2025 01-15 Board of Public Safety Meeting Minutes

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11 Resignation was January 3, 2025. Firefighter Scott Applegate was appointed to the SBFD on June 18, 2014, and his effective date of Resignation was January 3, 2025. Firefighter Trevin Stankiewicz was appointed to the SBFD on June 18, 2014, and his effective date of Resignation was January 3, 2025. Firefighter Brian Countryman was appointed to the SBFD on February 24, 2017, and his effective date of Resignation was January 3, 2025. Firefighter Dylan Bikowski was appointed to the SBFD on February 14, 2020, and his effective date of resignation was January 3, 2025. Assistant Chief Skwarcan noted that these firefighters will be moving to the new fire territory in St. Joseph County. President Jones asked how these resignations affect the force. Assistant Chief Skwarcan advised that it impacts the force negatively, because it puts them at 224 firefighters rather than 256. It creates more mandates for the rest of the firefighters. He noted that they have twenty- two (22) in their recruit academy that will graduate in March, so that will catch them up to the numbers, but not experience. The next fire academy will also be large, but sometimes they are offered jobs before they finish the academy. He added that they have to be able to take a civilian and turn them into a firefighter which takes a lot of training. He added that he spoke to a Chief in Dayton, Ohio and their situation is so bad that they have an agreement with their vendors when they order turn out gear for a firefighter, they leave the name placard off because some of their folks don't even make it through their whole hiring process before they've already transferred to another department. They just exchange invoices because they can't even outfit somebody before they leave, so thankfully we're not that bad. This highlights the need to be competitive and focus on recruitment and retention more than ever. President Jones accepted the letters of behalf of the Board. 4. APPROVE RESOLUTION NO. 01-2025 – A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND CONCERNING THE MEETING AND ELECTION PROCEDURES FOR THE FIRE MERIT BOARD RESOLUTION NO. 01-2025 A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY OF THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND CONCERNING THE MEETING AND ELECTION PROCEDURES FOR THE FIRE MERIT BOARD WHEREAS, the South Bend Board of Public Safety (“Board”) exists and operates pursuant to I.C. § 36-4-9-5 and Ind. Code § 36-8-3-2 and has exclusive control over all matters relating to the South Bend Fire Department; and WHEREAS, the City of South Bend has adopted a Fire Department Merit Commission established under I.C. 36-8-3.5 (the “Merit Board Act”); and