Police & Fire Commission Minutes 5/11/09

Minutes of the Police & Fire Commission meeting held on Monday, May 11, 2009 at City Hall pursuant to notice duly given.

1. Meeting called to order at 6:00 p.m. by President Olson.

2. Roll Call: Dick Olson, Tim Longsine, Steve Gering, Gene Berth and Ron Hayes
Also present: Chief Carper, Chief Ladwig and Mayor Nerenhausen

3. Moved by Longsine second by Berth to approve of the agenda as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

4. Moved by Hayes second by Longsine to approve of the minutes from the 4/13, 4/16 and 4/28/09 meetings.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

5. Correspondence:
a. Letter from John Reed, Union President
Olson asked Reed if he would like to comment on letter; Reed stated the concern they had regarding Ladwig was that Ladwig did not feel he would be reliable for actions as chief…not responsible…there’s a chain of command on foreground; Reed stated the firefighters would like to be part of the process with the selection of the department head…young group…move forward positively; Reed said he had a two hour meeting with Ladwig and a lot of good came out of it, but still concerned that Ladwig was not comfortable with accountability and liability as the Chief; Ladwig’s son Jonathon teaches at NWTC and Ladwig stated he would have Jon along side of him to explain chain of command…problem with that there are different levels of training…Hoppe knew manpower and capabilities, Jon doesn’t…Jon can’t give orders, has to come from the Chief; Reed stated Jon will donate his time and firefighters will volunteer time also for training to get certified; Reed then questioned if guys would be covered under workman’s comp if they were to get hurt while volunteering time for training; Reed also stated that Ladwig’s contract states that he doesn’t have to comply with section 62.13 and he’s not sure what that means; Olson stated that these are all legitimate questions; Hayes commented on Reed’s letter to be involved with the selection…someone established in the fire department…how can they say Ladwig’s not established when he’s been here for 30 some years; Reed stated that he meant he is not established as a Chief; Olson stated he was a little confused on the accountability/liability issue…what do they mean by liability?
Reed stated that Ladwig said he will not be held accountable or liable; Olson said this may need to be answered by the City Attorney; Berth questioned if Chief Hoppe was liable; Carper stated that his understanding that the Chief’s liable to a certain degree …would not prevent someone from bringing action against the City or the Chief if they felt they were negligent; Reed stated that 99% of what Ladwig is doing is great, just this one concern; Hayes stated as the Chief he represents the City… not personal liability...everybody is somewhat responsible but the big umbrella is the City; Olson questioned if Ladwig had any comments…he did not; Reed stated this letter was meant as positive…direction is positive;

6. Public Input: None

7. Citizens Complaint:
Hayes requested an update on dog bite to Lana Schultz’s dog; Carper stated citations have been issued; Sowle stated that the owner was going to get back to the police dept. with shot info; Hayes stated Schultz has vet bills and told her to drop them off at the Police dept.; Berth questioned why the bills would come to us; Carper stated we are facilitating the information to the Court;

8. Discussion/action/update on:
a. Report back on allocation of funding for audit to include Fire Dept.;
Olson stated that after Hoppe retired the Commission looked at the pros and cons of hiring a Public Safety Director to oversee the police and fire departments…Finance Committee felt the fire department should be added to the request for an audit; Commission will meet again with Atty. Kalny to discuss what we can get for $10,000;
Hayes questioned Chief Carper if he was aware that officer’s were in attendance at the meeting; Chief stated he was told afterwards, Hayes questioned if they were representing the union; Carper stated that’s the jest he got; Berth questioned where did we come up with $10,000.00; Olson stated the Attorney came up with that figure;

b. Recovery Act Grant Process;
Carper reported deadline to submit application is next Monday, May 18th; Will set-up Memorandum of Understanding with Sheriff’s Dept.; Carper stated signatures are required on application…Mayor or designee can sign; Total amount of grant money is $15,700…cost of radio upgrades will be $13,000.;

