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Home My WebLink About2025 11-19 Board of Public Safety Meeting MinutesNOVEMBER 19, 2025 68 I. REGULAR MEETING The Board of Public Safety met in the Regular Meeting at 9:17 a.m. on Wednesday, November 19, 2025 with Board President Dan Jones, and Board Members Al Kirsits, Lee Ross (virtual), and Pamela Claeys were present. Also, Assistant Police Chief Dan Skibins, Fire Chief Carl Buchanon, and Attorneys Danielle Campbell Weiss, Adam Taylor, Kylie Connell and Board Clerk Hillary Horvath were in attendance. The meeting was held in the Council Chambers 3rd Floor, South Bend City Hall Bldg., 215 S. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr Blvd., South Bend, Indiana and virtually via Microsoft Teams at the following link: https://tinyurl.com/2025-2026-BPS Attorney Weiss asked that everyone mute their microphone when not speaking and reminded attendees that comments from the public should be saved for the Privilege of the Floor portion of the meeting. Attorney Weiss then read through the agenda to note any additions or corrections. A. ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS Board President Dan Jones welcomed the public, called roll, and confirmed the presence of the Board Members. B. APPROVE MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS Upon a motion by Pam Claeys, seconded by Al Kirsits and carried by roll call, the Board approved the Minutes of October 24, 2025 regular meeting. C. APPROVAL OF 2026 BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING SCHEDULE Upon a motion by Lee Ross, seconded by Al Kirsits and carried by roll, the 2026 Board of Public Safety Meeting schedule was approved. D. POLICE DEPARTMENT 1. APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 03-2025 – ESTABLISHING THE 2026 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE FOR THE SOUTH BEND POLICE DEPARTMENT Upon a motion by Pam Claeys, seconded by Al Kirsits, and followed by a roll call, the 2026 Holiday Schedule for the South Bend Police Department was approved. RESOLUTION NO.: 08-2025 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA ESTABLISHING THE 2026 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE FOR THE SOUTH BEND POLICE DEPARTMENT WHEREAS, the Board of Public Safety of the City of South Bend, Indiana, is empowered by law to establish rules and regulations for the South Bend Police Department; and WHEREAS, it is in the interest of the City of South Bend that the Police Department holidays be set with certainty. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Public Safety of the City of South Bend: SECTION I. That for all sworn police officers who are assigned to work as their regular schedule, Monday through Friday, 5 days on and 2 days off or 4 days on and 3 days off, the following holidays shall apply: New Year’s Day Thursday, January 1, 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday, January 19, 2026 Memorial Day Monday, May 25, 2026 Juneteenth Friday, June 19, 2026 Independence Day Friday, July 3, 2026 Labor Day Monday, September 7, 2026 Veteran’s Day Wednesday, November 11, 2026 Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 26, 2026 Day after Thanksgiving Friday, November 27, 2026 Christmas Day Friday, December 25, 2026 NOVEMBER 19, 2025 69 In addition to the ten (10) designated holidays above, employees may choose one (1) additional floating holiday subject to South Bend Municipal Code Sec. 2-121 (a), which can be any day of the employee’s choosing subject to supervisor’s pre-approval. SECTION II. That for all sworn police officers who are assigned to work as their regular work schedule, 6 days on and 3 days off, there shall be no paid holidays. The following dates are designated as Critical Duty Days: New Year’s Day Thursday, January 1, 2026 Memorial Day Monday, May 25, 2026 Independence Day Saturday, July 4, 2026 Labor Day Monday, September 7, 2026 Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 26, 2026 Christmas Eve Thursday, December 24, 2026 Christmas Day Friday, December 25, 2026 New Year’s Eve Thursday, December 31, 2026 For purposes of the Critical Duty Day stipend, the Critical Duty Day shall start at 6:00 a.m., and last 24 hours. SECTION III. That officers assigned to the South Bend Community School