Roll Call Commissioners Boylan, Judy, Meyer, Pazdernik and Taylor

Also Present Fire Chief Barnes, Mayor Gary Wescott, Interim Chief McCulley, Alderperson Jack Barr, Alderperson David Sowieja, Dave Schleihs

Index of these Minutes:

2. People to be heard and announcements
3. Approval of Minutes - March 9, 2004
4. Confirmation of Bills
5. Donation - Police Department
6. Discussion, with possible action, police officer recruitment process
7. Police Chief's report
8. Fire Chief's report
9. Adjourn into EXECUTIVE SESSION (approximately 5:30 p.m.) pursuant to Wis. Stats. section 19.85 (1) (b) and (c) for the following:
a. Discussion, with possible action, request to fill police sergeant vacancy
b. Discussion, with possible action, Police Department personnel issue
10. Reconvene into OPEN SESSION (approximately 5:45 P.M.) for possible action on items 9(a) and 9(b).
11. Adjournment

2. People to be heard and announcements

The Mayor presented Commissioner Bill Boylan with a plaque and thanked him for his 10 years of dedicated service as a police and fire commissioner.

3. Approval of Minutes

Commissioner Boylan moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to approve the minutes of the March 9, 2004 meeting.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

4. Confirmation of Bills

Commissioner Taylor moved, seconded by Commissioner Boylan, to approve the confirmation of the March 2004 bills.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

5. Donation - Police Department

Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to approve a gift card in the amount of $50.00 from Wal-Mart to be used for the Crime Prevention Program.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

6. Discussion, with possible action, police officer recruitment process

Interviews will be held on May 11, 2004 at 4:00 p.m. for two police officer recruit candidates.

Interim Chief McCulley will initiate the start of another police officer recruitment process.

7. Police Chief's Report

Interim Chief McCulley reported:

• March's statistical reports were reviewed.
• Operational and capital budget recaps were reviewed.
• The Department is reviewing the current towing policy. Currently three agencies are on the round robin call-in list.
• The department received two commendations:
• Officer Zblewski received a written commendation from Special Olympics for his dedicated service and participation in the annual Law Enforcement Torch Run.
• Officers Anderson and Krzykowski were commended for their professionalism on a call for service at Courtesy Motors.
• Detective Blader was deactivated by the Wisconsin Air National Guard.
• Due to Sgt. DeDomines' resignation Interim Chief McCulley enacted a personnel order which makes the following changes:
• Appoints Officer Joe Quisler to the position of Acting Sergeant
• Appoints Officer John Moss to the position of Relief Shift Supervisor
• Temporarily moves Officer Jessica Trochinski to another shift
• Interim Chief McCulley informed the Commission about an open letter in the newspaper regarding complaints of speeding on Elmwood Avenue. The complaint will be addressed.
• In the spring and fall of each year numerous calls for service are handled in the area of College Avenue, Briggs Street, Prentice Street, etc. that involve late night disturbances and vandalism. A proposal was developed to provide the presence of officers on overtime specifically to this area. The expenditure would come from the rooming house license revenue account if approved at the Common Council meeting on 4-19-04.
• The Interim Chief updated the Commission on the mobile data computer project.

Commissioner Taylor moved, seconded by Commissioner Meyer, to approve the Police Chief's report for March, 2004.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

8. Fire Chief's Report

Chief Barnes reported:

• Monthly statistical reports were reviewed.
• Operational and capital budgets were reviewed.
• The Chief briefed the Commission on the active duty military status of three Fire Department Personnel.
• Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan McCaffrey is now on shift.
• The Fire Department has applied for a $10,000 grant for a volatile organic chemicals diagnostic tool through Portage County's Weapons of Mass Destruction funding. It is used to detect chemical warfare agents such as Tabun, Sarin, Soman, V-Agents, Mustard, Lewisite, pepper spray and mace. The goal is to protect citizens in the event of an actual incident and to reduce business down time during false alarms.
• The Department has submitted the FIRE Act grant application for the completion of two programs:
• 1. A health and fitness program in the amount of $66,716.00. This will include the cost of immunizations, extensive physician physicals, current fitness evaluations and a supervised exercise program.
• 2. A facilities upgrade of remaining total capture vehicle exhaust system (Plymo Vent) in the amount of $58,106.00.
• There was a significant fire at 2157 Prairie Street.
• There is a meeting of the Public Safety Committee on April 14, 2004. At this meeting bids will be discussed for the replacement ambulance. The Chief will recommend a Horton Ambulance at a cost of $127,155.00.
• The Fire Department is partnering with UWSP to evaluate departmental computer system needs. The goals are:
• to improve the reduction of down time
• improve the failing connectivity between the fire stations and the hospital
• to improve security for HIPAA accountability
• to align the system to partner with the Police Department's field connectivity
• to prepare the system to support and accept computer aided dispatching
• to anticipate future hardware needs for the next five years
• The Chief distributed a copy of the March issue of the Emergency Services Product News publication which features an article on the Stevens Point Fire Department.

Commissioner Boylan moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to approve the Fire Chief's report for March, 2004.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion Carried.

9. Adjourn into Executive Session

Commissioner Pazdernik moved, seconded by Commissioner Meyer, to adjourn into EXECUTIVE SESSION pursuant to Wis. Stats. ss. 19.85 (1) (b) and (c) for the following:

a. Discussion, with possible action, request to fill police sergeant vacancy
b. Discussion, with possible action, Police Department personnel issue

Commissioner Boylan, yes
Commissioner Judy, yes
Commissioner Meyer, yes
Commissioner Pazdernik, yes
Commissioner Taylor, yes

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

10. Reconvene into Open Session

Commissioner Boylan moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to reconvene into open session for possible action on items 9 (a) and 9 (b).

Commissioner Boylan, yes
Commissioner Judy, yes
Commissioner Meyer, yes
Commissioner Pazdernik, yes
Commissioner Taylor, yes

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

Item No. 9 (a): Discussion, with possible action, request to fill police sergeant vacancy

Commissioner Taylor moved, seconded by Commissioner Boylan, to continue with the acting sergeants position as per the Personnel Order effective April 17, 2004 until the new police chief can review the situation.

Commissioner Boylan, yes
Commissioner Judy, yes
Commissioner Meyer, yes
Commissioner Pazdernik, yes
Commissioner Taylor, yes

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

Item No. 9 (b): Discussion, with possible action, Police Department personnel issue

No action was taken.

11. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 5:17 p.m.

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