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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Fitchburg Police and Fire Commission Meeting - May 20, 2026

Common Council & City Boards — Wednesday, May 20, 2026
BodyFitchburg, Wisconsin
SessionCommon Council & City Boards
DateWednesday, May 20, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 24:32

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.

Speaker 1

0:13

Good evening, everybody, and welcome to the May meeting of the Fitchburg Police and Fire Commission.

Unassigned speaker

0:18

My

Speaker 1

0:18

name is Sean Baxter, and I'm the Vice President of the Commission.

0:23

We'll jump right into our agenda tonight.

Unassigned speaker

0:25

First order of business is call to order.

Speaker 1

0:29

Second order of business, Pledge of Allegiance.

0:31

Please stand.

0:39

And to the Republic, for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with a liberty

Speaker 2

0:45

of justice.

Speaker 1

0:59

Brian is with us in the audience tonight.

1:01

We want to give Brian a chance

Unassigned speaker

1:03

to

Speaker 1

1:04

speak.

1:05

Should he choose, Brian?

1:07

Do you choose to speak?

1:09

Okay.

Speaker 3

1:20

It was appointed by former mayor Aaron Richardson Richardson.

1:25

And I'll also like to say that to each one of

Unassigned speaker

1:28

you.

Speaker 3

1:41

It's really and truly been an honor.

1:44

And

Unassigned speaker

1:46

I

Speaker 3

1:46

guess I'll end just by saying that I wish all of you continued success in the important work that's ahead of you.

1:55

Thank

Unassigned speaker

1:56

you.

Speaker 3

1:56

Thank

Speaker 1

1:57

you, Brian.

1:57

And on behalf of the PFC and certainly myself personally, it's been a pleasure.

2:03

And it's been an honor to serve with

Unassigned speaker

2:04

you.

Speaker 1

2:05

Serve alongside you and learn from your leadership and experience.

2:09

Your dedication to this commission and to the city of Fitchburg has set a standard that will not soon be forgotten.

2:16

Your leadership has shown us the way.

2:19

So as you step aside from this role, I hope you do so with pride in the difference that you've made and the people you've positively impacted along the way.

2:28

Thank you for your service, your leadership, and for setting the example.

2:31

Thanks, Brian.

2:33

Wish you the best.

2:34

I appreciate

Unassigned speaker

2:35

you.

Speaker 4

2:37

Oh, okay.

Speaker 1

2:38

And we do have a certificate that uh we would like to present you.

Unassigned speaker

2:45

On behalf

Speaker 4

2:45

of police and fire commission, mayor.

2:49

City of Fitchburg, thank you for your service on the GFC Brian.

Speaker 1

2:58

Wonderful.

2:59

Thank you, Brian.

3:02

Item four on the agenda is the approval of our April minutes, which have been attached to the agenda and in our agenda packet.

3:11

I'll entertain a motion.

Unassigned speaker

3:14

I

Speaker 1

3:14

move approval.

3:16

There's been a motion and a second.

3:18

Thank you.

3:18

Any further discussion about the minutes from April 15th.

3:25

Hearing none, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

3:29

Aye.

3:30

Opposed.

3:34

Passed.

3:37

Item number five.

3:39

Public appearances for non-agenda items.

3:42

I see no one in the chamber.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural███████████████████████████████████████39%
Public Safety██████████████████████████████████████38%
Personnel Matters███████████████████████23%
Summary of Proceedings

Fitchburg Police and Fire Commission Meeting - May 20, 2026

The Fitchburg Police and Fire Commission met on the evening of May 20, 2026, with Vice President Sean Baxter presiding. The commission recognized outgoing Commissioner Brian, welcomed new Commissioner Dana Pellaban, elected officers, received police and fire department reports, and approved personnel actions following two closed sessions. All recorded votes were voice votes and passed without opposition unless otherwise noted.

Opening, Recognition, and Public Appearances

  • The meeting was called to order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and approval of the April 15 meeting minutes by voice vote.
  • Outgoing Commissioner Brian addressed the commission, saying it had been an honor to serve and thanking members; he noted that he was appointed by former Mayor Aaron Richardson. Baxter presented him with a certificate of service on behalf of the Police and Fire Commission and the city.
  • New Commissioner Dana Pellaban was welcomed and said she was grateful to be on the commission and looked forward to working with everyone.
  • No public appearances were made for non-agenda items.

Election of Officers

  • Sean Baxter was nominated and elected president; Baxter abstained from voting on his own nomination.
  • Commissioner Veronica Ibarra was nominated and elected vice president.

