PFC Minutes

Minutes of the Police & Fire Commission meeting held on Tuesday, September 21st, 2010 pursuant to notice duly given.

1. Meeting called to order by Chairperson Hayes at 6:00 p.m.
2. Roll call: Ron Hayes, Steve Gering, Gene Berth, Tim Longsine and Jim Lacourciere. Also present: Mayor Fulton, Jack Mlnarik, Don Phillips, Dale Carper and Linda Belongia Administrator and as recording secretary.
3. Moved by Lacourciere seconded by Longsine to approve of the agenda as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes
4. Moved by Berth seconded by Gering to approve and place on file as typed the minutes from the 8/9/2010 PFC meeting.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes
5. No Public Input/correspondence.

Chairperson Hayes moved to agenda item 8c.

8 c. Discussion on enforcement of loitering on Main Street; Mayor stated this has been an ongoing situation on Main Street; we had to take two of our benches out because of the loitering and damages to the trees the benches were placed by; referenced statement that was made….everyone has a right to a peaceful assembly….merchants and patrons are being intimidated….at the Pharmacy the bench was moved in front of the insurance businesses….then that owner called, as he did last year for the same issues; when we were going to do Main Street, idea was, what do we want it to look like…all the work that was done…; would like the PFC to take a serious look at this issue…enough has occurred that would merit something to be done…need to help our merchants; Carper agreed with Mayor impart, should have some sense of appropriate behavior, need to enforce ordinance, can send message…; Mayor stated…a few messages; Carper stated it would be helpful for the officers if the merchants understand we are responding; Mayor referenced the way the groups are congregating on Main Street…for lack of better term, like herd’s; Hayes directed Carper to make a concentrated effort…also remembers when we were developing Main Street, comment was made, why have Freedom Park…need to be pro-active, damaging of the trees is unacceptable…our police dept needs to make a mass presence…including foot patrol; Hayes referenced 22 lockouts on police monthly report vs. 3 loitering; need to make a concentrated effort…referenced the City of Rosendale where no one speeds because you know you will get a ticket; Hayes stated two merchants have also contacted him again…advised Carper to do whatever it takes on this loitering issue; Longsine questioned if the camera’s still work; Carper stated they do; Mayor stated traveling through other communities, has not seen the loitering as we have; Longsine questioned where do we draw the line? Berth stated there is no line, these are not adults downtown, it’s kids; Longsine questioned if we still have a skateboard and roller skate ordinance…these should be enforced; Mayor stated what’s happening on Main Street is a collective behavior; Hayes stated he would like to see a different attitude from our police dept; Lacourciere questioned the camera’s…maybe put up signs; Carper stated if you had specific times would be easier to watch the tape; Longsine suggested we bring the coffee pot here and have the officers sit here and watch the tape; Gering stated we have to have positive reinforcement with a police presence…do this in a positive manner; Hayes stated our officers need to make a concentrated effort; Carper stated the officers have had some conversation with some of the individuals; Mayor stressed, bottom line is presence; Carper referenced our ordinance, warning first…; Mayor stated problem is habitual…need to deal with it….Hayes agreed, instructed Carper to have a police presence; Lacourciere questioned if the officers encourage the youth to go to the youth center?

Mayor Fulton excused himself from the remainder of the meeting.

6. Chairperson Hayes state the commission may vote to convene into Closed Session pursuant to notice duly given and as allowed by Wis. Stats. 19.85(1) (e) to allow for discussion on township contract.
Moved by Berth seconded by Lacourciere to convene into Closed Session at 6:20 p.m.
Motion carried upon verbal roll call vote. 5 ayes

Included in the Closed Session Jack Mlnarik and Don Phillips.

