Village of Wauconda Village Services Committee met Oct. 1.
Here is the minutes provided by the committee:
1. Call to Order
Chair Adam Schlick called the Village Services Committee Meeting to order at 5:30 P.M.
Committee Attendance: Present Absent
Trustee Adam Schlick, Chair X
Trustee Rich Morino, Deputy Chair X
Trustee Jeff Sode X
Chas Buschick X
Matt Brown X
Also in Attendance:
Trustee Tim Howe, Trustee Tom Shaw, Mayor Lincoln Knight, Village Administrator Kevin Timony, Chief of Police Dave Wermes
2. Approval of Minutes
The minutes from the August 5, 2019 meeting were approved.
3. New Business:
a. Discussion - Police Department Staffing Proposal
Chief of Police Dave Wermes began the discussion by providing the Committee with a review of previous police department goals, which included dispatch consolidation and CALEA accreditation. Chief Wermes continued by reviewing the staffing proposal, which included hiring two part-time support service clerks and modifying the current administrative assistant position to an administrative supervisor. He stated that the proposal is intended to provide the police department with extra assistance in completing the various administrative functions of the department. He continued by stating that it is typical in other police departments to have either a sworn administrative commander or sworn administrative sergeant position to handle the administrative functions of the department. He added that previously many of these functions were handled by one of the two deputy chief positions and through front window coverage by dispatch personnel. Chief Wermes stated that this proposal will avoid the Village from incurring any additional expenses for retirement and health insurance, as the proposed new positions are part-time and under the IMRF and Affordable Care Act thresholds. He added that this proposed staffing plan would also avoid these administrative tasks being managed by a sworn sergeant or commander, which would save police pension and union contract costs.
Chair Schlick asked if the CALEA accreditation is a separate conversation from the staffing proposal and how these two items correlate. Chief Wermes stated that the proposed administrative supervisor would coordinate the CALEA activities if this were something the Village wished to pursue. Trustee Sode asked what the annual maintenance and activities for accreditation includes. Chief Wermes stated that there are activities that need to be performed every year by the department to keep the accreditation current and provided the Committee with an overview of the annual accreditation process. Chair Schlick asked what the benefits are to the Village for accreditation. Chief Wermes stated that CALEA accreditation would provide a comprehensive review of the police department’s policies and procedures and help ensure that the department was operating with the most current best practices across the country. He continued that CALEA assists in risk management assessment and would support the Village in defending liability claims and reducing overall exposure. Chair Schlick asked about the fees for accreditation. Trustee Howe asked if there are any grant funds available to help cover the cost of accreditation. Chief Wermes reviewed the annual and upfront costs associated with CALEA accreditation, including the net financial impact to the Village. He also stated that grant funds are available to assist with offsetting some of the cost of accreditation. After further discussion, Chair Schlick asked that more information on CALEA be gathered and presented to the Committee at a future meeting for further consideration.
The Committee continued discussion on the proposed staffing plan. Member Buschick asked if either of the police department collective bargaining units had an issue with the proposed civilian position. Chief Wermes stated that the preference by the union for this position would be a sworn sergeant and that the proposed option would achieve the same outcome but at a much reduced cost to the Village. Member Buschick asked if filling the second deputy chief position had been considered. Chief Wermes commented that it had, but that the proposed option achieves the same outcome for a reduced cost. Trustee Howe asked if the proposed administrative supervisor position could be unionized. Administrator Timony commented that it is unlikely this proposed position could be brought into the union in light of the salary versus hourly compensation along with its supervisor responsibilities.
The Committee discussed the possible addition of the two part-time support services clerks. Administrator Timony explained that prior to the dispatch consolidation the front window at the police department was staffed 24/7 by dispatch personnel. He continued that, like at other Village facilities that are public facing, when there is a front counter the Village needs personnel to staff the counter. The Committee discussed the hours of operation at the police department versus those of police departments in other communities. The Committee also discussed the recent dispatching cost savings realized over the past several years as a result of front window staff being able to facilitate dispatch calls versus sending them directly to Lake Zurich and incurring a larger fee. The Committee discussed the recruitment of the part-time support services clerk positions and that there may possibly be some older or former police explorers that would apply.
Trustee Howe commented that he is not opposed to the staffing proposal. Trustee Sode asked if the part-time positions would stay part-time down the road. Chief Wermes replied that the positions would remain part-time. Trustee Shaw commented that he is ok with the proposal and believes it should help with customer service. Trustee Howe asked if the proposal could be afforded in the current fiscal year budget. Administrator Timony replied that since the Village is halfway through the fiscal year that the Village would not incur the full annual cost of the salary increase and new part-time positions. He added that this would likely put personnel lines over budget, but would still fall within the appropriation. Chair Schlick stated that he is ok with the proposal as presented and asked if any Village Board action was required. Administrator Timony stated that no Village Board action is needed and advised that staff would begin the implementation process over the course of the next few months.
b. Other Business
Administrator Timony provided the Committee with a progress update for the Village Hall renovation options project.
4. Public Comment
There was no public comment. 5. Adjournment.
The meeting was adjourned at 6:15 P.M.
https://wauconda-il.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_10012019-603
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