City of Belleville Police & Fire Committee met Aug. 8.
Here are the minutes provided by the committee:
In Attendance: Chairman Alderman Johnnie Anthony
Members Alderman Bryan Whitaker
Alderman Carmen Duco
Alderman Scott Ferguson-excused
Alderman Shelly Schaefer
Alderman Mary Stiehl
Alderman Dennis Weygandt
Alderman Kara Osthoff-excused
Staff Interim Fire Chief Wangelin Asst. Police Chief Mark Heffernan Police Chief Matt Eiskant-excused Capt. Todd Keilbach
Guests None
Chairman Anthony called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The Emergency Evacuation Plan was not explained.
Motion made by Alderman Stiehl, second by Alderman Schaefer to TABLE the minutes from the previous regular meeting as they were not available to approve. All present voted Aye, motion carried.
Public Participation
None.
Staff Reports
Police Department
Assistant Police Chief Heffernan started by providing an update on staffing; with two (2) laterals and four (4) new candidates starting the Academy on August 30th, that will put us at 73 officer’s total. But with an SRO going to Emge School this year, the Finance Department says we’re okay with 73, even though we were budgeted for 72. Five (5) officers will be graduating from the Academy on Friday. We are really working hard to get back to where we need to be as far as staffing. These new hires will be considered at the Police & Fire Commissioners meeting on Thursday, and if approved, will go to the Council on the 15th. The two (2) laterals will start immediately on Field Training and the four (4) will go to the Academy.
We are waiting to hear if we get the COPS Grant, and if so, next budget year we hope to get approval for more officers. If possible, our goal would be to get to mid-80’s, the most being 85. When you hire laterals, they can get on the street faster as they don’t need the Academy, just field training. We’re excited that we’re back to our budgeted numbers.
Alderwoman Stiehl asked what the steps are to getting hired, both with and without experience. Asst. Chief Heffernan said a lateral, you’re already a certified police officer, a background investigation is done, the Chief reviews that and gives the okay to move ahead, then that candidate is presented to the Commissioners and considered for hire. Once they’re hired, they go straight to Field Training, but they still have to do all the things a new hire does; take a polygraph and a psychological exam. The new hires have an orientation, then a written test, they have to present a P.O.W.E.R. card, which means they can pass the physical agility test, or they have passed it within the past six (6) months. Once they take the test, they have an interview with the Commissioners, they present any military, educational points, or any extra points they may be eligible for, thentheir score is tabulated, and they end up on the list. Once we get to them on the list, the background investigation starts, the psychological, polygraph and consideration for hire by the Commissioners. Then they go to the Academy for 16 weeks, all while getting paid. After the 16 weeks training course, then they have a Field Training program through us which is three (3) different field training officers and then a Sergeant. The Sergeant rides with them and gives the final okay before they go out on their own. Even after they go out on their own, they’re still on probation for their first 18 months of employment.
Fire Department
Interim Fire Chief Wangelin started by asking if the committee had a chance to look at the Tyler Technologies agreement, which they’ve been using for a number of years now. They are transitioning to the First Due platform as talked about before, but in the stop gap in between, Tyler Technologies has come to an end for them being able to use it as of July 31st. They are now having Tyler Technologies gather all their stored information to be forwarded to First Due to get it integrated into their program to fit the Fire Department’s needs. However, to have access to the Tyler Technologies information as a backup, it’ll cost $1,000.00/year. Fire Chief Wangelin asked for a motion to approve that cost.
Motion was made by Alderwoman Schaefer, second by Alderman Weygandt to approve the cost of $1,000.00 for a year. All members voted Aye; motion carried.
Chief Wangelin said he too will be going to the Commissioners meeting on Thursday. So right now, being Interim Fire Chief, the position of Assistant Fire Chief is currently open, and it’s their (sic) recommendation currently (and it reflects back to an arbitrator’s ruling from 2015 regarding interim positions) that the City is correct in leaving that position open until the interim spot, like the Chief’s spot, becomes a permanent position due to the fact that I may or may not stay the Chief. I may end up going back to the other position. So, in the past, they have left it vacant in a case like that, and I believe that’s the intention the way it’s going to be at this point, until we get some finalization on the permanency of the position.
Chief Wangelin then gave an update on the tornado sirens; today he received a proposal from Pyramid Electric to repair all the sirens that are ailing. He spoke to Brian, Jamie, and the Mayor. They’re proposing to sit down and handle it internally, as he believes Jamie has it budgeted. They will meet, discuss it, and find a solution, hopefully with funds that are already available. Proposed cost is $36,730.00, which covers six (6) sirens out of a total of ten (10) in the City, nine (9) of which the City owns.
Chairman Anthony then asked what the timeline is for getting the new ones in. Alderman Whitaker said the County is working with all the municipalities to replace every siren in the County and add new ones based on an acoustic study that was done that basically shows us anywhere that has a population density of more than 2,000 people per square mile; you must have a certain decibel limit that has to be heard in that area. They’ve done the study, they’ve met with all the departments twice, and now they’re at the point of going out for an RFP to procure the system. The RFP will be going out this week. Alderman Whitaker then said we could be looking at several months before we have sirens being replaced and new ones in.
Lastly, Chief Wangelin talked about the water back on July 26th and he has compiled some numbers, not exactly accurate, but they responded to at least nine (9) separate incidents in the City limits for water rescues or flooding related incidents. Some of them were people stranded in vehicles in flood water, some were into houses which required getting them out by boat. The total number of people rescued or evacuated was nineteen (19).
New Business
None.
Old Business
None.
Adjournment
Motion made at 6:22 p.m. by Alderwoman Schaefer, second by Alderman Weygandt to adjourn. All members present voted Aye; motion carried.
https://www.belleville.net/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_08082022-2824
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