West Central Reporter

City of Macomb Committee of the Whole met Oct. 30.

Here are the minutes provided by the committee:

The Committee of the Whole, of the Macomb City Council, met in the City’s Council Chambers on Monday, October 30, 2023 at 5:15 p.m. located in City Hall at 232 East Jackson Street, Macomb, IL.

Mayor Inman called the meeting to order and roll call was taken, Deputy Clerk Jennifer Cerven called the roll and the following were present: Aldermen Justin Schuch, John Vigezzi, Byron Shabazz, Dave Dorsett, Ashley Katz, Don Wynn, and Dennis Moon.

In addition to the Mayor, Deputy City Clerk, and Aldermen, City Administrator Scott Coker, City Attorney Lisa Scalf, Fire Chief Dan Meyer, Police Chief Jeff Hamer, CDC John Bannon, and Business Director Melissa Worley were present.

Public Comment: None

The first item on the agenda for discussion was Records Management Software for Macomb Fire Department. A memorandum from Chief Meyer was provided. This item was recommended by General Government Committee.

Chief Meyer stated The Macomb Fire Department is requesting final approval for the First Due Records Management Software in the amount of $12,717.39 annually, plus a $1358.18 one-time implementation fee for a total of $14,075.57. The software was approved in the FY 23-24 budget. First Due has integration with the current Fire Protection Tracking Software and a single source quote was obtained through Omnia Partners Purchasing Cooperative.

First Due will allow the department to:

1. Update the fire inspection program by allowing to schedule, complete, and track inspections in one location.

2. Integrates with the Compliance Engine.

3. Modernize pre plans, making them available while enroute for responding crews.

4. Implement an asset management and inventory management program to track vehicle maintenance and department inventory accurately and efficiently.

5. Streamline the NFIRS reporting system by allowing reports to be compliant with Federal and State reporting requirements. Allows for more comprehensive departmental reporting.

6. Mobile Responder allows for access to dispatch data, routing, structure data, and pre plans. The information can be shared with other mutual aid agencies for large scale incidents.

Chief Meyer stated the First Due Software will improve the day-to-day efficiency of the department as well as provide additional resources during calls for service. A recommendation was received from the Public Safety Committee to move forward with the software.

Alderman Vigezzi asked if any local communities use this system.

Chief Meyer stated Canton Fire Department.

Alderman Dorsett asked which line item will this come from, and the amount budgeted in the FY 23-24. Chief Meyer stated general corporate.

Mayor Inman asked when should we anticipate the online time for the software.

Chief Meyer stated the goal was to have the NIFRS program running first, to help start the process in January.

There was no further discussion and Mayor Inman stated the item would be placed on the agenda for final action at next Monday night’s council meeting.

The second item on the agenda for discussion was Lateral Hiring Bonuses for the Macomb Police Department. A memorandum from Chief Hamer was provided. This was recommended by the General Government Committee.

Chief Hamer stated the city offers a $5,000.00 bonus to attract lateral hires; lateral hires are officers with two or more years of experience. The lateral hires do not need to attend the academy, and are still trained by MPD Field Training Officers (FTO’s). He is requesting the city increase the bonus by $4,000.00 totaling $9,000.00 for 2 lateral positions. MPD would use recruitment money from an Illinois Training and Standards Board recruitment grant to round the bonuses to an even $15,000.00. The recruitment grant has $12,760.00, enough for 2 lateral hires, and he would be applying for another grant.

Chief Hammer stated recruitment and retention efforts have been ongoing with fairs, social media campaigns, home-grown path; through Explorers/ SRO’s in MHS/MMS, he is proposing stability through hiring, and retention, but also cultivating everyone into their new roles.

Alderman Vigezzi asked if other local agencies offered this type of practice.

Chief Hamer stated yes.

Alderman Vigezzi commented on the amount of savings, having a lateral hire with the incentive, verses a new officer that would cost to be put through the academy.

Alderman Vigezzi asked if a lateral hire would have to stay for a certain length of time to receive the bonus, and if not, would a payback be required.

Chief Hamer stated yes; three years, or risk paying the bonus back. Payment given at the end of training, and another at the end of year one.

There was no further discussion and Mayor Inman stated the item would be placed on the agenda for final action at next Monday night’s council meeting.

The third item on the agenda for discussion was New Phone System from McDonough Telephone Cooperative. A memorandum from by CA Coker was provided.

CA Coker reported the following RFP’s received;

MTC- Hosted -Sinch 1st year- $25,726.00, 5th year- $128,631.00

Evaluation Points-10.0 CDS-Hosted-3CX 1st year -$38,235.00, 5th year-$191,174.00

Evaluation Points-6.7 Ficek-Hosted-Intermedia 1st year-$51,236.00, 5th year-$210,721.00

Evaluation Points-6.1

He stated he had reached out to Dave Wilson of Wilson Consulting to help with the process. Mr. Wilson wrote the RFP’s and reviewed them, to help give a better comparison of each proposal. Mr. Wilson’s recommendation was to proceed with the proposal from MTC. A total of $50,000.00 was budgeted for the current fiscal year for transition with the selected MTC proposal, having a onetime cost of $2,680.00. Currently, the city is spending $40,000.00 a year for phone services. MTC proposal shows the recurring costs after the second year, to be $30,950.00. The proposed MTC system has several advantages including; a robust system design in accordance with the city’s desire to have the most reliable system, the experience and expertise necessary to implement and support the proposed system, extensive experience installing systems similar in scope proposed for the city, easy to use, and utilizes features that will help improve service to the community, and MTC is a local company which will make it easier to receive service.

CA Coker stated it is his recommendation to accept MTC Proposal and is asking Council’s permission to proceed with the proposal from MTC.

Alderman Vigezzi asked if other local companies use this system.

CA Coker stated the County.

Alderman Moon asked how long will this new system last.

CA Coker stated with technology it is hard to say, but 12-15 years would be acceptable.

There was no further discussion and Mayor Inman stated the item would be placed on the agenda for final action at next Monday night’s council meeting.

Alderman Dorsett moved, seconded by Alderman Vigezzi to Adjourn into executive session to discuss information relative to: a) Appointment, employment, compensation, discipline, performance, or dismissal of an employee of the public body or legal counsel for the public body, pursuant to Sec. 2(c)(1) of the Open Meetings Act., on question being put, Alderman Schuch, Vigezzi, Shabazz, Dorsett, Katz, Wynn, and Moon being all Aldermen voting “Aye” on roll call and no “Nay” votes on roll call, Mayor Inman declared the motion carried and they adjourned into executive session at 5:34 p.m.

Alderman Vigezzi moved, seconded by Alderman Katz to move back into open session, all Aldermen voting “Aye” by voice vote and no “Nay” votes, Mayor Inman declared the motion carried and they adjourned back into open session at 5:49 p.m.

There being no further business to come before Council, Alderman Vigezzi moved, seconded by Alderman Moon to adjourn the meeting, all Aldermen voting “Aye” by voice vote and no “Nay” votes, Mayor Inman declared the motion carried and they adjourned the meeting at 5:49 p.m.

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