South West Illinois News

The West Frankfort City Council met Nov. 30 to create a new police position.

Here are the meeting's minutes, as provided by the council:

"The City of West Frankfort City Council is located at 110 N Jefferson St, West Frankfort, IL 62896."

WEST FRANKFORT SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2016

1. MAYOR JORDAN CALLED THE MEETING TO ORDER AT 11:00 A.M.

REQUESTING A ROLL CALL ALL COMMISSIONERS WERE IN ATTENDANCE, ALONG WITH THE CITY ATTORNEY AND CITY CLERK.

2. APPROVAL TO GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS PERSONNEL.

THE MAYOR STATED PERSONALLY DON'T THINK WE NEED TO DO THAT. | WILL TAKE THE COUNCILS PLEASURE ON THIS. WE HAVE SOME TERMS ON HERE THAT WE ARE GOING TO GO THROUGH. SOME OF THEM MAY REQUIRE SOME DISCUSSION, BUT IF YOU FEEL LIKE IT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED TO DO THEN WE CAN TALK ABOUT IT. IT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE GO THROUGH THE AGENDA AND IF WE HAVE A PLACE WHERE WE CAN'T AGREE OR FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO TALK ABOUT IT THEN WE CAN DO THAT AFTERWARDS. WHATEVER THE COUNCILS PLEASURE IS I AM OKAY WITH IT. COMMISSIONER SIMPSON STATED OKAY. THE MAYOR STATED WE WILL CONTINUE ON WITH THE MEETING.

3. APPROVAL OF A MOTION TO RETURN TO OPEN SESSION THE MAYOR STATED SINCE WE DIDN'T GO INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION WE DON'T NEED TO MAKE A MOTION.

4. APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE POSITION AND JOB

DESCRIPTION OF DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE CITY OF WEST FRANKFORT. THE MAYOR STATED WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT SHAWN TALLUTO IS THE POLICE CHIEF AND THE LAST SEVERAL MONTHS WE HAVE HAD DISCUSSION WITH CONCERNS TO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT. IT WAS MY DECISION AND EVERYONE AGREED THAT SHAWN HAS DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB THESE PAST FOUR YEARS AS THE CHIEF. HE HAS BEEN AN OFFICER HERE FOR TWENTY YEARS AND THE LEVEL WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN AM HAPPY WITH. WE TALKED ABOUT TRYING TO MOVE THE DEPARTMENT A LITTLE BIT FARTHER TO BE A DEPARTMENT THAT WE CAN BE THE BEST IN SOUTHERN ILLINOIS. A DECISION WAS MADE THAT WE NEEDED TO FIND SOMEONE FROM THE OUTSIDE TO COME IN AND HELP US DO THAT. MY REQUEST OF THE COUNCIL IS THAT WE CREATE A POSITION OF DEPUTY CHEF THAT WILL BE A SALARY POSITION T WILL HELP THE CHIEF ADMINISTER THE DEPARTMENT, SOME OF THE RESPONSIBILITIES

WOULD BE TO ASSIST HIM WITH PERSONNEL ISSUES AS FAR AS SCHEDULING AND ADMINISTRATIVE DUTIES THE CREATION OF THIS DEPUTY CHIEF IS BEING CREATED TO ALLOW SHAWN TO BE THE DEPUTY CHIEF WHICH IS THE NEXT ITEM ON THE AGENDA. I WILL BE GLAD TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS THAT THE COUNCIL MAY HAVE

ABOUT THIS. COMMISSIONER BLADES STATED ARE YOU ALRIGHT WITH

THIS SHAWN T SHAWN STATED YES. COMMISSIONER SIMPSON MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER HARKINS, ROLL CALL VOTE: ALL COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR JORDAN VOTED TO

