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HomeMy WebLinkAboutF&P Meeting Minutes 061724 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 Bernie Cowan FROM: Jenna Hunt, Public Safety Clerk DATE: June 18, 2024 SUBJECT: June 17, 2024 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 17, 2024 at 10:01 a.m. Those present in person were: Chairman Thomas Peters, Commissioner Diane VanHootegem, Commissioner Bernie Cowan, Police Chief Police Russell Idle, Police Deputy Chief Kevin Legate, Fire Chief Randy Hovind, Secretaries Amanda Jennings, Jenni Moser, and Jenna Hunt. Public Forum (Citizen Comments) None Approve Commissioner Cowan motioned to approve the minutes of the April 15, 2024 regular meeting. Commissioner VanHootegem seconded. Motion carried. Correspondence None Old Business Police department currently has two officers in FTO training, and will be done with FTO around August. There is one officer currently at academy. There will be swearing in of a lateral officer on July 29th. It was noted that after the swearing in of the lateral officer, the department will be fully staffed. The next police academy will be in September, and the department is hoping to be able to send one officer so the department will be plus one officer. There are currently seventeen candidates on the eligibility list, with three candidates being from the last list being added since they had taken a pass. The department is hoping to be able to keep the list for awhile and not need to do another testing cycle until next year. Fire department is currently fully staffed. The caption promotions went well. The department and the union are still currently going through contract negotiations. Chief Hovind noted that as of current, the department will not be testing this year. There are currently two lists, the first expiring this December, and the second being expired December 2025. Chief Hovind will let the board know if there will be a need to test when it arises. 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 ILFPCA Seminar was attended by Chairman Peters and Commissioner Cowan. The seminar went well. Commissioner Cowan mentioned that he had great instructors and great information was given. Chairman Peters noted that he talked to John Broihier, one of the attorneys at the seminar, about the POWER test being a pre-requisite for employment during the testing process. It was mentioned that it can be done if the department wants to, but it would be done at their own risk. It was suggested that the departments can do the testing as a pre-requisite, but if the candidate fails, they should not be disqualified from the process. It needs to be mentioned that they will have to pass the POWER test when they arrive at the academy. John also gave the commissioners at the seminar information regarding several items for both the police and fire departments. One of the packets was information for the fire department on hiring candidates that are older than the cut off age, if the candidate was/is a volunteer firefighter, paid or on call firefighter at least five years prior to the application. Another was for the police department being able to hire non- citizens if they provide the required documentation; proof of birth, federal documentation proving they are able to work and federal documentation for the right to possess a firearm, among some other documentation. If the candidate provides all the required documentation, then the department is required to have the candidate go on in the hiring process. There was also a packet regarding testing. Testing can be done if there is no testing cycle, and can also be done online or in person. There are departments around here that do online testing and year-round testing cycles for both the police and fire departments. If this is done, the lists would have different expiration dates, and the candidates can jump on the list according the test scores. Chief Idle mentioned that he was asked if the department wanted to join the departments in the Quad Cities for a card for the POWER testing, like the CPAT card for fire departments, that the candidates can use in place of the physical testing part of the hiring process. Chief Idle said no, due to the department not having the POWER test as a pre-requisite for hiring. New Business Police department will swear in a lateral police officer on July 29, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. at City Council Chambers. Adjournment There being no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Commissioner VanHootegem and seconded by Commissioner Cowan. Meeting adjourned at 10:18 a.m. The next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 19, 2024 at 10:00 a.m. in Chief Idle’s Office, Public Safety Building, 150 South Broad Street, Galesburg, Illinois cc: Randy Hovind, Fire Chief Russell Idle, Police Chief Kelli Bennewitz, City Clerk Media