Corporation shall, while so assigned, follow the holiday schedule set by the South Bend Community School Corporation for its clerical employees. Officers so assigned shall be eligible for Critical Duty Day pay only if assigned temporarily to a regular detail or otherwise eligible. ADOPTED this 19th day of November, 2025. s/Daniel Jones, President s/Lee Ross, Member s/Alfred Kirsits, Member s/Pamela Claeys, Member ATTEST: s/Hillary Horvath/Clerk 2. FILE MONTHLY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS REPORT OCTOBER 2025 Chief Ruszkowski submitted the monthly statistical analysis report for October 2025. Assistant Chief Dan Skibbins was present in Chief Ruszkowski’s place to present. He noted an overall five percent (5%) decrease in the grand total of Part 1 Offenses when comparing October 2024 to October 2025. Ms. Claeys noted the significant improvement in statistics for almost every category. NOVEMBER 19, 2025 70 E. FIRE DEPARTMENT 1. APPROVE THE RESOLUTION NO. 04-2024 – ESTABLISHING THE 2025 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE FOR THE SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT Upon a motion by Pam Claeys, seconded by Al Kirsits, and followed by a roll call, the 2025 Holiday Schedule for the South Bend Fire Department was approved. RESOLUTION NO. 09-2025 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND, INDIANA ESTABLISHING THE 2026 HOLIDAY SCHEDULE FOR THE SOUTH BEND FIRE DEPARTMENT. WHEREAS, the Board of Public Safety of the City of South Bend, Indiana, is empowered by law to establish rules and regulations for the South Bend Fire Department; and WHEREAS, it is in the best interest of the City of South Bend that the Fire Department holidays be set with certainty. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Board of Public Safety of the City of South Bend: SECTION I. That all firefighters who work 24-hour shifts are not entitled to holidays off. SECTION II. That for all firefighters who work 24-hour shifts, Critical Duty Days are as set forth in Article 25 of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), and in the same article of the CBA approved by the Board of Public Safety for 2026. SECTION III. That all firefighters who are assigned to work a four or five day work week shall have the following holidays apply, as previously approved by the Board of Public Works: New Year’s Day Thursday, January 1, 2026 Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Monday, January 19, 2026 Memorial Day Monday, May 25, 2026 Juneteenth Friday, June 19, 2026 Independence Day Friday, July 3, 2026 Labor Day Monday, September 7, 2026 Veteran’s Day Wednesday, November 11, 2026 Thanksgiving Day Thursday, November 26, 2026 Day after Thanksgiving Friday, November 27, 2026 Christmas Day Friday, December 25, 2026 SECTION IV. That all firefighters who are assigned to work a four or five day work week shall have one floating holiday to be taken, upon approval from a supervisor, at the time of their choosing. Adopted this 19th day of November, 2025. NOVEMBER 19, 2025 71 s/Daniel Jones, President s/Lee Ross, Member s/Alfred Kirsits, Member s/Pamela Claeys, Member ATTEST: s/Hillary Horvath/Clerk 2.FILE MONTHLY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS REPORT FOR OCTOBER 2025 Chief Buchanon submitted the monthly statistical analysis report for October 2025. He noted that the inspection division had 419 inspections and 560 re-inspections all with only three (3) inspectors. Chief Buchanon touched on fire alarms for the hearing-impaired community noting that instead of the device relying on sound to alert of a fire, they flash a bright light. F.PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Attorney Weiss reminded the public to use the hand-raising function of Microsoft Teams to indicate their desire to speak during Privilege of the Floor. She reminded attendees that they would be allotted three (3) minutes to speak. G.ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, upon a motion by Pam Claeys, seconded by Al Kirsits, and carried by roll call, the meeting was adjourned at 9:36 a.m. BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY Daniel Jones, President Ross Lee, Member Al Kirsits, Member Pamela Claeys, Member NOVEMBER 19, 2025 72 ATTEST: Hillary Horvath, Clerk