HomeMy WebLinkAbout06-26-00 Health & Public Safety Committer ort:
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The June 26,2000 meeting of the Health and Public Safety Committee was called to order
by its Chairperson, Council Member Andrew Ujdak at 5:27 p.m. In the Council Informal Meeting
room.
Persons in attendance included Council Members Aranowski, Pfeifer, Kelly, King,
Varner, Ujdak, Kirsits and White; Police Chief Larry Bennett, Terry Bland of the &IMO Beth
tribune, and Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney.
Council Member Ujdak noted that the first item on the agenda was to review Substitute Bill
No. 49-00 which addresses technical changes to the detective classification pay addressed in Ord.
No. 8889-98. Police Chief Larry Bennett noted that approximately three (3) months after he was
appointed Chief of Police that members of the Detective Bureau approached him with regard to
various inequities they saw related to the tier system. Since February of this year, he has been
meeting with a committee of four(4) police officers to review these concerns. Based on his own
review and the discussions with this special police committee,Chief Bennett has concluded that the
tier system is unfair and is flawed. He noted that he met with the special committee each Thursday
and had the opportunity to discuss these concerns with Corporal Joseph Lauck, President of the
FOP, Council Member Aranowski and Ujdak and the Council Attorney.
Chief Bennett noted that the proposed substitute Bill would eliminate the tier system. He
noted that there are currently five (5) pay levels in the Detective Bureau. He voiced concern that
testing was implemented for only one(1)division of the Police Department. He has concluded that
to continue the tier system would exacerbate morale issues.
Chief Bennett stated that incentives to attract quality individuals to the Detective Bureau are
essential but that they must be fair. The new proposed procedure would have officers assigned to
the Detective Bureau reviewed every three(3) months. The ordinance would also decrease the five
(5) pay levels to three(3) pay levels. He requested passage of the substitute bill.
The Council Attorney noted that the Board of Public Safety adopted a Resolution which
would implement the proposed changes at its meeting last week. No new monies would be spent
this year and in fact in limited cases officers had $ 663 reduced from their income. In 2001,
additional monies will be necessary to implement the program however Chief Bennett noted that
such costs could be absorbed internally within the department.
Following discussion, Council Member King made a motion, seconded by Council
Member Kelly that Substitute Bill No. 49-00 be recommended favorably to Council. The motion
passed.
There being no further business to come before the Committee, Council Member Ujdak
adjourned the meeting at 5:25 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Council Member Andrew Ujdak, Chairperson
Health and Public Safety Committee
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