Police & Fire Commission
February 13, 2007, 4:33 p.m

Roll Call: Commissioners Judy, Meyer, Rice, Schleihs and Taylor

Also Present: Police Chief Morris, Fire Chief Barnes, Alderperson Randy Stroik, Mayor Wescott, Captain Kevin Lemke, Tracy Aldrich, Andrew Halverson

Index of these minutes:

2. People to be heard and announcements
3. Discussion of Fire Union grievances
4. Approval of Minutes: January 9, 2007
5. Confirmation of Bills
6. Fire Chief's Report
7. Police Chief's Report
8. Adjourn into Executive session (approximately 5:45 p.m.) pursuant to Wis. Stats. ss. 19.85 (1) (b), (c), (e) and (f) for the following: a. Discussion, with possible action, salary adjustment per city policy b. Discussion, with possible action, salary of non-represented employees c. Discussion, with possible action, Fire Union grievances
d. Discussion, with possible action, personnel issue e. Updates on Police and Fire labor negotiations, mediation and arbitration
9. Reconvene into open session (approximately 6:30 p.m.) for possible action on item numbers 8(a), 8(b), 8(c), 8(d) and 8(e).
10. Adjournment

2. People to be heard and announcements

None.

3. Discussion of Fire Union Grievances

Firefighters Local 484 President Tracy Aldrich presented the Commission with the details of two pending grievances for the Commission's consideration.

4. Approval of Minutes

Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner Schleihs, to approve the minutes of January 9, 2007.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

5. Confirmation of Bills

Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to accept the confirmation of the January 2007 bills.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.

6. Fire Chief's Report

Chief Barnes reported:

On February 13th at approximately 11:00 a.m. while en route to an emergency call the driver of Medic 2 lost control of the vehicle and the vehicle crashed into the north wall of Fire Station No. 2 causing extensive damage.

Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to accept the Fire Chief's Report for January 2007.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried

7. Police Chief's Report

Chief Morris reported:

• Three of the new officers completed their first month on the street and all seem to be making normal progress. The fourth officer is doing well at the academy and is scheduled to graduate in early April.
• Crimes continue to make headlines. The most recent attention grabbing case focused on the sexual assault of a 15 year old girl. The three suspects were all charged with sexual assault.
• The city council approved the 1.5 % increase for all non-represented city employees.
• Dennis Laidlaw, City DPW Fleet Manager, is seeking council approval this month to proceed with the purchase of six unmarked vehicles as part of the 2007 budget. These vehicles will replace the six oldest unmarked cars in our fleet. The plan is to purchase six used program vehicles from a local dealership which will be purchased at a regional auto auction based on a not to exceed pricing structure.
• Information Technology update: The county 800 MHz system was found to provide no better connectivity for wireless data transfer than our current system does. We will continue to work with the 900 MHz system to attempt to improve it. The department will discontinue studying use of the 800 process.

  Other matters of interest:

• Police union negotiations are scheduled for the 22nd and 28th of this month.
• There is a tentative agreement with AFSCME for a contract covering 2005/2006 with the dispatchers and secretaries. Negotiations will start soon on the next two year agreement.
• The training in Superior was attended by Captains Dowling and Ruder.

Commissioner Taylor moved, seconded by Commissioner Meyer, to approve the Police Chief's report for January, 2007.

Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried

8. Adjourn into executive session (approximately 5:45 p.m.) pursuant to Wis. Stats. ss. 19.85(1) (b), (c), (e) and (f) for the following:

a. Discussion, with possible action, salary adjustment per city policy
b. Discussion, with possible action, salary of non-represented employees
c. Discussion, with possible action, Fire Union grievances
d. Discussion, with possible action, personnel issue
e. Updates on Police and Fire labor negotiations, mediation and arbitration

Commissioner Schleihs moved, seconded by Commissioner Rice, to adjourn into executive session.

Roll call: Ayes: Commissioners Judy, Meyer, Rice, Schleihs and Taylor
Nays: None. Motion carried.

9. Reconvene into open session (approximately 6:30 p.m.) for possible action.

Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to reconvene into open session.

Roll call: Ayes: Commissioners Judy, Meyer, Rice, Schleihs and Taylor
Nays: None. Motion carried.

The organizational structure of the Police Department has two operational lieutenants and one administrative lieutenant. All three lieutenants are responsible and accountable for the same job duties no matter which division they are assigned to. The most recently promoted lieutenant currently makes a lower salary even though he has the same responsibility as the two lieutenants who have held their positions for a longer period of time. It is my recommendation that all three lieutenants make the same salary since they are able to perform the duties of operational lieutenant and administrative lieutenant.

There are currently two Captains on the department, one operational and one administrative. Like the Lieutenants, the Captains are also cross-trained and perform each other's duties when requested. I am also recommending the Captains be paid the same salary since they perform the same duties.

The cost of the above recommendations is approximately $2,203.52.

Commissioner Schleihs moved, seconded by Taylor, to forward the above pay recommendation to the personnel committee for consideration.

Roll call: Ayes: Commissioners Judy, Meyer, Rice, Schleihs and Taylor
Nays: None. Motion carried.

Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner Rice, to recommend an 11% pay increase for Deputy Chief Gordon above the 2007 mid point rate.

Roll call: Ayes: Commissioners Judy, Meyer, Rice, Schleihs and Taylor
Nays: None. Motion carried.

Commissioner Taylor moved, seconded by Commissioner Meyer, to approve an agreement between Firefighters Local 484 and the city that the uniform allowance grievance is settled.

Roll call: Ayes: Commissioners Judy, Meyer, Rice, Schleihs and Taylor
Nays: None. Motion carried.

10. Adjournment

The meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.

The meeting minutes reproduced on this website are derived from the computer files used to produce the official minutes for the City of Stevens Point, but are unofficial. The minutes on this web site cannot be certified under s. 889.08, Wis. Stats., and cannot be considered prima facie evidence under s. 889.04, Wis. Stats. Certain tables, maps, and other documents that are a part of the official minutes are not included in the files reproduced on this website. Please consult the printed minutes, available in the City Clerk's Office, for the official text. The decisions made by City of Stevens Point boards, committees, and commissions (other than the Police & Fire Commission) are advisory only and are not binding on the city until affirmed at a meeting of the Common Council. Some of the minutes on this web site might not be approved by the Common Council as of today.