HomeMy WebLinkAboutF&P Meeting Minutes 061923 BOARD OF FIRE & POLICE COMMISSION
Operating Under Council – Manager Government Since 1957
City of Galesburg Board of Fire and Police Commissioners
150 South Broad Street • Galesburg, IL 61401 • 309.345.3729 • www.ci.galesburg.il.us
TO: Thomas Peters, Chairman, Commissioner Diane VanHootegem and
Commissioner Robert Fulton
FROM: Olivia Diaz, Secretary
DATE: June 21, 2023
SUBJECT: June 19, 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 Chairman
Thomas Peters on Monday, June 19, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.
Those present in person were: Chairman Thomas Peters, Commissioner Diane VanHootegem,
Commissioner Robert Fulton, Police Chief Russ Idle, Fire Deputy Chief John Seitz, Secretaries Amanda
Jennings, Jenni Moser and Olivia Diaz.
Public Forum (Citizen Comments)
None
Approve
Commissioner VanHootegem motioned to approve the minutes of the April 17, 2023 regular meeting.
Commissioner Fulton seconded the motion. Minutes approved.
Executive Meetings were reviewed and Commissioner Fulton motioned to keep all executive meeting
minutes closed. Commissioner VanHootegem seconded the motion. Motion approved.
Correspondence
None
Old Business
Chief Idle gave a department update. There are currently five officers training who will be released for
independent work by the end of July. There are three at the academy now and doing well. They will
graduate at the end of August. Lateral candidate, Gabriel Trulson will be sworn in on June 28th in Chief
Idle’s Office.
Chief Idle informed the Commission that the total number for the department stands at 53including the
eight that are in training. Each platoon will have seven officers which hasn’t happened in several years.
Chief Idle shared that a total of seven participated in testing that was held on June 3rd and 6th. As of right
now there are six on the list, one participant did not pass.
Fire Deputy Chief John Seitz shared that since the last meeting, there has been one retirement and they
are down one.
BOARD OF FIRE & POLICE COMMISSION
Operating Under Council – Manager Government Since 1957
City of Galesburg Board of Fire and Police Commissioners
150 South Broad Street • Galesburg, IL 61401 • 309.345.3729 • www.ci.galesburg.il.us
Seitz informed the Commission that the fire training academy will not start again until the Fall. They are
on candidate 10 out of 15 on the list with the list not expiring until next year. With that in mind, the
department is looking to hold entry level testing in the fall. The department is exploring the idea of
shifting to a different test provider.
Fire Deputy Chief John Seitz reminded the Commission that Battalion Chief promotional interviews are
happening this week and Captain interviews will happen in the spring. There was continued discussion on
the promotional testing process.
New Business
Chairman Thomas Peters shared some information regarding police recruitment after doing some
research. There are testing vendors that handle the process and candidates pay a fee to test. Chief Idle
shares his concerns that it would dissuade people from participating. There was additional discussion on
the topic.
There being no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Commissioner Fulton and
seconded by Commissioner VanHootegem. Meeting adjourned at 10:30 a.m.
The next regularly scheduled meeting will take place on Monday, August 21, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in the
Administrative Conference Room, City Hall, Galesburg, Illinois.
cc: Randy Hovind, Fire Chief
Russell Idle, Police Chief
Kelli Bennewitz, City Clerk
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