APPROVE MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO APPOINT AND HIRE THE DEPUTY CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE CITY OF WEST FRANKFORT POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE MAYOR STATED IT IS MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HIRE SHAWN TALLUTO TO FILL THAT POSITION. COMMISSIONER HARKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SIMPSON ROLL CALL VOTE: ALL COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR JORDAN VOTED TO APPROVE MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO APPOINT AND HIRE THE CHIEF OF POLICE OF THE CITY OF WEST FRANKFORT POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE MAYOR STATED I HAVE MET AND TALKED WITH MICHAEL IRWIN HE IS A RETIRED TROOPER AND COMMANDER FOR THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE. HE HAS THIRTY YEARS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT EXPERIENCE. ONE OF THE THINGS WANT TO SAY ABOUT MICHAEL IS THE FACT THAT WHENEVER CAME TO HIM WITH PROBLEMS AND ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR DEPARTMENT AND ABOUT LAW ENFORCEMENT HE HAD THE ANSWERS THAT WAS LOOKING FOR. THINK HE IS SOMEONE THAT CAN MOVE OUR DEPARTMENT FORWARD AND IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF OUR DEPARTMENT FEEL LIKE HIS EXPERIENCE AND BEING FROM

THE OUTSIDE WILL GIVE HIM A FRESH LOOK AT WHAT WE HAVE THINK

THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE NEED AT THIS TIME. IT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION THAT WE HERE MICHAEL IRWIN AS THE POLICE CHIEF. COMMISSIONER HARKINS MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER SIMPSON ROLL CALL VOTE: ALL COMMISSIONERS AND MAYOR JORDAN VOTED TO APPROVE MOTION CARRIED.

WANT TO INTRODUCE YOU TO MICHAEL IRWIN. WE ARE GETTING HIM

OUR OF RETIREMENT TO COME FORWARD AND SERVE AS OUR POLICE CHEF AND WANT TO THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR TAKING THIS RESPONSIBILITY. MICHAEL IRWIN STATED I HAVE BEEN IN THE SOUTHERN ILLINOIS AREA THE MAJORITY OF MY LIFE. I WORKED FOR

THE ILLINOIS STATE POLICE ALL WANT TO TELL YOU IS THAT WHEN

THE MAYOR AND THE COMMISSIONER CAME TO ME TO TALK ABOUT

WHERE THEY WANT TO GO WITH THEIR DEPARTMENT MY FIRST

QUESTION WAS HOW CAN WE MAKE IT BETTER AND MY SECOND QUESTION WAS HOW ARE WE GOING TO HELP SHAWN MAINTAIN HIS STATUS AND HELP US MAKE IT BETTER MY SUGGESTION WAS TO

MAKE HIM THE DEPUTY CHIEF AND I KNOW THAT S A NEW POSITION IN THE DEPARTMENT ALTHOUGH IT IS NOT AN UNKNOWN POSITION IN ANY DEPARTMENT FEEL LIKE DO HAVE A DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE AND DIFFERENT OUTLOOK I HAVE BEEN AROUND WEST FRANKFORT OUT A BIT IN THE YEARS PAST AND THINK IT IS A GOOD COMMUNITY. ALSO REALIZE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE NOT HAVING THE IN GRADE KNOWLEDGE THAT SHAWN HAS. T WOULD BE A LOT HARDER FOR ME TO COME IN AND TRY TO MAKE THINGS BETTER AND HELP PEOPLE ALONG THE WAY. THINK NUMBER ONE IT IS VERY COMMENDABLE THAT

SHAWN WAS INTERESTED IN THE POSITION AND NUMBER TWO THAT

YOU OFFERED HIM THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAINTAIN THAT POSITION. WANT TO THANK YOU FOR THAT I HAVE NO FURTHER COMMENT, WON’T BE HARD TO FIND WE ARE GOING TO HOPEFULLY HAVE A VERY OPEN RELATIONSHIP WITH THE COMMUNITY, I THINK THAT IS IMPORTANT. THINK IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT FOR THE COMMUNITY TO UNDERSTAND THAT YOU GET THE LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT YOU ASK FOR. IF YOU WANT YOUR OFFICERS TO DO A GOOD JOB, MAKE PROGRESS AND MAKE THE COMMUNITY SAFER FOR THE SOCIETY ASA

