BOFPC to meet May 13

The Woodstock Board of Fire and Police Commissioners (BOFPC) has scheduled a Special Meeting for Wednesday, May 13, 2009, at 5:00PM. The Board will be in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 121 West Calhoun Street, rather than its traditional (and former?) meeting place in the second floor conference room at police headquarters.

Let's hope this is the beginning of a new era of transparency by this Board. This Board is a board of the City of Woodstock, one of several boards and commissions. Members are appointed by the Mayor of Woodstock, subject to confirmation or approval by the City Council.

While the purpose of the meeting has not been announced, an Executive Session is scheduled on the Agenda. Let's hope that the Board will finally discuss the employment of Sgt. Steve Gorski, and consider the recent Decision by Judge Maureen McIntyre.

It was over a year ago (February 14, 2008, in fact) that this very Board decided in favor of Sgt. Gorski and directed the City to pay him all his back wages.

The City has paid him exactly $0.00, since being so directed by the Board.

Sgt. Gorski is still an employee of the Police Department, but unpaid and whose health insurance was canceled by the City last October.

The Board heard all the testimony against Sgt. Gorski in person before making its decision in Sgt. Gorski's favor. And then it decided in Sgt. Gorski's favor. The Chief didn't like the Board's decision, so he went to court, where matters dragged out from March 2008 to March 2009. On March 24 Judge McIntyre sent the matter back to the BOFPC.

And, finally, on May 13th the BOFPC may take up the case again.

Will it stand by its previous decision? After all, it has already heard all the evidence from Chief Lowen. His presentation is over. The Board heard it all live and in-person. It didn't even need to hear from Sgt. Gorski before deciding in his favor.

Judge McIntyre may have only read documents and transcripts; she wasn't there to hear the testimony in person. Is it the difference between going to see Star Wars in an IMAX theater and reading a review in the Tribune?

The public is invited to City Hall at 5:00PM on Wednesday. These meetings are open to the public, except for the Executive Session, which may or may not be closed. Of course, if it is not closed, then it won't be an "Executive Session."

In a case in the Village of Algonquin, the Village's attorney (the same law firm that is the municipal law firm for the City of Woodstock and Chief Lowen, in this case) is claiming that wide press coverage in their case eliminates any case for confidentiality on the part of the police officer that Chief Laine is trying to fire. Let's see what happens this Wednesday, May 13.

I wonder what Sgt. Gorski would prefer: closed or open meeting?