Police and Fire Commission Meeting — Minutes

Police and Fire Commission MEETING MINUTES April 21, 2026 - 1:00 PM Public Safety Building 16300 W. National Avenue MINUTES 1. CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Piontek called the meeting to order at 1:02 PM 2. ROLL CALL; DECLARATION OF QUORUM; PUBLIC NOTICE Present: Commissioner Lanser, Commissioner Palechek, Commissioner Piontek, Commissioner Buer, Commissioner O'Donnell Staff present: Fire Chief Mark Polzin Staff excused: Police Chief Jeff Hingiss 3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES A. March 17, 2026 Meeting Minutes MOTION: Motion to Approve Motion by: Commissioner Palechek Second by: Commissioner Buer VOTE: Motion Passed 4-0 (Commissioner Lanser Abstained) 4. COMMUNICATIONS None 5. BILLS A. Action will be taken on invoices that were received during the normal course and scope of business since the last PFC meeting. Froedtert Health, Inc. Workforce Health Invoice No. 00023373-00 dated March 31, 2026, in the amount of $1,912.00 (PO 26523120) for new employee physicals - Fire Department MOTION: Motion to Approve Motion by: Commissioner O'Donnell Second by: Commissioner Piontek VOTE: Motion Passed 5-0 6. OLD BUSINESS None 7. NEW BUSINESS None 8. CLOSED SESSION MOTION: Motion to Enter Closed Session at 1:06 PM Motion by: Commissioner Palechek Second by: Commissioner Lanser VOTE: Motion Passed 5-0 Note: Commissioner Lanser was excused from the meeting at 2:06 PM A. The Police & Fire Commission may convene in closed session pursuant to Wis Stat. § 19.85(1)(c) to consider employment, promotion, compensation, or performance evaluation data of a public employee over which the governmental body has jurisdiction or exercises responsibility, specifically regarding: B. Consideration of Fire Chief’s recommendation to remove personnel from probationary status - Fire Department C. Interview applicant for the position of Battalion Chief - Fire Department D. Interview candidate for promotion to the position of Lieutenant - Fire Department E. Interview applicants for the position of Firefighter/EMS Personnel - Fire Department 9. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION MOTION: Motion to Return to open session at 2:32 PM Motion by: Commissioner Palechek Second by: Commissioner Buer VOTE: Motion Passed 4-0 A. Discussion and possible action regarding Chief Polzin’s recommendation to remove personnel from probationary status - Fire Department Motion to ratify the recommendation of Chief Polzin to end the probationary period for Battalion Chief Ross Gscheidmeier and make his appointment permanent, effective April 14, 2026. MOTION: Motion to Approve Motion by: Commissioner O'Donnell Second by: Commissioner Piontek VOTE: Motion Passed 4-0 Motion to ratify the recommendation of Chief Polzin to end the probationary period for Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan David and make his appointment permanent, effective immediately. MOTION: Motion to Approve VOTE: Motion by: Commissioner Piontek Second by: Commissioner Palechek Motion Passed 4-0 B. Discussion and possible action regarding establishing an eligibility list for the position of Battalion Chief - Fire Department Motion to establish an eligibility list for the position of Battalion Chief with the following name: James H. Ziech. The list is valid for a period of one (1) year. All newly hired personnel are subject to a probationary period as specified in the prevailing Rules & Regulations of the City of New Berlin Police and Fire Commission. MOTION: Motion to Approve Motion by: Commissioner Palechek Second by: Commissioner Piontek VOTE: Motion Passed 4-0 C. Discussion and possible action regarding Chief Polzin’s recommendation to promote Firefighter/EMS Personnel to the position of Lieutenant - Fire Department Deferred - No action taken D. Discussion and possible action regarding establishing an eligibility list for the position of Firefighter/EMS Personnel - Fire Department Motion to establish an eligibility list for the position of Firefighter/EMS Personnel with the following names: Kaylin L. Bergum, Joseph R. Fogeltanz, and Michael F. Kooi. The list is valid for a period of one (1) year. All newly hired personnel are subject to a probationary period as described in the prevailing Rules & Regulations of the City of New Berlin Police and Fire Commission. MOTION: Motion to Approve Motion by: Commissioner Palechek Second by: Commissioner Piontek VOTE: Motion Passed 4-0 10. ADJOURN MOTION: Motion to Adjourn at 2:46 PM Motion by: Commissioner Buer Second by: Commissioner Palechek VOTE: Motion Passed 4-0 Respectfully Submitted, Michael D. O’Donnell PFC Recording Secretary