WHOLE EVERYBODY HAS TO WORK TOGETHER IT'S NOT JUST THE

POLICE IT IS EVERYBODY IN THE CITIZENRY WORKING TOGETHER FOR THE SAME END. THINK THAT IS VERY IMPORTANT. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO SPEAK, AND I AM SURE WE WILL BE AROUND AFTER THE MEETING IS OVER AS LONG AS YOU WANT TO BE HERE.

APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION TO APPOINT AND HIRE THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE WATER DEPARTMENT OF THE CITY OF WEST FRANKFORT. THE MAYOR STATED WOULD LIKE TO GIVE A LITTLE HISTORY ON THIS IN MARCH OF 2015 OUR WATER SUPERINTENDENT

WAS RICK MCLASKEY AND HE RETIRED, AT THAT POINT WE DID NOT

HAVE A WATER SUPERINTENDENT WITH A LICENSE THAT WOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY TO BE THE OPERATOR FOR THE WATER DEPARTMENT. WE CONTINUED WITH AN AGREEMENT WITH MR. MCLASKEY TO STAY ON AS THE PERSON IN CHARGE OF THE OPERATOR OF THE WATER

SYSTEM AS IT'S DECIDED BY THE EPA. WE HAD A CONTRACT THAT

LASTED A YEAR WITH HIM FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T KNOW OUR

WATER DEPARTMENT IS COMPLETELY TURNED OVER WE HAVE NEW EMPLOYEES, THERE IS ONLY ONE EMPLOYEE THAT WAS HERE IN 2015 AND THAT IS A CLERK IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT WHO IS NOW OUR

DEPUTY CITY CLERK. WE SET FORTH A SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM

JAMES WHITE WAS HIRED AS A METER READER AND WE HIRED DUSTIN

LEDBETTER. JAMES WHITE TOOK CLASSES AT JOHN A. LOGAN AND

BECAME A LICENSED WATER OPERATOR. SINCE THEN HE HAS BEEN WORKING WITH RICK MCLASKEY ON HOW TO DO THE WATER SAMPLES. FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO DON'T UNDERSTAND, WE ARE CONSUMING THIS WATER EVERY DAY. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THIS PERSON WHO IS GOING TO BE OVER THE WATER SYSTEM HAS A LOT OF OBLIGATION TO US. MAKING SURE THIS WATER IS DRINKABLE AND DOESN'T HAVE ANY CONTAMINANTS OR LEAD INIT, WE SAMPLE FOR THAT EVERY MONTH. CAN MENTION ONE COMMUNITY (FLINT MICHIGAN) THAT COMMUNITY IS GOING TO HAVE SOME PEOPLE THAT ARE ON THEIR WATER DEPARTMENT THAT ARE PROBABLY GOING TO GO TO PRISON BECAUSE OF THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED THERE. IF YOU ARE IN CHARGE OF THE WATER SYSTEM YOU HAVE A LOT OF RESPONSIBILITY AND THERE IS A HEAVY PRICE TO PAY FIT ISN'T DONE RIGHT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IS MR. MCLASKEY HAS INFORMED US THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO REMAIN AS OUR CONSULTANT. AS FAR AS IF THERE IS A BOIL ORDER OR IF THE WATER SUPERINTENDENT NEEDS SOME KIND OF

INPUT FROM HIM. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE A CONTRACTUAL

