Sycamore Fire and Police Commission
Special Meeting Minutes
1:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Chairman Dailey called the
meeting to order. Present at the
meeting were: Commissioner Ron Short, Commissioner Jeff Petersen, Fire Chief
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Motion
Commissioner Petersen moved
to approve the agenda and Commissioner Short seconded the motion.
Vote
All Commissioners voted aye.
Motion carried 3 - 0.
APPROVAL OF THE
MINUTES
Motion
Commissioner Short moved to
approve the minutes from the September 15, 2006 meeting and Commissioner
Petersen seconded the motion.
Vote
All Commissioners voted aye.
Motion carried 3 - 0.
PRESENTATION OF
COMMUNICATIONS AND BILLS
A.
The Commission had received the following invoices:
·
Reliable Office Supply, one case of paper,
$28.02
·
I/O Solutions, fee for written Firefighters’
Exam, $763.00
·
·
·
Motion
Commissioner Short moved to
approve the payment of the bills totaling $1,847.02 and Commissioner Petersen
seconded the motion.
Vote
All Commissioners voted aye.
Motion carried 3 - 0.
B. Chairman Dailey read
a letter from City Manager Bill Nicklas, in which he stated that the City
Council had approved the hiring of an additional Police Officer to fill
the vacancy left by Officer
Ann Carlson, who had been deployed for one year.
City Manager Nicklas also indicated that the
Commissioners were authorized to hire a new Firefighter in December 2006.
OLD BUSINESS
A.
Review of the Current Rules and
Regulations of the Commission
City
Attorney Buick pointed out that he had discovered a typographical error on page
15 of the Rules and Regulations. The
fourth word in the first sentence should be “proffered”, not preferred.
Commissioner Petersen asked City Attorney Buick how the appeal process works
when disciplinary action is taken. City
Attorney Buick explained that a Chief can suspend a Firefighter or Police
Officer for up to five days; the employee has the right to appeal the suspension
within five days. The employee is
given this five day time period in order to preserve his or her right to have
time to make a dedicated decision about filing an appeal.
Commissioner
Petersen asked if the Commission is allowed to specify a lesser amount of time
in which the employee can appeal the
suspension. City Attorney Buick
answered that they could, but this should
be coordinated with whatever is negotiated in the Collective Bargaining
Agreement. Commissioner Short
asked which Rules would take precedence if the Commission
were to
deviate from the Collective Bargaining Agreement.
City Attorney Buick answered
that the
Commission should then follow the more restrictive provisions.
There
was consensus among the Commissioners that no changes to the Rules and
Regulations were needed at this time.
NEW
BUSINESS
A.
Fire Chief
City
Attorney Buick stated that there is a situation brewing in the Fire Department
that may
require the Commissioners’ attention in the near future.
He explained that, if a complaint on this matter does come before the
Commission, his firm would be retained to represent the
Fire Chief. Therefore
the Commission would need to find their own attorney in this case.
Chairman Dailey
asked if Mr. Buick had any recommendations.
Mr. Buick replied that Attorney
Peter Smith has represented the Commission on matters of this nature in
the past. Commissioner Petersen
stated that the Illinois Fire and Police Commissioners Association recommends
that the Commissioners retain their
own counsel to represent them an all matters - not just for hearings.
B.
Police Chief
Chief Thomas gave the Commissioners a copy of a Special Order that he
issued regarding an internal investigation of Fire
Lieutenant Shaun Penn. A report on
this investigation is due back to
him by November 7, 2006.
Chairman Dailey asked if the Officer who will be hired to fill the
vacancy created by Officer
Carlson’s deployment will be a permanent hire.
Chief Thomas explained that the City Manager
had budgeted for a new Police Officer to be hired on May 1, 2007; Chief
Thomas had requested
and received approval for an accelerated hire date and that, since this
is an emergency situation,
this will be a certified Police Officer.
The applicants for this position will not need to take a
written exam. Chief Thomas
asked the Commissioners who they would like to assist them with
the oral interviews. The
Commissioners all agreed that the Oral Board should be comprised of
the three Commissioners, two members of the Police Department, and the
Human Resources Director.
CLOSED
SESSION
Motion
Commissioner Short moved
that the Commissioners go into closed session to review the closed session
minutes from past meetings to see if they can be opened to the public; to
discuss the hiring of outside counsel to represent the Commission; and general
personnel matters. Commissioner
Petersen seconded the motion.
Vote
All Commissioners voted aye.
Motion carried 3 - 0.
Closed session began at 1:45
p.m.
Motion
Commissioner Short moved
that the Commissioners return to open session and Commissioner Petersen seconded
the motion.
Vote
All Commissioners voted aye.
Motion carried 3 - 0.
Open session reconvened at
2:20 p.m.
Motion
Commissioner Short moved
that the minutes from all closed sessions held during the period of May 9, 2002
through August 7, 2006 remain closed. Commissioner
Petersen seconded the motion.
Vote
All Commissioners voted aye.
Motion carried 3 - 0.
Commissioner Petersen stated
that he would call the attorney for the Illinois Fire and Police Commissioners
Association to obtain information on hiring outside counsel.
If there is no new business
by November 13, 2006, the Commissioners will cancel the regular meeting that was
scheduled to take place on that date.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion
Commissioner Short moved to
adjourn the meeting at 2:35 p.m. and Commissioner Petersen seconded the motion.
Vote
All Commissioners voted aye.
Motion carried 3 - 0.
Minutes accepted by:
___________________________________________
Samantha Dailey, Chairman
Date
Attest:
____________________________________________
Jean
Tritle, Recording Secretary
Date