This Special Meeting of the Orland Fire Protection District Board of Fire Commissioners was called to order on February 1, 2006 at
7:07 P.M. by Chairman James Walsh.  Notice of the Meeting was posted as required by law. The meeting was held at the District’s Administrative Building, 9788 W. 151^st Street, Orland Park, Illinois.

CALL TO ORDER

On call of the roll, Commissioners Donahue, Michalek and Walsh answered present.

Others present: Chief Donald Bettenhausen, Deputy Chief Arthur Granat,  Battalion Chief Bryant Krizik, Attorney Carolyn Clifford and Recording Secretary Mary Beth Bowdish.

ROLL CALL

The Minutes of the November 14, 2005 Special Meeting were presented for review and approval. 

Commissioner Michalek moved to approve the Minutes of the Special Meeting of November 14, 2005, as presented.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Donahue and carried unanimously on roll call vote.

The Minutes of the December 12, 2005 Regular Meeting were presented for review and approval. 

Commissioner Donahue moved to approve the Minutes of the Regular Meeting of December 12, 2005, as presented.  Motion seconded by Commissioner Michalek and carried unanimously on roll call vote.

Upon an inquiry from the Recording Secretary, all future Minutes will  include signature lines for the Commissioners, as well as a line for insertion of the date approved. 

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

As requested previously by the Commission, Chief Bettenhausen presented written guidelines on the type of candidates he is looking for to be a Battalion Chief, his expectations and their qualities.  Also presented was the Job Description for Battalion Chief, a summary of the testing firms, a review of the Performance History and a start of a time line for testing.  He is looking to get the lists for Battalion Chief, Lieutenant and Engineer back in place.  This is being negotiated now.  The Union has expressed an interest in this proposal, but nothing is agreed upon yet. 

The Lieutenant’s List expires in June.  The Engineers List will be extended to try and get the tests staggered.  The required time line was reviewed in detail.  A notice is required 90 days in advance of the written test.  The components of the test and reading list must be posted also.  The Battalion Chief’s List expired December 16, 2005. Depending on the negotiations, testing for Battalion Chief could be in April.  It would be a three-year list for Battalion Chief and would expire sometime in 2009.  This is working toward staggering the lists.

Battalion Chief Krizik explained that, due to terms in the current contract regarding Acting Lieutenants, the District will have to hire back on overtime after June 6, 2006 if there is no current Lieutenant’s List.  Testing will have to begin at least three months prior to the expiration of the list.  If there is a lapse, the Union will have to be approached to see if it will make concessions.  This is why the Lieutenant’s list is more important and needs to remain current.  Acting Battalion Chiefs are not dependent on a current list.

Running multiple tests concurrently was discussed.  The Battalion Chief’s study time would be extended so as not to be testing at the same time.  Posting April 1^st for Lieutenant’s testing, the written exam could be July 1^st. If posted in March, the written test could be in June.  Approval from the Union to waive the one year prerequisite to participate in the testing would have to be obtained.  The ascertained merit could be waived for the Battalion Chief’s testing.  The contract negotiations could backlog these processes.

Commissioner Walsh expressed a preference to make the June 6^th deadline on the Lieutenant’s Testing due to the obvious financial obligations to the District.  It would not be impossible to run the testing processes concurrently.  If the Engineer’s List could be extended to Spring of 2007, it would then be before the next Lieutenant’s Exam in 2008.

Attorney Clifford’s time line for Battalion Chief’s testing was reviewed.  Chief Bettenhausen will contact the Board of Trustees for approval to proceed with the Lieutenant’s testing and the Commission will meet again at a Special Meeting on Monday, February 6^th to finalize the timeline for the Lieutenant’s testing. 

Commissioner Walsh moved and Commissioner Michalek seconded to adopt Resolution No. 2006-05 amending the Rules of the Board of Fire Commissioners as follows:  changing Section 6.06 Notice of Promotional Examinations to read,

Written notice of the Time, date and location of every promotional examination shall be posted by he Board on the District’s bulletin board for a minimum of thirty (30) days …

Reading and study materials . . . accessible at each fire station at least ninety (90) days before the written examination is administered ...

Additional changes to the Board of Fire Commissioners rules to be included in the new Resolution were discussed.  On Appendix B, the word ‘provisional’ will be added after FO III for the testing for the position of Battalion Chief and ‘Illinois State Certified’ shall be struck. 

Motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.

CHIEF’S REPORT

RESOLUTION

NO. 2006-05 TO ADOPT CHANGES TO RULES OF BOARD OF FIRE COMMISSIONERS

Commissioner Walsh moved and Commissioner Michalek seconded to add the word ‘provisional’ after FO III on Appendix B under Battalion Chief and remove ‘Illinois State Certified’.  Motion passed unanimously on roll call vote.

The particular test components and time frames necessary to meet requirements were discussed.  A memo to the Board of Trustees will be drafted for Commissioner Walsh’s signature requesting Board action approving the anticipated testing costs.  Tentative dates were discussed for each step of the testing from posting of the reading list to posting of the final eligibility list.  Attorney Clifford will draft the final timeline and provide a draft of the Notice of Testing to be posted for review at the Special Commission meeting.

Testing companies were discussed:  ERGO Metrics, the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association and Merit.  Battalion Chief Krizik has several other testing companies that would be able to perform the written component.  He will research some prices.  

The meeting adjourned at 9:17 P.M., on motion duly made, seconded and unanimously carried on roll call vote.

ADJOURNMENT