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Police & Fire Commission
June 10, 2008, 4:01 p.m.
Roll Call:
Commissioners Meyer, Rice, Schleihs and Taylor
Commissioner Nuck, excused
Also Present: Police Chief Morris; Fire Chief Barnes; Mayor Halverson; Alderperson Randy Stroik, Alderperson George Hanson; Lisa Jakusz; Scott Rifleman; Fire Department: John Zinda, Tracey Kujawa, Lorna Whalen, Travis Koch, Victor Kedrowski, Kevin Lemke, Mark Schoeberle, Todd Becken, Paul Mattlin, Rick Anderson, Jeff Davis, Fred Pings, Jodi Baganz, Tim Sinkler, Mark Kitowski, Dennis Zvara; Police Department: Captain Dowling, Lt. Carlson, Lt. Kudronowicz, Sergeant Davy, Officer Ahrens, Officer Kontos; Patrick Thornton - Stevens Point Journal; Karen Zinda
Index of these minutes:
2. People to be heard and announcements
3. Adjourn into Closed Session (approximately 4:00 p.m.) pursuant to Wis. Stats. Sec. 19.85
(1) (c) for the following: (a) Probationary Police Officer Interviews (2)
4. Reconvene into open session (approximately 4:30 p.m.) for possible action on item 3
(a).
5. Approval of Minutes
6. Confirmation of Bills
7. Donations to Safety Cadet
Program: Jefferson School PTO; Stevens Point
Area Retired Teachers Association
8. Fire Chief's Report
9. Police Chief's Report
10. Presentation, discussion
and possible action, to initiate process
to review all public safety operations in the City of Stevens Point
11. Adjourn into Closed Session (approximately 5:30 p.m.) pursuant to Wis. Stats. Sec. 19.85
(1) (c) to discuss personnel issues related to conducting a study to create a City of Stevens Point Public Safety
Department
12. Reconvene into open session (approximately 6:30 p.m.) for possible action on item 11
13. Adjournment
2. People to be heard and announcements
None.
3. Adjourn into closed session
(approximately 4:00 p.m.) pursuant to Wis. Stats. Sec. 19.85 (1) (c) for the following:
a. Probationary police officer interviews (2)
Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner
Taylor, to adjourn into closed session.
Ayes: Meyer, Rice, Schleihs, Taylor
Nays: None. Motion carried.
4. Reconvene into open session
(approximately 4:30 p.m.) for possible action on item 3 (a).
Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner Rice, to reconvene into open session.
Ayes: Meyer, Rice, Schleihs, Taylor
Nays: None. Motion carried.
Commissioner Taylor moved, seconded by Commissioner Rice, to approve Officer Kristi Ahrens and Officer Aimee Kontos
to regular status upon the successful completion of their probationary periods.
Ayes: Meyer, Rice, Schleihs, Taylor
Nays: None. Motion carried.
5. Approval of Minutes
Commissioner Taylor moved, seconded by Commissioner
Meyer, to approve the minutes of the May 13, 2008 meeting and June 3, 2008 special meeting.
Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion Carried.
6. Confirmation of Bills
Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner
Taylor, to accept the confirmation of the May 2008 Police Department bills.
Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.
Commissioner Taylor moved, seconded by Commissioner Meyer, to accept the confirmation of the May 2008 Fire Department
bills.
Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.
7. Donations to Safety Cadet
Program
Commissioner Rice moved, seconded by Commissioner
Meyer, to approve the $100.00 donations from the Jefferson School PTO and Stevens Point Area Retired Teachers Association
to the Safety Cadet Program.
Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.
8. Fire Chief's report:
Chief Barnes read the following statement:
I would like to take this moment to thank the past and present Police and Fire Commissioners who I have had the
pleasure of working for - and with. Together we fostered over 7 years of stupendous progress on behalf of our internal
and external customers.
You have always treated me fairly and with respect. You have never micromanaged me and have always supported our
departmental needs. You have asked appropriate and sometimes difficult questions. Yet it was these questions that
allowed us to jointly reach an informed and solid conclusion.
With your support;
- This department has seen a tremendous growth in
grants with nearly $1 million in new outside revenue. There currently remains $1.2 million in other outstanding
grant applications:
- one for a replacement aerial truck ($850,000)
- one for our regional emergency vehicle traffic preemption system ($355,074).
