Sycamore Fire and Police Commission

Special Meeting Minutes

 

September 15, 2006

 

ROLL CALL

 

Chairman Dailey called the meeting to order.  Present at the meeting were: Commissioner Ron Short, Commissioner Jeff Petersen, Fire Chief Bill Riddle , City Attorney Kevin Buick.  Police Chief Don Thomas was absent.

 

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

 

Motion

Commissioner Short moved to approve the agenda and Commissioner Petersen seconded the motion.

Vote

All Commissioners voted aye. Motion carried 3 - 0.

 

APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES

 

Motion

Commissioner Petersen moved to approve the minutes from the August 25, 2006 and Commissioner Short seconded the motion.

Vote

All Commissioners voted aye. Motion carried 3 - 0.

 

PRESENTATION OF COMMUNICATIONS AND BILLS

 

The Commission had received an invoice for $1,000.00 from Marv Fogel for the psychological examinations he performed on Adam Honiotes and Ryan Gustafson, the two current Firefighter candidates.

 

Motion

Commissioner Petersen moved to approve the payment of the bill from Marv Fogel for $1,000.00 and Commissioner Short seconded the motion.

Vote

All Commissioners voted aye. Motion carried 3 - 0.

 

OLD BUSINESS

 

There was no old business to address.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

            A.        Status on the Hiring of Two New Firefighters

 

                        Chairman Dailey reported that candidates Adam Honiotes and Ryan Gustafson had both                           passed the physical agility and psychological examinations.  Recording Secretary Tritle                              explained that the background and medical examinations were not repeated, since these                               were done when both candidates were hired on as Paid-on-Call Firefighters through the                                     Intern program.  

 

                        Chief Riddle told the Commissioners that Mr. Fogel had told him that                                                        both candidates had passed their psychological examinations and there were no issues                          present that would keep them from being hired as Firefighters. 

                       

Motion

Commissioner Short moved to approve the hiring of Adam Honiotes and Ryan Gustafson for the position of Firefighter/Paramedic in the Sycamore Fire Department and Commissioner Petersen seconded the motion.

Vote

All Commissioners voted aye. Motion carried 3 - 0.

 

            B.        Discussion Concerning Final Hiring Procedures

 

                        Chairman Dailey stated that the Commission needed to come up with a definitive policy                            concerning final interviews for Fire and Police candidates.  City Attorney Buick indicated              that the City is not bound by state statute to compulsory final interviews, but should                           follow its Rules and Regulations in that area on an evenhanded basis.  While the                                            Commission had latitude to conduct final interviews if it felt it would benefit from them,                                   they are not arbitrarily forced to do so unless its Rules and Regulations strictly required                                    it. 

                                               

                        Chief Riddle suggested that the Rules and Regulations be amended to state that the                                  Commissioners reserve the right to re-interview a candidate before a job offer is given.                            

                        With the approval of the other Commissioners, Chairman Dailey stated that the policy                               regarding final interviews would be as follows: if the Chief has no concerns with the                                 candidate, the Commissioners could then vote to hire the candidate at the meeting.  If the                              Chief voiced concerns about the candidate and the Commissioners felt a final                                      interview was necessary, they would meet with the candidate.  After the interview, the                                 Commissioners would then meet to vote on whether or not to hire the candidate. 

 

C.        Fire Chief

 

                        Chief Riddle stated that he will talk to the Commissioners at their regular meeting in                                  November about hiring the next candidate on the Firefighters Eligibility List, as he has                               approval for a new hire in December.

 

                        It was requested that each Commissioner also review the testing and hiring procedures                             and the current Rules and Regulations and submit questions or suggested changes to City                                Attorney Buick prior to the November meeting so that he has answers or                                                        recommendations for them to discuss at the meeting. 

                       

                        Recording Secretary Tritle stated that she would also prepare all of the closed session                               minutes for the Commissioners to review at their November meeting, since this must be                            done, by statute, on a semi-annual basis.

 

D.                 Police Chief

 

            Recording Secretary Tritle reported that, in his absence, Chief Thomas asked her to let     the Commissioners know that he still does not have a date for which they can do the next      Police hire, as was discussed at the last meeting.  He will let the Commissioners know as             soon as he receives this information.

 

CLOSED SESSION

 

Recording Secretary Tritle reported that there were no issues that required a closed session.

 

 ADJOURNMENT

 

Motion

Commissioner Short moved to adjourn the meeting at 1:30 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