City of Ottawa Board of Fire and Police Commissioners met June 8

By Kristine Gonzales-Abella

Sep 6, 2022

City of Ottawa Board of Fire and Police Commissioners met June 8.

Here are the minutes provided by the board:

Present:

Ken Brown

Steve Malinsky

Tim McTaggart

Chief Brian Bressner

Chief Brent Roalson

Kim Czyz

Ken Brown called the meeting to order at 11:06 a.m.

Public Comment

None.

Minutes

Moved by Steve Malinsky second by Tim McTaggart, to approve the minutes of the May 11, 2022 meeting as written. All ayes. Motion passed.

Firefighter Testing

IO Solutions has advised the Board that 18 applications have been received for the June 25, 2022 Firefighter entry level exam. Note that all 18 applicants may not submit all required documentation to take the exam. Below are important dates as provided by IO Solutions.

Fire Entry Level Testing Timeline

Monday, June 6, 2022

“Grace period” emails sent to those with minor issues

Monday, June 13, 2022

“Grace period” deadline at 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Eligibility emails sent to all applicants regarding participation in orientation and written exam

Thursday, June 16, 2022

IOS to ship exam materials to client

Saturday, June 25, 2022

Written Exam administered by client. Answer sheets to be shipped back to IOS for scoring.

Two business days after receipt of answer sheets

Written exam results forwarded to point of contact, along with Initial Eligibility list via email

July 9, 2022

Oral Interview

Police Entry Level Testing

Police entry level applications are being accepted through IO Solutions. Below are important dates as provided by IO Solutions.

CITY OF OTTAWA KENNETH D. BROWN, CHAIRMAN BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSIONERS STEVEN MALINSKY, SECRETARY TIM MCTAGGART, COMMISSIONER

Police Entry Level Testing Timeline

Friday, May 27, 2022

Application goes live online at iosolutions.com – pending final approval on application packet

Thursday, June 23, 2022

Application deadline at 4:00 p.m.

Tuesday, June 28, 2022

“Grace period” emails sent to those with minor issues

Tuesday, July 5, 2022

“Grace period” deadline at 4:00 p.m.

Wednesday, July 6, 2022

Eligibility emails sent to all applicants regarding participation in orientation and written exam

Thursday, July 7, 2022

IOS to ship exam materials to client

Thursday, July 14, 2022, @ TBD

Written Exam administered by client. Answer sheets to be shipped back to IOS for scoring.

Two business days after receipt of answer sheets

Written exam results forwarded to point of contact, along with Initial Eligibility list via email

TBD by client

Pass and fail emails to all candidates who tested (pending approval from department

IOS Recruitment will supply profiles ASAP process is complete

Electronic copies of candidate profiles sent to department for all passing candidates

Police Lateral Transfers

The Board advertised for police lateral transfers from May 17 to June 1, 2022; no applications were received.

Chief Roalson requested that the Board again advertise for police lateral transfers, as the city is number 109 on a waitlist for the training academy in September for entry level officers.

The Board will advertise again for police lateral transfers, with applications due July 25, 2022; oral interviews will be following the police entry level oral interviews on August 1, 2022.

Kim will prepare the necessary documents and place the advertising.

Fire Promotions

The Board received a request from Commissioner Less to promote a Fire Lieutenant to the rank of Captain, and a Firefighter to the rank of Lieutenant due to the retirement of Fire Captain Wayne Christensen.

Moved by Steve Malinsky, seconded by Ken Brown to promote Lieutenant Michael Mills to the rank of Captain effective June 9, 2022. All ayes. Motion passed.

Moved by Ken Brown, second by Steve Malinsky to promote Firefighter Ryan Tieman to the permanent rank of Lieutenant effective June 9, 2022. All ayes. Motion passed.

Hiring Age - Police

Discussion regarding age requirements to submit an application for police patrolman. Statute requires that a candidate must be 21 years of age to obtain firearm certification.

CITY OF OTTAWA KENNETH D. BROWN, CHAIRMAN BOARD OF FIRE AND POLICE COMMISSIONERS STEVEN MALINSKY, SECRETARY TIM MCTAGGART, COMMISSIONER

Section 6 of the current Rules and Regulations states:

“SECTION 6 - AGE REQUIREMENTS

All applicants for a position in either the fire or police department shall be at least 21 years of age and under 35 years of age on the final date for submission of applications to the Board. . . .”

Pursuant to Illinois Statute:

“(65 ILCS 5/10-2.1-6) (from Ch. 24, par. 10-2.1-6)

(e) Applicants who are 20 years of age and who have successfully completed 2 years of law enforcement studies at an accredited college or university may be considered for appointment to active duty with the police department. An applicant described in this subsection (e) who is appointed to active duty shall not have power of arrest, nor shall the applicant be permitted to carry firearms, until he or she reaches 21 years of age.”

The Board will review this issue and consider amending the rules to reflect the language in the statute.

Hiring Age – Fire

Mayor Aussem has contacted State Representative Lance Yednock regarding the statutory age requirement to be a firefighter being 21 years of age. In an effort to recruit candidates out of high school, there seems to be support at the State level to reduce the age to 18. Representative Yednock will pursue getting the appropriate legislation to a vote.

New Business

Chief Roalson advised that Board the police patrol officer Andrea Harden passed her probation period as of June 7, 2022.

Old Business

None

Upcoming Testing/Oral Interviews

June 9, 2022

Police Lateral Oral Interviews

No applications received

June 25, 2022

Firefighter entry written exam

9:00 a.m.

July 9, 2022