Fire & Police Commission Minutes 2007 07-02-07 Board of Fire and Police Commission APPROVED Minutes
7-z-o7 '7/a5A
Meeting called to order at 7:00 p.m.
Roll Call: Bob Johnson
Mike Anderson
Margie Putzler
Also Present: Chief Martin
Katie Robbins, secretary
Attorney Jim Powers
Lt. Hart
Alderman Joe Plocher
Previous Meeting Minutes:
Commissioner Anderson moved to approve the minutes from June 4. Commissioner Putzler
seconded. Motion carried.
Communications: None
Bills for payment: None
Unfinished Business: None
New Business:
• The commission is beginning its review of rules and regulations. There was much discussion.
Major points of this discussion included pros and cons for different requirements: Associate's
Degree in Criminal Justice, any Bachelor's Degree,2 years active military experience,
Certificate in training with Police(graduation from an academy).
Attorney Powers stated that since Yorkville is a non-home rule community we have to follow the
state's statutes precisely. He continued that the board can change their qualifications—
removing the requirement for college degrees completely and thus widening the hiring pool.
Discussion continued in regards to the impact of removing and/or changing educational
requirements on the hiring process.
The board also discussed the current group of candidates—as a whole-being without
experience. The hope is to keep a good balance of new and experienced officers in Yorkville.
To widen the hiring pool might help alleviate this in the future.
Another concern is the quantity of backgrounds that will be needed to coordinate with an already
overworked YPD staff.
After discussion,there was a consensus to revert to High School Graduation or GED as the
educational requirement, eliminating college degrees completely. The board will continue
reviewing the rules and regulations at the next meeting and will make an official motion and vote
when changes are finalized.
• The board posed a question to Attorney Powers. There are 2 openings, and we plan to make 2
conditional offers and then not meet again for some time. During that time one candidate fails a
required test—we aren't scheduled to meet to formally remove this candidate. Can we make a
conditional conditional offer?
Attorney Powers reply stemmed from the American with Disabilities Act and Equal Opportunity
Act. A candidate must get a conditional offer of employment before they can be asked for
medical tests. The number of offers MAY exceed the number of slots open if it is reasonable to
think that some of the candidates will not pass through the qualifications (the board can look at
percentages of past failures and project what the results may be).
• Commissioner Anderson moved to go into executive session for the purposes of hiring, firing
and discipline of personnel. Commissioner Putzler seconded.
Roll call: Chairman Johnson yes
Commissioner Anderson yes
Commissioner Putzler yes
Entered executive session at 7:42 p.m.
Exited Executive Session at 8:25 p.m. with no formal action taken.
• Commissioner Putzler moved to make conditional offers to Candidates Steven Wittleder and
Scott Fiandalo. Commissioner Anderson seconded.
Roll call: Chairman Johnson yes
Commissioner Anderson yes
Commissioner Putzler yes
Motion carried.
• Commissioner Putzler moved to remove Candidate Mark Johnson due to the findings in his
background investigation.
Commissioner Anderson seconded.
Roll call: Chairman Johnson yes
Commissioner Anderson yes
Commissioner Putzler yes
Motion carried.
• Commissioner Putzler moved to make a conditional offer of employment to Candidate Tom
Grimes for a reasonably anticipated opening.
Commissioner Anderson seconded.
Roll call: Chairman Johnson yes
Commissioner Anderson yes
Commissioner Putzler yes
Motion carried. Attorney Powers will write this letter with appropriate wording.
• Commissioner Putzler moved to strike Candidate Neumann from the list for not complying with
the background investigation.
Commissioner Anderson seconded.
Roll call: Chairman Johnson yes
Commissioner Anderson yes
Commissioner Putzler yes
Motion carried. Attorney Powers will write this letter with appropriate wording.
We are on standby for training in August.
The next meeting is scheduled for July 25, 2007 at 7 p.m.
Commissioner Anderson moved to adjourn. Commissioner Putzler seconded. Meeting adjourned at
8:30 p.m.