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`~ U'i <br />PUBLIC AGENDA SESSION <br />OCTOBER 10, 2007 <br />The Board of Public Safety met in the Public Agenda Session at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, <br />October 10, 2007 with Board Members Juanita Dempsey, Donald Alford, Patrick D. Cottrell and <br />Bruce J. BonDurant present. Also present were Boadd Attorney Thomas Bodnaz, Police Chief <br />Thomas Fautz, and Fire Chief Howard Buchanon. <br />The meeting was held in the Board of Public Works Meeting Room, 13t" Floor County City <br />Building, South Bend, Indiana. <br />Board members discussed the following items from the agenda: <br />- Resignation of President Jesusa Rodriguez <br />Mr. Bodnar stated he received an e-mail from President Rodriguez announcing her <br />resignation from the Board of Public Safety. Mr. Bodnar informed the Board they would <br />need to elect a new president and they could do that today or at the next meeting. The <br />Board chose to wait and discuss it. <br />- Reschedule November Meeting <br />Mr. Bodnaz stated the Fire Department was requesting to swear in firefighters in <br />November and would like to have a special meeting on November 28 to do so. The Clerk <br />of the Boadd was requesting the regularly scheduled meeting of November 21 be <br />switched to November 28. Mr. Bodnar noted November 21 is the day before <br />Thanksgiving and some Board members will be out of town. Also, there is a Boadd of <br />Works meeting scheduled for the same day and time, so there is a conflict. The Board <br />agreed to switch the regulaz meeting date to November 28, 2007. <br />-Reschedule December Meeting <br />Police Chief Thomas Fautz stated he would like to request a special meeting in <br />December. The Police Department needs to swear in a Police officer. Mr. Bodnaz <br />requested they discuss this change at a later date, after checking schedules. <br />-Minutes <br />Mr. Cottrell questioned whether the wording in the Minutes of September 27, 2007, in <br />Charges 07-04, should state "in the Executive Session of this special meeting" instead of <br />"in the Executive Session following this special meeting." Mr. Bodnar stated this was <br />verbatim wording and should not be changed. <br />- Finding of Facts -Charge 07-03 -Fire Department <br />Fire Chief Buchanon stated he received a phone call last night, October 9, 2007, from <br />Captain James Gadacz stating he has decided to retire from the Fire Department. Chief <br />Buchanon presented the Board with a letter from Captain Gadacz requesting they approve <br />his retirement, effective October 9, 2007. The Board questioned whether they should still <br />present their Findings of Fact. Mr. Bodnaz stated they could, for the record, but it would <br />be preceded by Captain Gadacz's retirement. Chief Buchanon stated Captain Gadacz will <br />lose some of his pension due to bad time on his record. <br />- Appeal of Discipline -Police Department <br />Police Chief Thomas Fautz presented the Board with his response to Lieutenant Scott <br />Ruszkowski's appeal of his discipline. Chief Fautz is asking the Board to deny Lieutenant <br />Ruszkowski's request for a hearing. He stated when viewing the video of the arrest under <br />question, it is clear that Lieutenant Ruszkowski did not follow proper procedure. This is a <br />first discipline of this type for Lieutenant Ruszkowski, and Chief Fautz feels that the <br />discipline will correct any future problems and is enough. <br />ADJOURNMENT <br />There being no further business to come before the Board, the meeting adjourned at 8:29 a.m. <br />BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY <br />