Everest Metro Police Joint Finance Committee

Meeting Minutes of Joint Meeting of the Everest Metropolitan Police Department Joint Finance Committee and the Everest Metro Municipal Court Finance Committee, dated 12/22/2020 Present: Mark Maloney – Village President; Village of Weston Denny Richmond – Alderman; City of Schofield Kari Carroll – Alderman; City of Schofield Kregg Hoehn – Mayor; City of Schofield Milt Olson – Chairman; Town of Weston Yee Lee Xiong – Trustee; Village of Weston Clay Schulz- EMPD Police Chief Becca Szews– EMPD Administrative Assistant John Rusinek- Sergeant Absent: Nate Fiene – Trustee; Village of Weston I. CALL TO ORDER A. Vice President Maloney opened the meeting at 1500 hrs. Roll call. B. Approval of minutes of meeting held October 20, 2020 EMPD and EMMC Joint Finance Committee meeting. *M/S/P Carroll / Hoehn III. NEW BUSINESS – EMPD A. Chief Schulz discussed the possible approval to fill two vacancies created by the retirement of Officer Brenda Pellowski and Captain Shane Heilmann. Officer Brenda Pellowski will be retiring in early 2021 and Captian Shane Heilmann accepted another position with Northcentral Technical College as of 1/4/20. A motion was made to approve filling two vacancies. *M/S/P Richmond / Olson B. Chief Schulz discussed the possible approval to pay out Captain Shane Heilmann’s remaining sick leave bank due to his retirement. Shane has 21 years of service but at not attained the age of 50. As a reference, the union contract allows a payout with 20 years of service and reaching the age of 50. Salaried positions do not have to follow the contract. The total for Shane’s remaining sick leave bank would be $27,765.00. Maloney asked if this has been done in the past and it was discussed that it is done on a case-by-case basis. A motion was made to approve the payout of Captain Shane Heilmann’s remaining sick leave bank of $27,765.00, based off of the recommendation made by Chief Schulz. *M/S/P Hoehn / Richmond C. Chief Schulz discussed the possible approval to hire retired Sergeant Terry Peterson back part-time to conduct background checks on new hire candidates and set wage if approved. There are currently 3 open vacancies that are in the hiring process and another vacancy that is expected to occur early in 2021. EMPD has not started the background investigations for 3 candidates and we are currently behind. Terry has conducted background checks in past while working at EMPD. This position would be part-time, as a citizen, no benefits and only for background investigations. Chief Schulz asked for this position to pay at $25.00 - $30.00 an hour. Maloney recommended the hourly rate be lowered to $20.00 - $25.00 an hour, due to the no-risk ease of the position. A motion was made to approve the hiring of Terry Peterson as a part-time civilian to conduct background checks at $25.00 an hour. *M/S/P Richmond / Olson D. Chief Schulz discussed the possible approval to set captain wages for 2021. This increase would be on top of the already approved 2% increase that will be occurring on 01/01/2021. There was discussion that although Sergeants have a lower wage than that of  the Captains position, the over-time, holiday pay and shift differential pay is causing Sergeants to have higher wages than the Captains. A motion was made to approve the additional $1,000 increase for both the Captain wages as of 01/01/2021 and to move Captain Nick Aldrich’s wage to what Captain Heilmann was making and start soon-to-be Captain Rusinek at the wage Captain Aldrich was making. *M/S/P Olson / Xiong IV. CHIEF’S REPORT – A. Department updates – building is coming along great, to which the committee will get a grand tour once it’s completed. The shelving for the evidence room has been delivered and is being built. V. COMMITTEE MEMBER COMMENTS: A. VI. DATE FOR NEXT MEETING: TBD VII. ADJOURN: Meeting was adjourned 15:27 hrs. *M/S/P Richmond / Xiong