DuPage County Sheriff's Merit Commission met Dec. 2.
Here are the minutes provided by the commission:
Members Present: Tony Reyes, Chairman
Frank L. Sommario, Vice Chairman
Carole Vasbinder, Secretary
Others Present: Debbie Krygowski, MC Assistant
Patrick Collins, State's Attorney
Meeting was called to order at 8:31 a.m. in Conference Room 3500A of the Jack T. Kneupfer Administration Building, 421 North County Farm Road, Wheaton, Illinois.
Roll Call
On roll call, Chairman Reyes, Commissioner Sommario and Commissioner Vasbinder were present.
Public Comment - None
Approval of Regular Meeting Minutes from November 4, 2021
Chairman Reyes called for a motion approving the regular meeting minutes from November 4, 2021. Commissioner Sommario moved. Seconded by Commissioner Vasbinder. Roll call. All ayes. Motion carried.
Approval of Executive Session Meeting Minutes from November 4. 2021
Chairman Reyes called for a motion approving the Executive Session meeting minutes from November 4,2021. Commissioner Sommario moved. Seconded by Commissioner Vasbinder Roll call. All ayes. Motion carried.
Old Business
a) Budget Status - Ms. Krygowski presented the current Revenue and Expenditures reports for both the FY2021 and FY2022 budgets.
b) Bills Payable - Ms. Krygowski presented the bills payable list. Chairman Reyes called for a motion to approve payment. Commissioner Sommario moved. Seconded by Commissioner Vasbinder. Roll call. All ayes. Motion carried. Chairman Reyes signed the invoices.
c) Candidate Status - Ms. Krygowski provided a status on how many candidates are in which phase of the certification process.
New Business
a) 2022 Meeting Dates - Ms. Krygowski presented a draft list o12022 meeting dates which fall on the first and third Thursdays of each month. Commissioner Vasbinder questioned the need for 2 meetings per month and suggested adding more interviews to the first meeting instead of meeting twice per month. Discussion on past practice and amending Merit Commission Rules and Regulations to allow for remote participation. Commissioner Vasbinder also asked whether the Commission could conduct interviews with candidates on Zoom. Chairman Reyes asked for instruction from the State's Attorney's Office on how to prepare the Commission and the candidates for a Zoom interview since the Commission's interviews with candidates are confidential.
b) LEB Promotional Exam Score Release - Ms. Krygowski informed that Commissioners that she had received two email requests from deputies for their scores on the September 2021 LEB Sergeant's exam. Discussion on past practice and score release. Chairman Reyes instructed Ms. Krygowski to inform the candidates that they should submit a request for their score in writing so that it can be presented to the Commission at the next meeting. c) Candidate Questions - Ms. Krygowski explained that a lateral candidate who was on injury duty at the time of the certification interview and not certified has contacted her. The candidate was cleared to return to duty and inquired about reapplying. Discussion on Merit Commission Rules and Regulations for lateral transfers. Counsel Collins could not find any language in the Rules and Regulations that specify when a candidate could reapply. The Commissioners agreed that the candidate could reapply at any time. Ms. Krygowski also received a request to delay processing of their application from a candidate on the LEB rank list. This candidate completed the academy with a different agency and wanted more time to decide whether they would stay with the current department or move forward with the Merit Commission process. Chairman Reyes noted that there are exceptions to the rank order for military service, etc., however, that this was not the same situation. Commissioners Vasbinder and Sommario agreed that the candidate would need to withdraw or move forward with the process when called upon. Ms. Krygowski also received a request to rescind a withdrawal from a candidate who was on the LEB rank list. The candidate had taken employment elsewhere and withdrew their application, but was unsuccessful and wished to return to the rank list. Discussion on the situation. Ms. Krygowski noted that the candidate would have already been passed on the rank list. The Commissioners agreed that the candidate would need to reapply with the next entrance exam.
Report from Sheriff's Office
Chief Toerpe currently has 11 retirements and the need for new candidates is great. There is a new compensation package for LEB Lateral hires, which includes an increase in base salary to $70,684 plus a $15,000 sign-on bonus paid in $5,000 increments at the end of each of the first
three years of service, 112 paid holiday hours which total $3,806, and a vehicle to take home. Chief Toerpe feels that the Commission will see a marked increase in LEB Lateral applicants once this information is published. Counsel Collins reviewed the job opportunity language and Ms. Krygowski will post on the Blue Line as soon as possible. Chief Toerpe also noted that the in-person evaluations for the LEB Promotional Exams went very well and were received positively by both the candidates and the union.
Adjournment into Executive Session
Chairman Reyes called for a motion to convene into Executive Session pursuant to Section 5 ILCS 120/2(c)(1) for the appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of a specific employee, One-on-one interviews. Commissioner Sommario moved. Seconded by Commissioner Vasbinder. Roll call. All Ayes. Motion carried.
Patrick Collins and Chief Toerpe left the room.
The Commission convened into Executive Session at 9:10 a.m
The Commission convened back into Regular session at 9:18 a.m.
Matters to be referred from Executive Session:
a) Action on certification of candidates who were subject to one-on-one interviews on December 2,2021. Chairman Reyes called for a motion to certify Lateral Transfer to Corrections candidate 2053. Commissioner Sommario moved. Seconded by Commissioner Vasbinder. Roll call. All ayes. Motion carried.
Discussion on availability of Commissioners for the December 16,2021 meeting. Commissioner Vasbinder would not be available and Commissioner Sommario was uncertain as to whether he would be in attendance. Chairman Reyes instructed Ms. Krygowski to cancel the December 16,2021meeting.
Chairman Reyes also instructed Ms. Krygowski to set up a breakfast with the Sheriff and Chiefs in late December or early January,
Adjournment
Chairman Reyes called for a motion to adjourn. Commissioner Sommario moved. Seconded by Commissioner Vasbinder. Roll call. All Ayes. Motion carried.
Meeting adjourned at 9:20 a.m.
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