East Central Reporter

CITY OF OLNEY 

BOARD OF FIRE & POLICE COMMISSIONERS 

SEPTEMBER 21, 2023 

AGENDA #1 “CALL TO ORDER” The special meeting of the Board of Fire & Police Commissioners was called to order at 3:30 p.m. by Julie Hearring in the Council Chambers at the Olney City Hall.

AGENDA #2 “ROLL CALL” The following members were present: Brandt Patterson, Larry Knowlton, and Julie Hearring. Also present was Secretary Kelsie Sterchi

AGENDA #3 “APPROVE MINUTES FROM JUNE 21, 2023, & AUGUST 22, 2023” Mr. Patterson moved to approve minutes from June 21, 2023, and August 22, 2023, seconded by Mr. Knowlton. A unanimous voice vote was received. The motion carried.

AGENDA #4 “CLOSED SESSION: APPOINTMENT OR EMPLOYMENT OF SPECIFIC EMPLOYEES” Mr. Patterson moved to enter into closed session to discuss the appointment or employment of specific employees, seconded by Mr. Knowlton. A unanimous voice vote was received. The motion carried and all in attendance entered into closed session at 3:31 p.m.

AGENDA #5 “DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION: HIRE OF PATROL OFFICER” Mr. Knowlton moved to return to open session, seconded by Mr. Patterson. A unanimous voice vote was received. The motion carried. Open session resumed at 3:43 p.m.

Mr. Knowlton moved to offer a position of Patrol Officer to lateral transfer applicant Sean Sager, seconded by Mr. Patterson. A unanimous voice vote was received. The motion carried.

AGENDA #6 “DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE RESOLUTION: ELECTRONIC ATTENDANCE FOR MEETINGS” At the June 21, 2023, meeting, the Board discussed the possibility of having an electronic attendance policy. Following that meeting, Mrs. Sterchi e-mailed the presented documents to the Board members for them to consider before this meeting.

A proposed resolution was distributed that outlined the requirements for this Board to attend electronically.

Mr. Knowlton’s personal preference was not to utilize Zoom (or similar) meetings. Mrs. Sterchi indicated that attendance by cell phone call, without video, would be acceptable.

Mrs. Hearring asked if any cell phone could be used. Mrs. Sterchi confirmed.

Mr. Patterson moved to approve Resolution No. BFPC-2023-R-03, seconded by Mr. Knowlton. A unanimous voice vote was received. The motion carried.

AGENDA #7 “DISCUSSION/POSSIBLE ACTION: UPDATES TO THE BOARD OF FIRE & POLICE COMMISSIONERS’ RULES & REGULATIONS” Since last Fall, Mrs. Sterchi had been working on updates to the Board of Fire & Police Commissioners’ Rules & Regulations. With the exception of adding the provision for lateral transfers, the Rules & Regulations had not been updated since creation in 1985. Mrs. Sterchi had e-mailed the Board members a draft of the updates before the meeting, and had a hard copy version was available for review.

Overall, the Board was in full agreement to the proposed updates but did have concerns with a proposed change in Chapter II regarding application of non-citizens. Mrs. Sterchi indicated that HB3751 changed the law to where non-citizens may now apply, however the Board would not be required to hire a non-citizen. If a non-citizen applicant’s scores were not high enough and/or the applicant could not have a background check conducted with the same type of detail as a citizen applicant, extending an offer of employment would not be mandatory.

The Board understood that they needed to comply with State law and the other details presented.

The Board appreciated Mrs. Sterchi’s work on the revisions.

Mr. Knowlton moved to accept the updates to the Board of Fire & Police Commissioners’ Rules & Regulations, as presented, seconded by Mr. Patterson. A unanimous voice vote was received. The motion carried.

Mrs. Sterchi then told the Board that State statute would require her to publish notice of the changes along with information on where a copy of the changes could be obtained. The updates could not go into effect until at least 10 days after publication of the notice.

AGENDA #8 “PUBLIC COMMENTS & PRESENTATIONS” No one from the public was present.

AGENDA #9 “ADJOURN” Mr. Knowlton moved to adjourn, seconded by Mr. Patterson. A unanimous voice vote was received. The meeting adjourned at 3:50 p.m.

https://cms2.revize.com/revize/olneynew/BFPC_Minutes_Sep%2021,%202023.pdf