AGREEMENT WITH HIM AS A BACKUP AND HE WILL BE SOMEONE WHO

HAS A LOT OF EXPERIENCE THAT WE CAN CALL ON HAVING SAID THAT BY DECEMBER THE 5TH WE HAVE TO NAME FOR THE EPA WHO THE

OPERATOR IS OF OUR WATER SYSTEM. AT THIS TIME WILL OPEN IT UP

FOR DISCUSSION TO MAKE A DECISION ON WHOSENAME IS GOING TO GO ON THAT LINE COMMISSIONER BLADES STATED NUMBER ONE TOM YOU KEEP MENTIONING FLINT MICHIGAN FLINT MICHIGAN PUMPED THEIR OWN RIVER AND HAD THEIR OWN WATER PLANT. WE ARE NOT FLINT MICHIGAN WE BUY OUR WATER FROM REND LAKE SO IF ANYTHING HAPPENS LIKE THAT IT IS COMING DOWN ON REND LAKE. THE MAYOR STATED OKAY, THE QUESTION WE ARE ASKING IS WE NEED

TO APPOINT OR HIRE SOMEBODY TO BE THE WATER SUPERINTENDENT SOMEBODY TO PUT THEIR NAME ON THAT PIECE OF PAPER THAT SAYS THEY ARE GOING TO BE THE OPERATOR OF THE WATER SYSTEM, YOU ARE THE WATER COMMISSIONER WHAT IS YOUR RECOMMENDATION ED7 COMMISSIONER BLADES STATED YOU KNOW WHAT MINE IS THE MAYOR STATED I DON'T KNOW WHAT YOUR RECOMMENDATION IS. COMMISSIONER BLADES STATED WE TALKED ABOUT IT A WHILE AGO, DON'T WANT TO MAKE HIM SUPERINTENDENT. THE MAYOR STATED SO WHO S GOING TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE EPA WATER TESTING FOR THE CITY OF WEST FRANKFORT. COMMISSIONER BLADES STATED YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE THE SUPERINTENDENT TO DO THE TESTING TOM. THE MAYOR STATED I AM JUST ASKING FOR A NAME COMMISSIONER BLADES STATED PUT HIS NAME DOWN HE DOESN'T HAVE TO BE SUPERINTENDENT AND BE PAID THAT BIG OF MONEY JUST TO TAKE THE WATER SAMPLES. THE MAYOR STATED IT IS MY FEELING THAT IF YOU ARE GOING TO ASK SOMEONE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE WATER SYSTEM THEN THEY NEED TO BE A NON-UNION EMPLOYEE. THEY NEED TO BE SOMEBODY THAT IS UNDER THE CONTROL OF THE CITY AND DOESN'T ANSWER TO THE UNION | THINK THIS IS TOO MUCH RESPONSIBILITY TO GIVE AWAY TO SOMEBODY THAT IS NOT IN OUR CONTROL THE PERSON THAT IS GOING TO BE IN CHARGE OF THIS WATER SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE SOMEBODY THAT WE APPOINT. WANT TO GIVE YOU THE OPPORTUNITY THAT IS WHY AM GIVING YOU THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY WHO YOU WANT BECAUSE THIS IS NOT A DICTATORSHIP. THIS IS AN OPEN MEETING AND WE ARE GOING TO HAVE DISCUSSION ABOUT THIS. WANT EVERYBODY TO HAVE THE CHANCE TO BE HEARD COMMISSIONER BLADES STATED THEN GO AHEAD AND TALK THE MAYOR STATED DOES ANYBODY ELSE ON THE COUNCIL HAVE ANYTHING THEY WANT TO WEIGH IN ON THIS. COMMISSIONER SIMPSON STATED AGREE WITH YOU MR. MAYOR. BELIEVE THE PERSON SHOULD BE A CITY EMPLOYEE AND NOT A UNION MEMBER. SOMEBODY WHO REPORTS TO THE CITY AND IS NOT RESTRICTED BY THE UNION CONTRACT. I BELIEVE THAT WE DO NEED A SUPERINTENDENT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THAT DEPARTMENT. SOMEBODY WHO IS LICENSED IN THE WATER THEREFORE I WOULD MAKE A MOTION TO APPROVE THIS RESOLUTION COMMISSIONER CHAMBERS STATED UNDERSTAND YOUR CONCERNS WITH THE AMOUNT OF TIME THAT HE HAS BEEN WITH US BECAUSE THERE ARE OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE BEEN HERE LONGER. I DO AGREE WHOEVER TOOK ON THIS POSITION WOULD NEED TO HAVE MORE OF A

