12/29/2010 Board of Public Safety Minutes

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PUBLIC AGENDA SESSION DECEMBER 29, 2010 107 The Board of Public Safety met in the Public Agenda Session at 8:08 a.m. on Wednesday, December 29, 2010 with Board President Juanita Dempsey and Board Members Patrick D. Cottrell, Bruce J. BonDurant, Laura Vasquez, and Eddie Miller present. Also present were Board Attorney Thomas Bodnar, Police Chief Darryl Boykins, and Fire Chief Howard Buchanon. The meeting was held in the Board of Public Works Meeting Room, 13th Floor, County City Building, South Bend, Indiana. Board members discussed the following items: - Additions to the Agenda — Fire Department Attorney Thomas Bodnar stated he would be adding Resolution No. 84 -2010 and a Letter of Understanding, both regarding the Fire Department's 2011 -2012 Working Agreement. - Approve 2011 -2012 Working Agreement — Police Department Attorney Thomas Bodnar stated there are very few changes to the new working agreement. Some of those changes include the elimination of the rank of Corporal; the addition of one more critical duty day; and the Chief's request for random drug testing rather than all officers being required to be tested every year. Also noteworthy is the Chief's ability to change Investigative Division working hours has been deleted. - Approve Three (3) Promotions to Patrolman 1St Class — Police Department Chief Darryl Boykins stated the reason for the different effective dates of the promotions is due to the officers being sworn in on different dates. - Approve Request for Demotion — Police Department Attorney Thomas Bodnar noted Lieutenant Mike Suth has requested the demotion to Sergeant because he wants a bigger challenge, even if it means less pay. Mr. Bodnar noted that Lieutenant Suth is a very competent officer who has worked on converting tapes from Police cars to DVD format, among other technical duties. - Approve Special Police Commissions Mr. Bodnar stated the individuals listed in Chief Boykin's letter to the Board are all renewals of Special Police Commissions, except for a couple that will be newly appointed by the Board's approval of the Chief's letter of request. He noted that any former Special Police Commission appointments that are not being approved for renewal this year are automatically rescinded. - Employees of the Month — Police Department Chief Boykins stated that Patrolman Andrew Hines, the officer selected for Employee of the Month for September, is a new officer who was debating whether to stay on the Police Force or pursue other career objectives. He was selected for two outstanding arrests in a one month period. The first was his tracking and arrest of a suspect responsible for numerous car break -ins on the Northeast side of town. Patrolman Hines tracked and chased the suspect, jumping a fence and injuring himself in the process. That same month he pulled a suspicious car over and discovered it contained a floating meth lab. He was able to make an arrest in this case also. Corporal Philip Herman, selected for Employee of the Month for October, observed an individual carrying a gun into Adams High School, when he was working as an SRO at the school. Corporal Herman made an arrest before the individual was able to enter the school and do any harm. - Approve 2011 -2012 Working Agreement — Fire Department Attorney Thomas Bodnar stated this agreement reverted back to manning and procedures the Union previously conceded on in negotiations during extreme budget constraints. The Letter of Understanding sets forth the promotion process for the positions of Fire Suppression Captain and Paramedic Captain. Resolution No. 84 -2010 addresses the provisions of Special Assignments. Mr. Bodnar noted the Letter of Understanding will be in effect for two (2) years. - Approve Contracts with Notre Dame University Mr. Bodnar stated the two (2) contracts being approved today include Emergency Medical Services during Special Events and 911 Emergency Services. Both contracts charge an amount to cover the Fire Department expenses. He stated Notre Dame is billed for the presence of the Fire Department personnel at special events and if there is an ambulance run, they are billed for the additional charges. He stated the Notre Dame agreements are five year agreements with a formula to adjust the rate depending on the amount that paramedics make in that particular year. For the first time there is also a sixty (60) day written notice cancellation clause, at the insistence of Notre Dame.