Police Department Report

  • Chief Leh reported that Officer Paul Moniak graduated from the Madison College Law Enforcement Academy, began his orientation week, and received the leadership award for the 154th Madison Law Enforcement Academy class.
  • The department expects to add three officers to the Fox Valley Technical College recruit academy beginning in June, with additional candidates potentially starting in August.
  • Detectives are handling an increasing number of ICAC (Internet Crimes Against Children) cases through the renewed partnership with the Wisconsin DOJ.
  • The April drug take-back event collected approximately 40 pounds of prescription medication.
  • Lieutenant Logan Brown received the Dane County Chiefs of Police Association community policing award for his work on the community night out event, and Detective Jordan Trundle received the U.S. Attorney's Office Western District of Wisconsin Hometown Hero Award for gun-related investigations and successful prosecutions. Chief Leh noted the award is one of only 250 given across the country.
  • The department is participating in the Click It or Ticket seat belt campaign through the rest of the month.

Fire Department Report

  • Chief Sarver reported that call volume is trending about 1% up from the 2024-to-2025 comparison, with EMS calls the most common type and zero fires reported in April.
  • A sprinkler system saved a multifamily residence, and crews continue twice-a-year inspections of local businesses.
  • Some paid-on-call (POX) firefighters were hired into full-time career positions, including recent hires to New Berlin; eight POX firefighters brought on a few months ago are helping fill shifts.
  • April overtime was high due to vacancies and one injury, with 220 hours of mandatory overtime and eight of ten shifts covering skilled positions such as officer or driver. Chief Sarver said some staff value the extra income, but burnout is emerging and city staff are working on staffing choices.
  • It was EMS week, with recognition for EMS and health care providers in the greater Madison area.

Closed Sessions and Personnel Actions

  • Entering the first closed session, the commission stated it would consider removing one police officer's probationary status and extending a conditional employment offer to one police officer. Returning to open session, it unanimously approved moving Officer Grace Belson from probationary to permanent status and unanimously approved extending a conditional offer of employment to one police officer.
  • Entering the second closed session, the commission stated it would consider conditional offers for career firefighter candidates, a career firefighter eligibility list, and conditional offers and an eligibility list for POX firefighters. Returning to open session, the commission unanimously approved: a conditional offer to candidate one as a career firefighter, with Chief Sarver authorized to extend the same offer to candidate two if needed; a 12-month career firefighter eligibility list; conditional offers to four POX firefighters; and a 12-month POX firefighter eligibility list.

Key Outcomes

  • April 15 meeting minutes approved.
  • Sean Baxter elected president; Veronica Ibarra elected vice president.
  • Officer Grace Belson moved from probationary to permanent status.
  • Conditional employment offer approved for one police officer.
  • Conditional firefighter offer approved for candidate one, with candidate two authorized as a backup if needed.
  • Career firefighter and POX eligibility lists established for 12 months.
  • Conditional offers approved for four POX firefighters.
  • No announcements were made, and the meeting adjourned.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everybody, and welcome to the May meeting of the Fitchburg Police and Fire Commission. My name is Sean Baxter, and I'm the Vice President of the Commission. We'll jump right into our agenda tonight. First order of business is call to order. Second order of business, Pledge of Allegiance. Please stand. And to the Republic, for which it stands one nation under God, indivisible with a liberty of justice. Brian is with us in the audience tonight. We want to give Brian a chance to speak. Should he choose, Brian? Do you choose to speak? Okay. It was appointed by former mayor Aaron Richardson Richardson. And I'll also like to say that to each one of you. It's really and truly been an honor. And I guess I'll end just by saying that I wish all of you continued success in the important work that's ahead of you. Thank you. Thank you, Brian. And on behalf of the PFC and certainly myself personally, it's been a pleasure. And it's been an honor to serve with you. Serve alongside you and learn from your leadership and experience. Your dedication to this commission and to the city of Fitchburg has set a standard that will not soon be forgotten. Your leadership has shown us the way. So as you step aside from this role, I hope you do so with pride in the difference that you've made and the people you've positively impacted along the way. Thank you for your service, your leadership, and for setting the example. Thanks, Brian. Wish you the best. I appreciate you. Oh, okay. And we do have a certificate that uh we would like to present you. On behalf of police and fire commission, mayor. City of Fitchburg, thank you for your service on the GFC Brian. Wonderful. Thank you, Brian. Item four on the agenda is the approval of our April minutes, which have been attached to the agenda and in our agenda packet. I'll entertain a motion. I move approval.

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