LEADERSHIP ROLE AND TITLE BECAUSE IT IS A BIG RESPONSIBILITY. I CERTAINLY WOULDN'T WANT THAT RESPONSIBILITY AS FAR AS AM AWARE JIM WHITE IS THE ONLY EMPLOYEE THAT WE HAVE WHOSE TRAINED WITH RICK MCLASKEY TO DO THIS AND HAS HIS WATER PAPERS AND WOULD BE AVAILABLE FOR THIS POSITION. WE HAVE OTHER EMPLOYEES THAT HAVE THEIR WATER PAPERS BUT COULDN'T DO IT WITH THEIR CURRENT JOB CORRECT? THE MAYOR STATED TO BE HONEST WE CAN SAY THAT CHARLES HUBBLE IS THE SUPERINTENDENT OF THE SEWER DEPARTMENT AND HAS EXPERIENCE HE HAS A LICENSE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT AND IS LICENSE TO DO THAT BUT RIGHT NOW WE ARE BUILDING AN EIGHT MILLION DOLLAR SEWER PLANT AND THINK CHARLES IS AGREATEMPLOYEE AND DOES A GOOD JOB. I DON'T KNOW THAT WE CAN TAKE HIM OUT OF THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT HE HAS OUT THERE WHILE BUILDING THE NEW SEWER PLANT TO GIVE HIM THIS ADDITIONAL WORK. THAT IS JUST MY OPINION WILL STAND BY WHATEVER THE COUNCIL WANT'S TO DO. NOTHING AGAINST CHARLES THINK HE IS AGREATEMPLOYEE BUT TO ASK HIM TO TAKE THAT ON IS A COMPLETE CHANGE. FELT LIKE WE WERE GOING IN A DIFFERENT DIRECTION BUT I WILL DO WHATEVER THE COUNCIL WANT'S AGREE THAT JM WHITE IS THE ONE THAT HAS BEEN TRAINED AND WANT TO SAY THAT JIM WHITE IS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE CITY OF WEST FRANKFORT AND HAS NOT SOUGHT THIS POSITION. HAVE ASKED HIM BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY TO TAKE ON THIS RESPONSIBILITY. I FEEL THAT HE IS VERY QUALIFIED HE HAS STEPPED UP AND TOOK THE CLASS AND TEST. HE IS CERTIFIED AND HAS BEEN TRAINING WITH RICK THERE IS MORE TO THIS THAN JUST TAKING SAMPLES. IF WE HAVE A WATER BREAK AND THE WATER PRESSURE GOES DOWN UNDER A CERTAIN POINT THEN WE HAVE TO HAVE ABOL ORDER AND RE-TEST TO DECLARE THAT THE WATERS SAFE. IF SOMEONE GETS SICK DURING THAT PERIOD AND THIS ISN'T DONE RIGHT THERE IS A LIABILITY HERE THAT THIS PERSON HAS TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR COMMISSIONER HARKINS STATED PERSONALLY FEEL THAT IN THE YEARS HAVE KNOWN JIM AND BEEN AROUND HIM WHILE HE HAS BEEN EMPLOYED WITH THE CITY AND WATCHED HIM DO HIS DUTIES AND DONG THEM VERY DILIGENTLY. I BELIEVE HE WOULD BE A GOOD PERSON FOR THIS JOB. I THINK HE WOULD DO US RIGHT. THE MAYOR STATED EDI DON'T THINK THIS IS RIGHT FOR THE EMPLOYEE THAT IS GOING TO BE OVER THE WATER DEPARTMENT IF YOU DON'T WANT HIM TO DO THIS WANT YOU TO SAY THAT BECAUSE WE WANT TO DO WHAT IS RIGHT. WE WANT TO DO WHAT YOU WANT TO

