City of Highwood Board of Fire and Police Commission met Dec. 18.
Here is the minutes provided by the board:
I. Meeting called to order at 4:05 pm.
II. Roll Call: Chairman Leon, Commissioner Barnwell, Commissioner Bernstein present
Also present:
James Ferolo – Counsel to the Board
Jaime Litjens (City of Highwood)
Scott Coren (City Manager, City of Highwood)
Jolanta Zinevich – Counsel to Complainant Coren
Harold Saafeld – Counsel to Respondent Pieri
Kathy Bono – Court Reporter
III. Motion by Bernstein, seconded by Barnwell to approve the minutes of the November 24, 2020 meeting
Roll call: Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
IV. Public comments
None
V. Coren v. Pieri
Continued hearing proceedings
Board is prepared to vote on charges against Respondent Pieri
A. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of charge of Official Misconduct
Motion by Bernstein, seconded by Barnwell
Roll call: Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of Official Misconduct:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – No
Bernstein – No
Not Guilty
B. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of charge of Theft
Motion by Bernstein, seconded by Barnwell
Roll call: Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of Theft:
Leon – No
Barnwell – No
Bernstein – No
Not Guilty
C. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of charge of False Entries
Fire
Roll call: Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of False Entries:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – No
Bernstein – No
Not Guilty
D. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating City of Highwood Fire Department Work Policy 4.0 which requires a firefighter to work one’s assigned shift unless validly excused
Roll call: Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of violation of Work Policy 4.0
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Guilty
E. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating City of Highwood Fire Department Work Policy 13.0 regarding maintaining accurate records for all compensable hours worked and non-compensable hours accrued
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of violating Work Policy 13.0:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Guilty
F. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating City of Highwood Fire Department Work Policy 15.1 entitled “Accrual of Vacation time for Full-Time Firefighters”
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of violating Work Policy 15.1:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Guilty
G. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating City of Highwood Fire Department Work Policy 15.2 entitled “Vacation Time Accrual”
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of violating Work Policy 15.2:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Guilty
H. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating City of Highwood Fire Department Work Policy 15.4 entitled “Holidays for Firefighters
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of violating Work Policy 15.4:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – No
Bernstein – Aye
Guilty
I. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating City of Highwood Fire Department Work Policy 15.6 entitled “Sick Leave”
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of violating Work Policy 15.6:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Guilty
J. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating Section 1.2.1 of the City of Highwood Fire Department Rules and Regulations which requires the members of the Fire Department to maintain the highest standards of integrity and ethics of violating Section 2.2
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of violating Section 1.2.1 of the Rules and Regulations:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – No
Guilty
K. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating Section 2.2 of the City of Highwood Fire Department Rules and Regulations governing “Shift Commanders”
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of violating Section 2.2 of the Rules and Regulations:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – No
Bernstein – No
Not Guilty
L. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating Rules of Conduct and Ethics for Firefighters Section 3.0, Subsection 3.1.2 of the City of Highwood Fire Department Rules and Regulations which prohibits a firefighter from engaging in unlawful or improper practices
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
On the charge of violating Section 3.0, subsection 3.1.2 of the Rules and Regulations:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – No
Guilty
M. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating Rules of Conduct and Ethics for Firefighters found at Section 3.0, Subsection 3.14 of the City of Highwood Fire Department Rules and Regulations which requires firefighters to avoid personal gain and be faithful and loyal to the organization
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
On the charge of violating Section 3.0, subsection 3.14 of the Rules and Regulations:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – No
Guilty
N. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating the Rules of Conduct and Ethics for Firefighters found at Section 3.0, Subsection 3.1.5 of the City of Highwood Fire Department Rules and Regulations regarding rigid adherence to the Code of Ethics
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of violating Section 3.0, subsection 3.1.5 of the Rules and Regulations:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – No
Guilty
O. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating Rules of Conduct and Ethics for Firefighters found at Section 3.0, subsection 3.3 of the City of Highwood Fire Department Rules and Regulations entitled “Standard of Conduct”
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of violating Section 3.0, subsection 3.3 of the Rules and Regulations:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Guilty
P. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating Rules of Conduct and ethics for Firefighters found at Section 3.0, subsection 3.12 of the City of Highwood Fire Department Rules and Regulations entitled “Performance of Duty”
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of violating Section 3.0, subsection 3.12 of the Rules and Regulations:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – No
Guilty
Q. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating the General Conduct on Duty rules for Firefighters found at Section 4.0, subsection 4.4 of the City of Highwood Fire Department Rules and Regulations entitled “Roll Call”
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of violating Section 4.0, subsection 4.4 of the Rules and Regulations:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Guilty
R. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating the General Conduct on Duty rules for Firefighters found at Section 4.0, subsection 4.5 of the City of Highwood Fire Department Rules and Regulations entitled “Relief”
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
On the charge of violating Section 4.0, subsection 4.5 of the Rules and regulations:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Guilty
S. Motion to find Respondent Guilty of violating the General Conduct on Duty rules for Firefighters found at Section 4.0, subsection 4.7 of the City of Highwood Fire Department Rules and Regulations entitled “Absence from Duty”
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
On the charge of violating Section 4.0, subsection 4.7 of the Rules and Regulations:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Guilty
The Commission requested that, for the disciplinary phase of the hearing, the parties submit briefs to the Commission by December 30 with their positions and arguments regarding the appropriate discipline to be imposed.
The Commission set a date for further proceedings at January 6, 2021 at 6:00 pm.
VI. Motion by Bernstein, seconded by Barnwell to adjourn
Roll call:
Leon – Aye
Barnwell – Aye
Bernstein – Aye
Motion carried unanimously
VII. Meeting adjourned at 4:45 pm
https://www.cityofhighwood.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Minutes/_12182020-794
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