c. Intercept Agreement with Green Bay Fire and Rescue;
Ladwig reported that he spoke with Dan Gunn, Division Chief of Green Bay Fire Dept. regarding the agreement and Ladwig said he sees no problem with it; Ladwig stated all the fireman like doing the intercepts with Green Bay; Mayor questioned Carol Stewart about concern that this was a mutual aid agreement; Stewart explained this was also a mutual aid contract but for the City of Oconto it cover our intercepts…the only time mutual aid would come in to play is if there was a major catastrophe and then everyone would be called upon;
Moved by Longsine second by Berth to approve intercept agreement with Green Bay Fire and Rescue.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

d. Request form Lena Area Fire Dept. to participate in Parade on June 6th, 2009;
Ladwig stated the Lena fire department would like us to take the ladder truck there…didn’t know if permission was needed; Mayor stated he thought it was a good idea to participate;
Moved by Hayes second by Longsine to approve request to allow ladder truck in the parade;
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

e. Request for ambulance to be on hand for May 30th, 2009 air show;
Discussion that this was similar to the ambulance being on hand at the high school football games;
Moved by Hayes second by Longsine to allow ambulance to be on hand at the air show on May 30th.
Motion carried upon verbal vote. 5 ayes

9 & 10. Discussion on monthly financial reports;
Ladwig reported he’s been battling the computer, wasn’t able to generate reports, but stated there were 54 ambulance calls in April; Olson questioned Carper if he ever ordered a computer…Carper stated info is on his desk, will order it; Hayes questioned the fire departments ISO rating…why it’s so high; Reed stated last time some were trained was 1992…State made changes in requirements…check to see what we have to do to get an ISO; Hayes sated we can’t wait until an inspection comes up…Administrator should have info as to when review comes up again; Reed stated we are not going to wait…need to check to see if we’re covered during voluntary training; Ladwig stated we have had a six-wheeler for 5 years which some have never operated, same with the boat; Olson and Longsine stated it was necessary for them to be trained…should feel comfortable while operating; Reed stated there is never enough money in the budget for adequate training;
Moved by Hayes second by Gering to approve of the monthly department reports
and accounts payables and the check register as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

11. Moved by Berth second by Hayes to approve of the expense and revenue reports as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

12. Report on meetings/conferences/seminars attended.
Carper reported on animal ordinance...draft copy given to Committee of the Whole didn’t copy right…didn’t highlight changes, was difficult to understand; Commented about dogs in parks; Mayor questioned where do you draw the line…allow dogs in the campground but not at ball games?; Hayes questioned about an Animal Control Officer; Carper stated it was not discussed; Questioned if the Committee of the Whole approved the draft; Carper stated they did not…worked over to put in ordinance form;
Ladwig stated he would like to attend Fire Service Training on Wednesday, May 13th for Emergency Vehicle Technicians; Carper questioned if he should attend commission training in June, has not gone in a few years;
Berth stated he has two things…where is the speed machine? Carper stated it was located on McDonald Street yesterday near Durand’s residence; Berth also asked Carper to explain when a squad car is allowed to exceed the speed limit without lights on; Carper stated when gathering evidence such as pacing a speeding vehicle or if the sirens pose as a safety risk, just to mention a couple; Berth stated at 8:20 Sunday morning a squad sped down Main Street, past Crivello’s with no lights; Berth happened to be there and was questioned as a member of the Police and Fire Commission; Berth stated he followed the squad to see that it was on a call; Carper stated the officer may have thought the lights were on…intermittent problems with that light bar; Carper stated that the officer is very conscientious and would have turned the lights on…must of thought they were on, but no way of knowing; Carper stated it was in the budget to have light bars replaced but it was deleted; Berth stated we should go back to finance…this is a safety issue; Longsine suggested parking that squad until it’s repaired; Gering questioned the cost of replacing the light bars… bring a price back…this is for the safety of the general public as well as the officers…liability would be a lot more costly;

13. Moved by Longsine second by Hayes to adjourn. M/C
Meeting adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

Minutes submitted by:
Carol Stewart
Deputy Clerk Treasurer