By Howard Packowitz
BLOOMINGTON – The authority to hire Bloomington police officers and firefighters would shift from a volunteer commission to the city manager, under a proposal before the city council Tuesday night.
City Manager Tim Gleason was a 21 year veteran of the Pekin Police Department, rising to the rank of Lieutenant before becoming a city administrator in Decatur, and now in Bloomington.
The staff’s proposal to hand over hiring authority to Gleason comes as he runs a national search to replace retiring Police Chief Clay Wheeler, whose last day on the job is June 21.
According to the staff’s report, a key component to successful recruitment of police and firefighters is to speed up the hiring process, which staffers contend is hampered by waiting for action by the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.
“Allowing for this restructure of authority will allow city staff to build the eligibility lists without the constraint of coordinating the schedules of volunteer members to the Commission and waiting on formal meetings,” the staff report said.
The report said city staff to build eligibility lists without having to coordinate schedules of volunteer commission members and wait for formal commission meetings.
Commissioners would continue to hold hearings on disciplinary matters, and make decisions on promotions for police and firefighters.
Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]
