Police and Fire Commission

City of West Allis Meeting Minutes Police and Fire Commission Thursday, July 21, 2022 6:00 PM West Allis Police Department 11301 W. Lincoln Ave. REGULAR MEETING AND CLOSED SESSION A. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Manthei called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm B. ROLL CALL Present: Commissioners Amy Heron, Mark Manthei, Lev Baldwin, Danielle Romain and Kurt Kopplin Also Present: Fire Chief Mason Pooler, Assistant Chief Jay Scharfenberg, Firefighter Quinn Dombrowski - Fire Department; Police Chief Pat Mitchell, Deputy Chief Chris Marks, Deputy Chief Robert Fletcher - Police Department; City Administrator Rebecca Grill - City of West Allis; Bridget Morawetz, Recording Secretary C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of the June 16, 2022 Regular and Closed Session Meeting Minutes A motion was made by Commissioner Kopplin and seconded by Commissioner Romain to approve the minutes as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 4, Commissioners Manthei, Baldwin, Romain and Kopplin Abstained due to absence: Commissioner Heron City of West Allis Page 1 Printed on 8/19/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes July 21, 2022 D. FIRE DEPARTMENT 1. Operations Division Report AC Scharfenberg discussed a structure fire that occurred at 103rd and Greenfield Avenue on July 19th as well as the life-saving measures taken by the firefighters and police on scene to rescue a young child that was trapped in one of the bedrooms. Chief Scharfenberg stated that an exact cause could not be determined due to the extensive damage, but most likely electrical as multiple electrical devices were found to be plugged into extension cords. Chief Scharfenberg than reviewed the benchmarks included in his report 2. EMS Bureau Report Chief Scharfenberg spoke to one of the highlighted calls in DC Novak’s report that involved a high-speed crash resulting in the death of a young child. He stated that the same responders on this shift were also on scene for the mobile home fire incident. Chief Scharfenberg was pleased to share with the Commissioners that the department was the sole recipient of the Heart Safe Community Award presented by the International Association of Fire Chief’s. Chief Scharfenberg reviewed the benchmarks included in Chief Novak’s report. 3. EMS Revenue Report Chief Scharfenberg presented these reports and there were no further questions or comments. 4. Training Bureau Report Chief Scharfenberg stated that the Joint Fire Training Academy was completed in early June and then completed the month with various search and rescue training exercises. He stated that personnel also participated in the annual sky glider training exercise in case of a potential need for emergency evacuation during the 2022 State Fair event. 5. QPR Performance Report - June Chief Pooler presented the QPR report for June and there were questions or comments. 6. QPR Quarterly Report - April-June 2022 Chief Pooler presented the QPR quarterly report and there were questions or comments. City of West Allis Page 2 Printed on 8/19/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes July 21, 2022 7. Community Risk Reduction/Support Services Division Report Chief Pooler stated that the fire department was on-hand at the 2022 West Allis A-La Carte event and provided approximately 82 residents with fire safety information and CPR education. 8. Request for approval: Contract agreement between WAFD and MCW Chief Pooler requested approval for this agreement that will allow access to MCW’s known opioid use disorder patients. He stated that this is the same one approved last year, but the financial support provided to WAFD was increased slightly. A motion was made by Commissioner Baldwin and seconded by Commissioner Romain to approve the agreement as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 5, Commissioners Heron, Manthei, Baldwin, Romain and Kopplin Nay: 0 9. Request for approval: Staff vehicle purchase Chief Pooler requested approval to move forward with the purchase of 2023 electric Ford F-150. He stated that if approved, the vehicle would be funded thru 2022 carry-over money as well as a grant that AC Schaak has been awarded. He stated that this purchase would be thru Ewald Automotive as they participate in the State pricing program and has been reviewed and discussed with the city’s purchasing department as well. Chief Pooler noted that the cost to install the required charging station will be funded thru the awarded grant. Commissioner Manthei asked about the replacement cost of the battery as well as any type of warranty to cover a replacement battery. Chief Pooler stated that he would need to follow-up with Chief Schaak regarding these questions and would provide feedback at the next meeting. Additional discussion ensued between the Commissioners and Chief Pooler regarding this purchase request. A motion was made by Commissioner Baldwin and seconded by Commissioner Heron to approve the vehicle purchase as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 5, Commissioners Heron, Manthei, Kopplin, Baldwin and Romain Nay: 0 10. Request for approval: Ambulance purchase Chief Pooler requested approval to purchase three (3) Braun Ambulances. He stated that the severe backlog of ambulance chassis production dictates City of West Allis Page 3 Printed on 8/19/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes July 21, 2022 this order as they are not expected to be delivered until 2024. Chief Pooler stated that funding will be provided by the city’s carry-over money allocation and has been approved by Common Council to spend. A motion was made by Commissioner Kopplin and seconded by Commissioner Romain to approve the vehicle purchase as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 5, Commissioners Heron, Manthei, Kopplin, Baldwin and Romain Nay: 0 11. Fire Prevention Bureau Report Chief Pooler did not speak to anything included in this report and it was placed on file. 12. Mobile Integrated Healthcare (MIH) Bureau Report Chief Pooler stated that the MIH team continues to work with and identify those patients falling into HUG (high utilizer group) and noted that June was back to a reasonable number. 13. Fire Department Financial Report Chief Pooler stated that to date, financial spending is on-track, however, he is expecting that overtime costs will increase due to the demand of State Fair service and again in December for the end of year compensatory payouts. 14. Master Plan Performance Snapshot Chief Pooler did not speak to anything contained in this report. 15. Request for approval: 2023 Fire Department Budget Requests Chief Pooler stated that he is requesting approval for the following increases to a number of 2023 department line budget items to include: Ø $2400 increase in the mobile devices account; Ø $10,000 increase in the fuel account; Ø $500.00 increase in the business meeting/food account; Ø $300.00 increase in the travel account; Ø $2600 increase in the software/radio subscription account; Ø And a 1-year increase of $15,000 in the Professional Services/Consultants account in anticipation of the upcoming reaccreditation site visit. Chief Pooler than reviewed and discussed his 2023 capital budget requests to be submitted to Common Council for their review and approval consideration. City of West Allis Page 4 Printed on 8/19/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes July 21, 2022 A motion was made by Commissioner Baldwin and seconded by Commissioner Romain to approve Chief Pooler’s proposed 2023 department budget and capital requests as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 5, Commissioners Heron, Manthei, Baldwin, Romain and Kopplin Nay: 0 16. Communication: Voluntary demotion of MIH Lieutenant Chief Pooler stated that Mallory Gromowski will return to the rank of firefighter effective on July 8, 2022. City of West Allis Page 5 Printed on 8/19/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes July 21, 2022 E. POLICE DEPARTMENT 17. Police Department Financial Report Chief Mitchell stated that comp payouts at the end of the year will effect the overtime budget line, but in general, the department’s financial spending is appropriately in-line. 18. Monthly Performance Report Chief Mitchell stated that the FLOCK Safety contract that the department entered into in early 2022 has proven to be well worth the investment. He stated that in June there were 76 calls related to FLOCK captures which resulted in 9 arrests and 24 citations. Chief Mitchell also reviewed additional initiatives contained within this report. 19. Patrol Activity Report Chief Mitchell reiterated the great work by both the fire and police department personnel on-scene at the mobile home fire on June 19th. He also added that officers and dispatchers involved were presented with a commendation at a recent Common Council meeting. He also briefly discussed the motor vehicle crash incident that resulted in the death of a young child. He stated that the person responsible was arrested on-scene and has been charged with a number of serious violations to include 1st degree reckless homicide. 20. Communications Activity Report Chief Mitchell stated that with Common Council recently approved a payrate increase for the dispatchers that is competitive with surrounding dispatch centers and anticipates this increase to help with the recruiting and retention of these employees. Chief Mitchell stated that the new rate starts at $25 an hour, perimeter. 21. Community Services Bureau Report Chief Mitchell stated that the department has been notified by both citizens and elected officials regarding graffiti around the city. He stated that the department has noticed an uptick regarding this issue in recent months and neighborhood specialists Bykowski and Mason have handled the removal on a timely basis. 22. Criminal Investigations Unit Activity Report Chief Mitchell spoke to an incident that occurred at Nathan Hale High School that involved a past student entering the building with a holstered gun and wearing a gold badge. Chief Mitchell stated that this person was arrested at his home and charged accordingly. City of West Allis Page 6 Printed on 8/19/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes July 21, 2022 23. Tavern Violation Report Chief Mitchell did not speak to anything contained in this report. 24. Training Report Chief Mitchell did not speak to anything contained in this report. City of West Allis Page 7 Printed on 8/19/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes July 21, 2022 F. POLICE AND FIRE COMMISSION 25. PFC Financial Report The Commissioners had no questions or comments regarding their financial spending to date. 26. Request for approval: PFC 2023 Budget The Commissioners were presented with their 2023 Budget Recommendations and on a motion made and seconded, approved their budget as presented. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 5, Commissioners Heron, Manthei, Romain, Baldwin and Kopplin Nay: 0 27. Discussion: PFC Resolution to the State Senate regarding land locked municipalities CAO Grill presented to the Commissioners a resolution for their review and approval urging State of Wisconsin lawmakers to create a sustainable funding structure for municipalities. This resolution is relative to the constraints of levying property taxes to finance municipal operations. CAO Grill stated that Common Council was presented with and passed the resolution as well. CAO Grill stated that arrangements for a press conference is underway sometime before January 2023 and she has requested that PFC members be in attendance if possible. Discussion ensued between CAO Grill, the Commissioners and Chief’s regarding the resolution and hopeful outcome of its presentation to the lawmakers. Commissioner Heron thanked CAO Grill for working with the attorney’s office to put this resolution together. On a motion made by Commissioner Romain and seconded by Commissioner Heron, the Commissioners agreed to move forward with the resolution as presented to them. The motion carried by the following votes: Aye: 5, Commissioners Heron, Manthei, Baldwin, Romain and Kopplin Nay: 0 28. Citizen Participation: IAFF, Local No. 342 President, Lt. Jesse Schwark This item was tabled. City of West Allis Page 8 Printed on 8/19/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes July 21, 2022 29. Closed Session: Modification of discipline of a patrol officer 30. Closed Session: Fire Chief performance evaluation for the previous year and goal setting for the upcoming year. G. CLOSED SESSION PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Board of Police and Fire Commissioners of the City of West Allis will, upon conclusion of open session, consider and vote on a motion to convene in closed session at said time and place to review the modification of discipline regarding a West Allis Police Officer and to conduct the Fire Chief’s performance evaluation for the previous year and goal setting for the upcoming year and to take such further action as may be necessary and appropriate in these matters. A closed session for the above purposes is authorized pursuant to the provisions of Section 19.85(1)(b)(f) and (c) of the Wis. Stats., to consider dismissal, demotion, licensing or discipline of any public employee or person licensed by a board or commission or the investigation of charges against such person, to consider financial, medical, social or personal histories or disciplinary data of specific persons, preliminary consideration of specific personnel problems or the investigations of charges against specific persons except where par.(b) applies which, if discussed in public, would be likely to have a substantial adverse effect upon the reputation of any person referred to in such histories or data, or involved in such problems or investigations and to consider employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of any public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility. Immediately upon completion of the closed session, the Board of Police and Fire Commission will reconvene in open session at said time and place to consider any other matters on the agenda. On a motion made and seconded, the meeting convened into closed session at 7:30 pm Closed session items discussed On a motion made and seconded, the meeting reconvened into open session at 8:14 pm H. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, on a motion made and seconded, the meeting adjourned at 8:15 pm. City of West Allis Page 9 Printed on 8/19/2022 Police and Fire Commission Meeting Minutes July 21, 2022 All meetings of the {bdName} are public meetings. In order for the general public to make comments at the committee meetings, the individual(s) must be scheduled (as an appearance) with the chair of the committee or the appropriate staff contact; otherwise, the meeting of the committee is a working session for the committee itself, and discussion by those in attendance is limited to committee members, the mayor, other alderpersons, staff and others that may be a party to the matter being discussed. NON-DISCRIMINATION STATEMENT The City of West Allis does not discriminate against individuals on the basis of race, color, religion, age, marital or veterans' status, sex, national origin, disability or any other legally protected status in the admission or access to, or treatment or employment in, its services, programs or activities. AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT NOTICE Upon reasonable notice the City will furnish appropriate auxiliary aids and services when necessary to afford individuals with disabilities an equal opportunity to participate in and to enjoy the benefits of a service, program or activity provided by the City. LIMITED ENGLISH PROFICIENCY STATEMENT It is the policy of the City of West Allis to provide language access services to populations of persons with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) who are eligible to be served or likely to be directly affected by our programs. Such services will be focused on providing meaningful access to our programs, services and/or benefits. City of West Allis Page 10 Printed on 8/19/2022