Excerpts from the herald-news.com:
The Joliet Board of Fire and Police Commissioners on Tuesday approved fire department promotions without getting the personnel files that members said they wanted to review before making a decision. State statute prohibits the city human resources department from turning over personnel files to the commission.
“If there was anything in the files that I thought would cause them not to do the job, I would bring it up,” Chief Joseph Formhals said.
The fire and police board voted at its July 8 meeting to hold off on the promotions until it received copies of the files. The board reconvened at a special meeting Tuesday to consider the promotions again.
The promotions fill vacancies created by retirements.
To fill vacancies created by the retirement of Battalion Chief Mike Stromberg, Capt. Fred Offerman was promoted to battalion chief; Lt. Dan Berta was made captain; and apparatus operator paramedic Mike Stapp was made lieutenant.
To fill vacancies that will be created when Battalion Chief Terry Mangun retires in August, Capt. James Blake will be promoted to battalion chief; Lt. John Miller will become a captain; and firefighter/paramedic Stephen Rutten will become a lieutenant.
To fill vacancies created with the retirement of Capt. Marty Blackburn, Lt. James Batusich was made captain and apparatus operator/paramedic Richard Netcel was promoted to lieutenant.
