Galesburg Reporter

City of Galesburg Board of Fire & Police Commission met April 17.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

The regular meeting of the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners was called to order by Chairman Robert Fulton on Monday, April 17, 2023 at 10:00 a.m.

Those present in person were: Chairman Robert Fulton, Commissioner Thomas Peters, Commissioner Diane VanHootegem, Police Chief Russ Idle, Fire Chief Randy Hovind, Fire Deputy Chief John Seitz, Secretaries Amanda Jennings and Jenni Moser and Olivia Diaz, Records Clerk 

Public Citizen Comment

None

Approve

Commissioner Peters motioned to approve the minutes of the February 20, 2023 regular meeting.

Commissioner VanHootegem seconded the motion. Minutes approved.

Correspondence

None

Old Business

Chief Hovind gave a hiring update. Four Firefighters have graduated from the academy on Friday, April 14th. One firefighter will be retiring in mid-May leaving a vacancy. The next on the list have no EMT or fire certifications. Since there is no summer academy, the plan is to do a new hire testing at the end of September with orientation potentially in May.

Chief Idle informed the Commission that there will be 6 officers graduating from the academy soon.

The department will be sending 3 people to the next academy that begins on May 8th. The City was granted approval to apply for a grant to hire 3 additional officers. The fall academy begins on September 8th. A brief discussion was had about the POWER test. Two dates for police entry testing were scheduled for Saturday, June 3rd at 9 a.m. or Tuesday, June 6th at 6 p.m with interviews the following week on Monday, June 12 or Tuesday, June 13. Times to be determined.

New Business

Chief Hovind informed that there may be 2 Battalion Chiefs retiring at the end of the year. There is one candidate on the list that will expire soon and possibly 6 candidates testing.

The department just received resumes for the Battalion Chief promotional testing. Education and Military documentation will be due May 12th. Interviews are set for June 5th through the 9th. Promotional written exam will still be proctored by the Commission.

Additional discussion on interview questions was held. Chief Hovind suggested scoring candidate interviews from top to bottom to add more weigh to the scores since candidates scores are usually very close. The Commission appreciates the suggestion. Chief Idles offered that other departments have chiefs sit in on interviews. Chairman Fulton says that they have been counseled to be brief in interviews with no questions from candidates.

Chairman Fulton motioned for Tom Peters to become the new chairman of the Board. Commissioner VanHootegem seconded. All were in favor. Approved.

Chairman Fulton motioned for VanHootegem to be the Secretary of the Board. Commissioner Peters seconded. All were in favor. Approved.

There being no further business, a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Chairman Robert Fulton and seconded by Commissioner VanHootegem. Meeting adjourned at 10:39 a.m.

The next regular scheduled meeting will take place on Monday, June 19, 2023 at 10:00 a.m. in the Administrative Conference Room, City Hall, Galesburg, Illinois. 

https://cms7files.revize.com/galesburg/Document_Center/Agendas%20and%20Minutes/Fire%20&%20Police%20Commission/2023/F&P%20Meeting%20Minutes%20041723.pdf