DO AND HELP YOU PUT THE RIGHT PERSON IN THERE ON DECEMBER THE 5TH WE HAVE TO PUT SOMEONE'S NAME ON HERE. COMMISSIONER BLADES STATED YOU CAN PUT HIS NAME ON THERE WITHOUT BEING THE SUPERINTENDENT. DID YOU FORGET HAVE WORKED HERE FOR 36 YEARS YOURE MAKING A MOUNTAIN OUT OF A MOLE HILL HERE. COMMISSIONER CHAMBERS STATED SO YOU DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM WITH JM WHITE YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE TITLE2 COMMISSIONER BLADES STATED THAT AND HE HASN'T EVEN BEEN HERE A YEAR AND OTHER EMPLOYEES HAVE COMMISSIONER CHAMBERS STATED PUTTING THE TITLE ASIDE IS HE THE PERSON YOU WOULD CHOOSE COMMISSIONER BLADES STATED IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO ME. COMMISSIONER CHAMBERS STATED IF IT DOESN'T MAKE A DIFFERENCE TO YOU THEN I SAY WILL SECOND MIKE SIMPSON'S MOTION FOR JM WHITE AS SUPERINTENDENT. COMMISSIONER SIMPSON MADE A MOTION TO APPROVE, SECONDED BY COMMISSIONER CHAMBERS. ROLL CALL VOTE: COMMISSIONER SIMPSON, COMMISSIONER CHAMBERS, COMMISSIONER HARKINS AND MAYOR JORDAN VOTED TO APPROVE COMMISSIONER BLADES VOTED NO. MOTION CARRIED.

APPROVAL OF AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE POSITION AND JOB DESCRIPTION OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS OF THE CITY OF WEST FRANKFORT. THE MAYOR STATED THINK IN VIEW OF THE DISCUSSION THAT WE HAVE HAD CURRENTLY WE SHOULD PROBABLY TABLE THIS WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO S BE OPEN WITH THE COMMUNITY. WHEN BECAME THE MAYOR IN 2010 WE HAD TEN EMPLOYEES THAT WORKED FOR THE WATER, STREET AND SEWER DEPARTMENT. EACH DEPARTMENT HAD THEIR OWN UNION AND CONTRACT AND WE HAD A SITUATION WHERE THE WORKERS AT THE SEWER PLANT ALL HAD THE FLU. THERE WAS NOBODY THAT WAS ABLE TO GO TO WORK. THE UNIONS REFUSED TO GO OUT THERE BECAUSE THEY SAID THEY WEREN’T EMPLOYEES OF THE SEWER DEPARTMENT. AT THAT TIME IT BECAME A SITUATION WHERE | UNDERSTOOD WE NEEDED TO HAVE PUBLIC WORKS. ALL THE EMPLOYEES DO SIMILAR JOBS. F WE HAVE A WATER BREAK THE STREET DEPARTMENT USUALLY DIGS IT OUT IF WE HAVE A SEWER BREAK THE STREET DEPARTMENT DIGS IT OUT AND WILL PUT GRAVEL BACK IN THE WATER PEOPLE WHO FIX WATER BREAKS CAN HELP FX SEWER BREAKS. THESE THREE DEPARTMENTS ARE INTERTWINED IF WE HAVE TEN EMPLOYEES IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS AND WE HAVE A 12 INCH SNOW WE ONLY HAVE

