police and Fire to make it easier and less confusing. Chairman mentioned having a special meeting after April to finalize any updates. New Business Chief Idle explained the change in fees and the collection of funds at the State level causing a major shortfall to the ILETSB Executive Institute which manages all State police training. This is causing a variety of police training classes to be cancelled. Agencies will now be responsible for paying for any new hire’s attendance at PTI which is approximately $6,000 per candidate. This is effective immediately. City staff has been informed and there are plans to hire and entry level candidate in May. Chief added there is a great amount of political activity occurring now at the State level regarding this issue. The Chairman requested Chief Idle keep the Commission informed. Chief Idle reiterated hiring an entry level candidate in May and the need to schedule a swear-in ceremony in the future. This will put the Police Department at fully staffed until October when there will be an expected retirement. There will then be a need to promote a Lieutenant and Sergeant and a hiring for a new Patrol Officer. Chief Hovind reported their two new hires just started the Academy but one recently advised he is in the process of being hired elsewhere. The next candidate on the eligibility list was also just recently hired by another department but lives locally and is a paramedic. Firefighter Jeff Maher will be promoted to Captain today after this meeting. He requested a small ceremony. Chief Hovind prepared a tentative schedule for the Battalion Chief promotional testing cycle which was reviewed and discussed by the Commissioners. The estimate is there will be eight or nine candidates participate. Chief Hovind would like to have the list posted by August 14, 2020. Deputy Chief Stevenson is currently working with the assessment vendor. Police entry level testing was discussed as the eligibility list will expire July 24, 2020. Amanda advised the application process typically opens in April. Graduation at Knox College is the first weekend in June. A Commission meeting is scheduled for June 15th making Saturday, June 20, 2020 a good testing date option. Amanda will contact Knox College about use of their facilities. Discussion was held regarding the physical agility test and Chairman Fulton advised there is a Federal law against it negatively affecting a candidate. Further discussion was held regarding concern for the number of interested candidates and difficulties in recruitment. The Chiefs have been working with the NAACP and both Departments will be attending local career fairs. Chief Idle is comfortable with our current requirements for this year’s testing but advised it may need to be reviewed afterwards depending on the outcome. The 2019 Commission Annual Report was presented and reviewed. There were no requests for additions or changes. Commissioner Gengenbacher motioned to approve the annual report and for it to be submitted to City Administration and Council. Commissioner Peters seconded the motion. All were in favor. The Illinois Fire and Police Commission Association (IFPCA) Spring Seminar will be held in Springfield in May. Only Commissioner Gengenbacher will be able to take the modules offered. Chairman Fulton and Commissioner Peters will attend the general session. Both Commissioner Gengenbacher and Peters will need to take module 5 in the fall. Amanda will make the reservations. Adjournment There being no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Commissioner Gengenbacher and seconded by Commissioner Peters. Meeting adjourned at 10:50 a.m. The next regular scheduled meeting will take place on Monday, April 20, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the Administrative Conference Room, City Hall, Galesburg, Illinois.