City of Belleville Police & Fire Committee met June 13.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
Committee Chair Alderman Johnnie Anthony called the meeting to order at 6:01 p.m.
Committee Members Present:
Johnnie Anthony Brian Whitaker
Carmen Duco Scott Ferguson
Mary Stiehl Kara Osthoff
Department Head/Staff:
Fire Chief Penet
Police Chief Clay
City Treasurer Sarah Biermann
Capt. Todd Keilbach
Excused:
Shelley Schaefer Dennis Weygandt
Guest in Attendance:
Michael Hagberg
Minutes:
Alderman Whitaker motioned to accept the minutes of the May 9, 2022, meeting as presented, second by Alderman Ferguson. All members present voted – Aye. Motion passed.
Public Comments:
Michael Hagberg: Questioned if the Fire Truck refurbishment will last an additional fifteen years. Fire Chief Penet stated yes.
Staff Report:
Police Chief Clay:
The Police Department is working on a new Firing Range. There is City property on Freeburg Avenue adjacent to the Sanitation Department to include a parcel of land owned by Ameren being considered for the Firing range location. Ameren is willing to swap their land in exchange for another city owned parcel to provide additional space. It will include classroom space as well as twenty, seventy-five-yard lanes. Chief Clay has been working with St. Clair County Sheriff’s department, Swansea, U.S. Marshals, SWIC and SILEC who are interested in using the facility and sharing the cost to build and maintain.
Street Smarts: The Belleville Police Department is required to have continual training for Use of Force. This is a system that is used by the United States Air Force and will be utilized by our Police Department. It is more advanced and realistic than the current system. Hours can be accumulated by actual training with the program and by watching the recorded training of other officers.
Police Marshal Ordinance: This would create part-time positions working 24-30 hours a week. Chief Clay read through the job description. They would have the same powers as a Police Officer. These positions will start in the Crime Free Housing/Code Enforcement Department. If the program is successful, they will be moved into the desk positions to free up more Officers for the streets. Alderman Whitaker asked if there will be any issues with the Union Contract. Chief Clay stated no. This is already in the current budget, and he would like to bring the people on board in August. Alderwoman Osthoff asked how many will start, Chief Clay said we will begin with two.
Alderman Ferguson made a motion second by Alderwoman Osthoff to approve the request.
Roll Call: Whitaker, Ferguson, Duco, Anthony, Stiehl, Osthoff – AYE. Motion passed.
Alderwoman Stiehl asked how many Officers have been hired in the last six months. Chief Clay reported eight had been hired which brought the Department up to seventy-two, but there have been a few retirements, so currently the Department is at sixty-nine. Three of the new hires are currently working with other Officers and five will graduate from the academy in late July.
Alderwoman Osthoff asked if additional Police Officers were going to be patrolling the downtown region during the month of June due to Pride month. Captain Keilbach explained there are two officers dedicated to the downtown region on Thursday, Friday, and Saturdays. They patrol West Main Street from the Police Department all the way to the Circle K on East Main Street and one block on each side.
The Committee as a whole thanked Chief Clay for his time served as Police Chief and wished him well on his next venture with the City of Belleville as Human Resource Director.
Fire Chief Penet:
Locality Media, Inc.: Firehouse Software is sunsetting and needs to be replaced. With the help of Dean Hardt and Scott Markovich the replacement software from Locality Media known as First Due has been chosen as the records management system. Several of the smaller software packages that are being used right now will be able to roll up into this one RMS.
Alderman Whitaker made a motion second by Alderman Ferguson to enter into an agreement with Locality Media, Inc. (d/b/a First Due) for professional services not-to-exceed $32,550 for access to Locality Media’s First Due Size-Up Community Connect, Mobile Responder and/or other software-as-a service platform, as the Fire Department’s primary records management system.
Roll Call: Whitaker, Ferguson, Duco, Anthony, Stiehl, Osthoff – AYE. Motion passed.
Banner Fire Equipment: Chief Penet reviewed the Refurbishment of Ladder Truck 1299 and what will be included in the cost. The known factors will be at a cost of $500,000, but not to exceed $600,000 is being requested to cover those items outside the project parameters. Alderman Anthony stated that Fire Trucks are custom built for each department and this will be a cost savings. This is in the current budget.
Alderman Ferguson made a motion second by Alderwoman Stiehl to enter into an agreement with Banner Fire Equipment for refurbishment of the 2000 model year E-One 75’ Aerial ladder, total cost not-to-exceed $600,000, payable in two installments split between project commencement and upon delivery and acceptance.
Roll Call: Whitaker, Ferguson, Duco, Anthony, Stiehl, Osthoff – AYE. Motion passed.
Lift Assist Fees: Chief Penet sent the City Attorney, Garrett Hoerner, the information regarding charging for non-emergency lift assists. Chief Penet had come across some printed information from the Illinois Municipal League that he will forward to the committee.
Pinning Ceremony: Chief Penet invited the Committee to attend the Pinning Ceremony to be held at Engine House 4, 1125 South Illinois Street Belleville, on July 5th at 6:00 p.m.
New Business:
None.
Old Business:
None.
Adjournment:
Alderman Ferguson made a motion second by Alderwoman Stiehl to adjourn the meeting at 6:48 p.m. All members present voted - Aye. Motion passed.
https://www.belleville.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_06132022-2783
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