- We experienced the increase of two line positions which is the only increase seen by the department in over 20-years.
- We have negotiated a number of EMS contracts always aimed at improving patient care.
- We have become a leader in regionalized efforts to improve technical rescue services.
The last thing my departure should signify is a
pending stagnancy in these efforts. I encourage you to persevere in fostering our initiates. This track record
of collaborative hard work must continue for the department to remain successful. A prime example is the initial
aid agreement for aerial service with the Village of Plover.
Globally, the Fire Service is a noble profession filled with highly skilled and dedicated members. This rings true
for the Stevens Point Fire Department as well. During my tenure, I have had the pleasure of hiring 50% of the current
organization and promoting 5-Deputy Fire Chief's. They have all brought a new dimension to the table thus providing
balance to our organization. It has been my personal pleasure to serve with these individuals.
I implore you to remember that people are our most valuable asset. Never forget that your decisions will significantly
impact people's lives and that of their families as well.
I leave you with a debt of gratitude for allowing me to serve you and this stupendous community. To have worn the
shoulder patch of the Stevens Point Fire Department and the badge of your Fire Chief. Stevens Point will always
hold a special place in my family's heart.
Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, at accept the Fire Chief's report for May 2008.
Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.
9. Police Chief's report:
Chief Morris reported:
- An unidentified person continues to randomly set small nuisance fires around the north side of the City. At this time there are no suspects.
- Work continues to focus on preparing patrol strategies that can reduce the Department's fuel/vehicle maintenance budget by 25% without significant negative impact on the Department's ability to achieve our Strategic Direction.
- The overtime grievance appears to be tentatively resolved pending an approval by the Union and the PFC. The Union has approved the tentative settlement of the grievance. We are on hold pending drafting of final language which will be handled by the Union's attorney and the City's Attorney.
- Money to erect the Goerke Park radio tower and make appropriate repairs to the Police and Fire voice radio systems will be included in the City's short-term borrowing issue which will be voted on in June by the Common Council. Thank you to Mayor Halverson and Comptroller/Treasurer Schlice for their support of the PFC action which endorsed this program.
- The Police Department budget for 2008 is on target.
- Several members of the Department took part in the Law Enforcement Officers' Torch Run and in the Special Olympics program last week. Officer Tony Zblewski has done an outstanding job in support of both these events.
- UPDATE: The Chief continues to meet with Superintendent Lang and School Board Member Jen Zach to bring the project to a successful closure that will enhance student safety at and around the Jefferson School campus.
- The Information Technology program continues to see regular progress to full implementation and integration of all systems.
- The chief will be out of the office from June 15th through June 19th attending the Wisconsin Police Executive Group's summer training session.
Commissioner Taylor moved, seconded by Commissioner
Meyer, to approve the Police Chief's report for May 2008.
Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.
10. Presentation, discussion
and possible action, to initiate process to review all public safety operations in the City of Stevens Point.
Jeff Morris presented ideas developed by
Commissioners Meyer and Taylor to initiate a process to review all public safety operations in the City of Stevens
Point.
Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner Taylor, to appointment Jeff Morris to perform duties as assigned
by the Police and Fire Commission from Saturday, June 14, 2008 until June 1, 2009 or until the study is completed
or a decision is made in regard to a public safety department. Jeff Morris will maintain a sworn status throughout
the duration of the special assignment.
Ayes, all; nays, none. Motion carried.
11. Adjourn into closed
session (approximately 5:30 p.m.) pursuant to Wis. Stats. Sec. 19.85 (1) (c) to discuss personnel issues related
to conducting a study to create a City of Stevens Point Public Safety Department.
Commissioner Taylor moved, seconded by Commissioner Meyer, to adjourn into closed session.
Ayes: Meyer, Rice, Schleihs, Taylor
Nays: None. Motion carried.
12. Reconvene into open
session
Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner
Rice, to reconvene into open session.
Ayes: Meyer, Rice, Schleihs, Taylor
Nays: None. Motion Carried.
Commissioner Meyer moved, seconded by Commissioner Rice, to appoint James Dowling to serve as Stevens Point Police
Chief on an interim basis from Saturday, June 14, 2008 until June 1, 2009 or until the study is completed or a
decision is made in regard to a public safety department.
Ayes: Meyer, Rice, Schleihs, Taylor
Nays: None. Motion carried.
13. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7:25 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.