HomeMy WebLinkAboutF&P Meeting Minutes 022023 BOARD OF FIRE & POLICE COMMISSION
Operating Under Council – Manager Government Since 1957
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
TO: Board of Fire and Police Commissioners
Chairman Robert Fulton, Commissioner Thomas Peters, Commissioner Diane VanHootegem
FROM: Amanda Jennings, Secretary
DATE: February 20, 2023
SUBJECT: February 20, 2023 Board of Fire and Police Commissioners Meeting Minutes
The regular meeting of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners was called to order by Commissioner Thomas Peters
on Monday, February 20, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
Those present in person were: Commissioner Thomas Peters, Commissioner Diane VanHootegem, Chief Russ Idle, Fire
Deputy Chief John Seitz, Secretaries Jenni Moser and Amanda Jennings
Public Citizen Comment
None
Approve
Commissioner VanHootegem motioned to approve the minutes of the December 19, 2022 regular meeting.
Commissioner Peters seconded the motion. Motion carried.
Correspondence
None
Old Business
Chief Idle advised there are 6 officers currently at school and 4 officers in training at the Department. There may be
another lateral application soon and there is still one vacancy.
Deputy Chief Seitz advised 5 firefighters were hired last week and 1 was hired in January. Four of the new hires will start
the ten-week academy next week. Staffing is currently at 47. There will be several retirements in the coming months.
They are researching doing an EMT training course in-house and how to make entry level testing more efficient. Joseph
Brignall will be promoted soon as Steve Selliers is retiring.
Police entry level testing will take place on Saturday, March 4, 2023. An alternate date of Tuesday, March 7th is only as
needed. Discussion was held on allowing candidates to use calculators during the written exam. Chief Idle and Chairman
Fulton approve the use of calculators. All were in favor of making the amendment for use of calculators for written
exams.
Deputy Chief Seitz stated they will probably need to test again this fall. They are currently at candidate number 9 on the
list and there are several expected vacancies. They want to test more frequently so the list does not get stale. They are
looking into doing the CPAT certification locally. The same vendor that does promotional testing also does entry testing
online. Candidates need a computer and a camera. The test is proctored and scheduled individually. The vendor does
testing for both police and fire. The tests are validated. Seitz has spoken with several departments that do this type of
testing. All agreed to keep this topic on the agenda for further discussion.
BOARD OF FIRE & POLICE COMMISSION
Operating Under Council – Manager Government Since 1957
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
New Business
The 2022 Annual Report was presented and reviewed. Commissioner VanHootegem motioned to approve the report as
presented. Commissioner Peters seconded. Approved.
A new Battalion Chief tests needs to be created for the next promotional testing cycle. The estimated cost is $7,000. The
department is looking at options. They want to start the promotional testing process in April with completion in June or
July. There will be 2 Battalion Chiefs leaving this fall.
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Commissioner VanHootegem and
seconded by Commissioner Peters. Meeting adjourned at 10:22 a.m.
The next regular scheduled meeting will take place on Monday, April 17, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in the
Administrative Conference Room, City Hall, Galesburg, Illinois.