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HomeMy WebLinkAboutF & P Meeting Minutes 04202020City 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 and Commissioner Thomas Peters FROM: Amanda Jennings, Secretary II DATE: April 20, 2020 SUBJECT: April 20, 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, April 20, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. via conference call on 309/344-2251 and 309/344-2131 due to State Emergency Order involving the Open Meetings Act concerning COVID-19. Those present were: Chairman Robert Fulton, Commissioner Thomas Peters, Fire Chief Randy Hovind, Police Chief Russell Idle, Fire Deputy Chief Brad Stevenson, Secretaries Jenni Moser and Amanda Jennings Public Citizen Comment None Approve Chairman advised there was some confusion at the last meeting with him attending by phone. City Administration advised he cannot attend electronically unless it meets certain criteria. There is some redundancy in today’s agenda to clear up any misunderstanding from the March meeting. We will re-approve all motions approved in March. Commissioner Peters motioned to approve the minutes of the December 16, 2019 and March 2, 2020 regular meetings. Chairman Fulton gave a second motion. Minutes 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. See additional information in the March 2, 2020 minutes. Commissioner Peters motioned to approve the rate increase which was seconded by Chairman Fulton. All were in favor. Old Business The 2019 Annual Report has been submitted to City Council. Commissioner Peters motioned to approve the report and it was seconded by Chairman Fulton. The 2019 Annual Report was approved. The certified police candidate hiring process was discussed and approved in March to add an entry level written exam to the process. This is an objective measure which will make the process more extensive than solely basing ranking on the oral interviews. The Rules and Regulations will need updated to reflect this addition. Commissioner Peters motioned to approve adding the entry level written exam with Chairman Fulton seconding and the motion carried. Amanda notified Attorney Brad Nolden regarding the need to update the Rules and Regulations. Nolden stated he would definitely be able to handle the changes if requested by the Commission. Chairman Fulton advised the recommendations 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 made by Chief Hovind were accepted at the last meeting and will be incorporated with several other changes. The progress on the updates has been stalled due to COVID-19 but Chief Hovind will check in with Brad Nolden today. Chief advised the lapse in time will not harm his agenda. Chairman Fulton advised one of the Fire Department’s new hires resigned. Chief Hovind added the next person on the list also recently took another position. The next two on the list do not have any EMS experience. They will not hire again until the Fall for the next academy. The Fire Department has been notified of a retirement in August. They are fully staffed now but will have opening with the retirement. Chairman asked if there have been any employee issues with COVID-19. Fire had one member that tested negative and this employee is now back to work. Police has not had any issues. Fire Battalion Chief Promotion Testing was previously discussed. Oral interviews will take place on June 4th and 5th. The written exam will be on June 26th and the assessment center will be held on July 30th and 31st, 2020. Chief Hovind has no issues at this time with the itinerary and they are still proceeding as normal. Deputy Chief Stevenson is still working with assessment center. Chairman Fulton and Commissioner Peters discussed social distancing during the interviews. Chairman wants the interviews to be tentative though for virus concerns but it was mentioned of the possibility to teleconference the interviews. The Commission has previously done an interview by teleconference and they thought it went well. Fire advised there will be 7 candidates participating. The Commission will decide how to handle the interviews closer to the date. Police Entry Level Testing was discussed. Amanda advised Knox College cancelled their commencement ceremony and their facilities are closed until further notice. Amanda submitted the application for use of the Fieldhouse and received a reply that the application was received but could not be approved until the College reopened. It is unknown at this time if use of the Fieldhouse will be approved for Saturday, June 20th. It was mentioned the current list does not expire until July 24, 2020. Chief Idle advised a candidate on current list will be hired for the June PTI and there will not be a need to hire until the Fall. He does not believe it would make any difference if there was a brief lapse in the eligibility list. Chief will contact Knox Security about use of the Fieldhouse in June. He suggested the possibility of using one of the outdoor tracks at GHS or having candidates run the block around the Public Safety Building. The weight equipment at Police Station could also be used. Chairman reiterated that the power test cannot be used negatively against a candidate’s score. Chairman advised some decisions will have to be made once we know about Knox College. The IFPCA Spring Seminar has been cancelled. Registration fees will be reimbursed and Amanda will notify Chairman Fulton when that has been received. New Business Chairman advised Commissioner Gengenbacher submitted a letter of resignation. He is not sure of the reasoning and added the letter contained few details. He stated that she would have been a great Commissioner and they need to find a replacement soon. Chairman further advised the need to consider diversity. Chief Idle made two recommendations which have been passed along to City Administration. Chairman asked for any additional suggestions. Chief Hovind advised the female candidate that was suggested by Chief Idle would be a great candidate. Commissioner Peters also gave a recommendation. Further discussion was held on the suggestions. Chief Idle will contact City Administration and the Mayor regarding the suggestions. Discussion was held on the appointment of Board Officers. Commissioner Peters motioned to leave positions as is until the next term. Chairman Fulton seconded. Chairman Fulton will continue as Chairman and Commissioner Peters will remain as Secretary. All were in favor. Chairman Fulton further explained the confusion regarding the electronic meeting attendance. Attorney Nolden advised the February meeting was not valid due to Chairman Fulton’s attendance via conference call. Chairman did not intend to cause any problems for the February meeting and thought this was approved when Chairman Guenther was still in office. Galesburg is home rule and the City has some type of rule that electronic attendance is not allowed. He suggested to still have an informational February meeting or ask the Council to exempt the Commission for this meeting. Chairman Fulton believes the best route is to have a meeting but not have any approvals. Commissioner Peters recommended cancelling February meetings. Chairman Fulton stated he could just not attend in February and the other two Commissioners can still 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 meet since there would be a quorum. Chairman believes the issue was due to him conducting the meeting and he did not intend to create a problem as there was still a quorum present. Commissioner Peters inquired about the cost of the resignation of the newer Firefighter and Chief Hovind advised that he will be reimbursing the City for fees associated with the academy. Upon hire, Fire candidates commit to employment for a certain period or they are required to pay back certain fees incurred. The Commission requested an email be sent on upcoming testing dates. Adjournment There being no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Commissioner Peters and seconded by Chairman Fulton. Meeting adjourned at 10:42 a.m. The next regular scheduled meeting will take place on Monday, June 15, 2020 at 10:00 a.m. in the Administrative Conference Room, City Hall, Galesburg, Illinois.