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Bert asks to reexamine reimbursement ordinance

Posted November 05, 2014 10:00 pm

By Pete Spitler The Herald Tribune

CHESTER -- The Chester Police, Fire and Public Safety Committee met Wednesday at Chester City Hall and Chester Fire Chief Marty Bert asked Chester city aldermen Robert Platt and Dan Geisen to reexamine a city ordinance involving reimbursement of firefighters for certification training.

In the Public Safety portion of the city's code list, Ordinance 5-24 states "Upon a recommendation of the fire chief of the Chester Volunteer Fire Department, a member of the Chester Volunteer Fire Department shall be reimbursed for the actual cost of classes and books necessary for him/her to obtain his/her Firefighter II certification.

"Reimbursement is intended to be made one year after obtaining the Firefighter II certification."

Bert asked the city council members to examine changing the ordinance so that reimbursement is made incrementally as the individual progresses in his or her training, instead of after its completion.

"It's all on their own time," said Bert, who added he has three individuals ready to take the Firefighter II class in January. "I just want to look at that and see if there's something we can do to help these guys out because it's a really big expense."

Bert said the class, which is conducted through Southwestern Illinois College's Fire Science program, contains three "modules" - otherwise known as semesters - costing $500 each. Total cost after books and materials are factored in ranges around $1,550.

Platt raised concerns about retention of firefighters if the ordinance is changed.

"We want to make sure they're here for at least a year," Geisen said.

After discussion, Platt and Geisen agreed to conduct further research on the topic - including examining how the Chester Police Department handles training reimbursement.

Chester EMA Coordinator Charlie Bargman II told the committee that yearly preventative maintenance is currently being performed on the city's outdoor warning siren, and the recent resignation of firefighter and assistant EMA coordinator Dave Holder was discussed.

During Monday's meeting of the Chester City Council, Zach Heldebrandt was approved from the auxiliary list to replace Holder as a regular firefighter.

The committee debated possible replacement candidates for Holder's role as assistant EMA coordinator.

"It doesn't take somebody from Public Safety, but I think it helps," Bargman said.

During the police report portion of the meeting, Chester Police Chief Ryan Coffey summarized the recent active shooter training with teachers from area schools and at Memorial Hospital.

Coffey also said Officer Joe Crain will graduate from the Southwestern Illinois Police Academy in Belleville on Friday and as a result, the time has come to purchase a second police vehicle the department budgeted for this fiscal year.

Crain is expected to be added to the department's schedule in January after completing training with a full-time officer.

"I have decided to request a purchase of a 2015 all-wheel drive Ford Interceptor sedan," Coffey said in a written report submitted to the committee. "With this particular purchase, we will need to outfit the vehicle with new equipment for the most part."

The price for the vehicle is $24,285. Installation of vehicle warning equipment, which includes lights and siren, will cost $4,975 after parts and labor are factored in.

In its fiscal year 2015 budget, the department set aside $38,615 for the vehicle - more than enough for purchase and equipment installation.

"Overall, we are holding our own," Coffey wrote in the report. "If you subtract this vehicle purchase project, we are still sitting just under the 50 percent mark halfway through the fiscal year.

"This will be a very tight year, but I still plan to come in under budget."

Also in the report, Coffey wrote that Chester Animal Control Officer Elanna Bradley has indicated an interest in establishing a volunteer program for the purposes of walking dogs contained in the pound and doing some cleaning.

All volunteers will have to be approved by the Chief of Police. No keys or any property will be issued to the volunteers.

"Over the last six months or so, I have received a number of phone calls from citizens asking if they can volunteer for this service," Coffey wrote.

During the meeting, Coffey provided highlights from Public Information Officer (PIO) training he attended on Wednesday.

"It's very insightful," Coffey said. "It promotes transparency and we spent a great deal of time discussing Ferguson."

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