FOUR OR FIVE PEOPLE ON THE STREET DEPARTMENT WITH PUBLIC WORKS WE WILL HAVE FOUR OR FIVE OTHER PEOPLE THAT CAN COME ALONG FROM THE WATER AND SEWER AND HELP. SOMEONE HAS TO BE OVER THIS DEPARTMENT AND ABLE TO DECIDE WE CAN HAVE COOPERATION AMONG THE THREE SUPERINTENDENTS THEY CAN DISCUSS WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE AND WHO NEEDS WHAT DONE TODAY. IF WE HAVE A WATER BREAK OBVIOUSLY THAT WOULD TAKE PRIORITY IN SOME SITUATIONS THERE WILL NEED TO BE SOMEONE THAT WILL BE THE ULTIMATE DECISION MAKER I DON'T FEEL LIKE WE HAVE HAD ENOUGH DISCUSSION ABOUT THAT AT THIS TIME TO MOVE FORWARD ON THIS. WOULD LIKE TO POSTPONE IT TO ANOTHER MEETING. WE HAVE TALKED ABOUT IT WITH THE UNIONS AND HAVE CHANGED THE UNION CONTRACTS TO WHERE THEY NOW STATE THAT THOSE EMPLOYEES HIRED AFTER A SPECIFIC DATE ARE PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES. IF WE NEED SOMEONE IN THE WATER DEPARTMENT TO READ METERS WE CAN MOVE A STREET PERSON OVER TO PICK UP THAT JOB TO READ METERS. IF WE HAVE SOMETHING THAT IS GOING ON AT THE SEWER PLANT AND CHARLES NEEDS HELP WE CAN MOVE A WATER EMPLOYEE OR STREET DEPARTMENT TEMPORARY TO THAT DEPARTMENT TODO THAT THE CONCEPT IS THERE WE JUST NEED TO TALK FUNDAMENTALLY HOW WE ARE GOING TO GO ABOUT THIS TO MAKE SURE EVERYBODY'S RESPONSIBILITIES ARE THOUGHT OF WE DON'T WANT TO WALK ON ANY OF THE COMMISSIONERS RESPONSIBILITIES. THEY ARE OVER THESE DEPARTMENTS SOWE WANT TO MAKE SURE WE GET THEIR INPUT ON THAT IF IT IS OKAY WE CAN POSTPONE THIS FOR ANOTHER MEETING.

AUDIENCE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS.

WHEN WILL THE CHANGES TAKE EFFECT AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THE MAYOR STATED TOMORROW DECEMBER 1, 2016.

COMMISSIONER CHAMBERS STATED THIS IS THE FIRST MEETING WE HAVE HAD SINCE ALL OF OUR CHRISTMAS STUFF DOWNTOWN. JUST WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY THAT CAME AND HELPED. THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE THAT CAME TO WATCH THE PARADE OUR VENDOR SHOW AT THE MALL WAS FANTASTIC AND HAD SUCH A GREAT TURN OUT. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO HAS MADE THIS POSSIBLE.

IS THE TIMING OF ALL THESE POTENTIAL APPOINTMENTS JUST COINCIDENCE THAT THE SUPERINTENDENT AND THE POLICE CHIEF CAME ABOUT OF WAS THERE A DECISION MAKING PROCESS BEHIND THAT THE MAYOR STATED THAT IS A GREAT QUESTION AND WANT TO SAY THAT IT IS SIMPLY COINCIDENTAL THE THING WITH THE EPA IS SOMETHING WE HAVE TO DO EVERY DECEMBER SOWE HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS THE LAST MONTH AND HAVEN'T BEEN ABLE TO COME TO A RESOLUTION UNTIL TODAY. THE SITUATION IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS BEEN AN ONGOING CONVERSATION THAT WE HAVE HAD THE LAST THREE OR FOUR MONTHS ABOUT POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS. WILL SAY THAT THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR CAME ABOUT BECAUSE OF THE DISCUSSION WITH THE SUPERINTENDENTS AND WE THOUGHT WE COULD GET EVERYTHING DONE AT ONCE BUT I DON'T THINK THAT WILL BE POSSIBLE WE WILL BRING IT UP AT A DIFFERENT MEETING WHENEVER WE ARE MORE PREPARED TO TALK ABOUT T.

10. WITH NO FURTHER BUSINESS TO BE DISCUSSED THE MEETING WAS ADJOURNED ON A MOTION BY COMMISSIONER HARKINS AT 11:27 A.M.