BOFPC meets, continues to 6/11, 6/30

The Woodstock Board of Fire and Police Commissioners (BOFPC) met today at 5:00PM in the City Council chambers at City Hall. The attorney from Naperville for the 3-man Board sat with the commissioners in the big chairs; attorneys for Sgt. Steve Gorski and for the Police Department were present. Two attorneys were there for Sgt. Gorski, and two attorneys from the office of the City Attorney were present. A court reporter was present to record the meeting.

The Board very briefly restated the case and Judge McIntyre's decision to remand the case to the Board.

The Board has received a Motion to Amend the Complaint from the police department and a letter from Tom Loizzo, attorney for Sgt. Gorski. Attorney Loizzo requested that today's hearing be continued, in order to allow him time to review the Motion to Amend. Attorney McArdle, for the City and the police department, asked that the matter continue today, indicating that the Motion was presented on April 28 and that he felt that Attorney Loizzo had had sufficient time to study it and respond to it.

The Board went into Executive Session to consider the request to continue. When they returned to open session, the attorney for the Board, who did most of the talking for the Board today, stated that the decision of the Board was to continue the matter.

Mr. McArdle is to have time to correct the Amended Complaint and to present it by May 20. Mr. Loizzo then has 14 days (to June 3) to file a written response. Mr. McArdle then has 7 days (to June 10) to file a written reply to the response.

The Board will meet on June 11 to consider and vote on the Motion by the police department to amend its complaint. At that meeting attorneys will not be required to be present. In other words, only the decision of the Board on the Amended Complaint will be made and announced on June 11.

Then the Board will meet on June 30, 5:00PM at City Hall to continue the hearing; i.e., to proceed with the order of Judge McIntyre, when she sent the case back to the Board on March 24.

Isn't this amazing? The police chief filed charges against Sgt. Gorski in 2007. On February 14, 2008, the Board issued its Findings and Decision (public record now) that the chief had not made his case, and the Board directed the City to pay Sgt. Gorski all his back wages. That was 15 months ago, and not a dime has been paid.

On March 24, 2009, Judge McIntyre sent the case back to the Board, and now more than three more months will pass from that date until the next hearing.

Only three things in this world are certain:
1. Death
2. Taxes
3. Lawyers' fees