Closed Session

7. Moved by Berth seconded by Lacourciere to reconvene into Open Session at 7:04 p.m.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

8. Discussion/action/updates on the following:
a. Cadet Program. Carper provided PFC with pamphlet he re-wrote; working with Chief from Gillett; has been re-doing the ordinance; questioned does the PFC want the Cadets to issue parking tickets…concern on employee vs. agent; Hayes stated we need to crawl before we walk, start the process, referenced Allouez.
Carper authorized to put the proposal for the Cadet Program together for the Council.

b. Belongia stated Atty. Kalny called and apologized, he and Chief Carper met, but he didn’t have time to prepare a report on policy/selection process for the PFC, have on next meeting.

d. Carper stated he met with a complainant…parent complaining about how kids are dropped off on Erie…this is being dealt with;

e. Draft language for Secured Key Ordinance; Mlnarik stated this language is as recommended from PFC and also has been reviewed by the city attorney;
Moved by Gering seconded by Berth to recommend to Com of the Whole draft ordinance creating language for a Secured Key Ordinance.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

f. Mlnarik presented Standard Operating Guidelines, Section 201.00 Command Procedures. Mlnarik stated he will continue to bring the sections to the PFC for review/approval.
Moved by Lacourciere seconded by Longsine to adopt the Standard Operating Guideline, Section 201.00 Command Procedures.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

g. Mlnarik stated the Allan Hockers notified him that he lives in the Pensaukee area and doesn’t feel he can continue being a paid on call for the Oconto Fire Dept., next in line would be Jordan Martin.
Moved by Longsine seconded by Gering to approve of Jordan Martin as a POC to replace Allan Hockers.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

h. Mlnarik stated John Reed and Craig Henry completed the assessment process on 8/31; three individuals were evaluated; Reed, Henry and Josh Bostedt; was a four hour process; Mlnarik as Fire Chief is recommending that John Reed and Craig Henry be approved as Lieutenants for the Oconto Fire Department.
Moved by Lacourciere seconded by Longsine to approve of recommendation from Chief Mlnarik and approve of Lieutenant John Reed and Lieutenant Craig Henry.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

Mlnarik stated he has some documentation that will need to be signed after the meeting.

i. Mlnarik requested approval of the purchase of recliners for the firemen’s day room, using the remaining deer fund revenue that has a balance of $2,460.
Moved by Lacourciere seconded by Gering to approve of furniture purchase as requested by Chief Mlnarik with deer funds.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

j. 2011 budgets reviewed; PFC supports increasing the charge for BLS resident rates as recommended by LifeQuest; Lacourciere questioned discount if someone paid in cash; review of area rates on ambulance calls; Mlnarik instructed to take this to finance with support of PFC on increasing rate for residents on BLS calls.

9. Review/recommendation on Police, Fire and Ambulance department reports.
Carper stated the hit and run has been his top priority; Berth stated I live right there, no one came to my house to see if I seen anything, or to any of my neighbors…or Wayne’s Restaurant...regarding this accident…someone will get away with this; Carper stated he will get the individual who did this; Berth questioned speeders especially Vandyke, this a race track; Carper stated that information doesn’t show up on his monthly report; Hayes referenced traffic calming is being looked at for Brazeau/Smith; Longsine stated we are too easy on speeders; Hayes referenced Mayor’s comments on loitering…and also look at speeders…compared to number of lockouts we do; Berth stated we need foot patrol; Longsine stated the reports need to give us the real numbers…according to the report only one person was pulled…; Berth referenced 45 minutes per day…years ago we had more foot patrol; Hayes stated to Carper, you get the message, we need to change the manner of operation for your department and we need more visibility; Lacourciere questioned if records are kept on warnings? Carper stated only if a warning was given out…referenced this will change next year…state will mandate data collection; Hayes again stressed visibility;

Mlnarik read aloud thank you from Jules Paluch family; Officer Ruechel, Kevin Franks, grandson of Bill Bates and OKATO Manor for public education fire dept participated in; Mlnarik went over the fire depts. monthly report; concern on number of re-inspections his dept is having to do; will bring more information back to PFC of establishing an ordinance for fees for this;

Moved by Lacourciere seconded by Gering to accept and place the reports on file as presented.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

10. & 11. Review of expense and revenue reports and listing of accts payables for $10,639.49. Mlnarik stated the union contract sets the clothing allowance;
Moved by Gering seconded by Longsine to accept and place on file the reports as presented and approve of the listing of accts payables.
Motion carried upon verbal voice vote. 5 ayes

12. No reports on meetings attended.

Next meeting October 11th, 2010.

13. Moved by Longsine seconded by Berth to adjourn. M/C
Meeting adjourned at 8:08 p.m.
Minutes submitted by
Linda M. Belongia,
Administrator