Joint Committee: Workforce Development; Police and Fire meeting, May 2, 2024

• When: Thu, May 2, 2024, 9:30 AM (Chicago time)
• Where: City Council Chamber, 2nd Floor, City Hall, 121 North LaSalle Street - Chicago, IL 60602
• Status: Scheduled & Published
• Video: https://vimeo.com/showcase/8928494/video/941669762
• Transcript: full text (23,838 words, official captions)

Meeting notes

AI-written from the transcript. Speakers are inferred from cues in the recording, so treat names as estimates and check the video at the linked time.

The joint Committee on Workforce Development and Committee on Police and Fire held a subject matter hearing on the Chicago Fire Department's hiring plan and practices. Public commenters, including retired and current firefighters and applicants, raised concerns about exam transparency, lottery numbers, residency preferences, disqualifications, the representation of Black firefighters and enforcement of the Appendix G affirmative action provision of the union contract. Officials from the Fire Department, Department of Human Resources and Public Safety Administration did not attend; the chair said the administration directed them not to appear because of pending litigation and contract negotiations, which prompted extended debate among alderpersons about the council's authority and subpoena power. Panelists from the Black Fire Brigade and retired firefighters answered questions from the chief sponsor about recruitment, Appendix G, lawsuits and economic impacts, and members shared hiring data and personal experiences. No vote was taken, and several members called for a follow-up hearing with city officials.

Topics: Chicago Fire Department hiring, Appendix G affirmative action, firefighter entrance exam, diversity in hiring, administration witnesses absent, subpoena power, Black Fire Brigade, hiring transparency

Agenda items discussed

• 30:14 Public comment: discussed
• 1:02:52 Discussion of city officials' absence from the hearing: discussed
• 1:28:25 Subject matter hearing on the Chicago Fire Department's hiring plan and hiring practices: discussed

Alderpersons who spoke

• Chris Taliaferro (chair): Said the director of the Public Safety Administration, the Fire Commissioner and the Human Resources commissioner were invited but did not attend. (1:03:03); Said he and Chairman Michael D. Rodriguez pressed the administration to allow testimony but it declined, citing a pending lawsuit and contract negotiations. (1:04:33); Said the council needs subpoena power so officials cannot be directed by the administration not to appear, and that the Fire Commissioner wanted to attend. (1:08:52)
• Michael D. Rodriguez (chair): Thanked the chief sponsor and panelists and asked whether Appendix G remains in the union contract after a federal judge dismissed the related decree in 2022. (2:17:02)
• Lamont J. Robinson (alderperson): As chief sponsor, said the hearing gives Black firefighters a first opportunity to share concerns on the record and cited articles on findings of discrimination in fire exams. (1:28:48); Asked a panelist why the Black Fire Brigade was started and what the main recruitment sources are for Black and Latino first responders. (1:34:55); Asked whether CFD has collaborated with the Black Fire Brigade and whether it advertises in Black and Latino communities as Appendix G requires. (1:39:04)
• Jason C. Ervin (alderperson): Asked whether anyone from Human Resources or the Fire Department was present and said a second hearing is needed with officials empowered to address Appendix G and hiring concerns. (1:02:52)
• Anthony Beale (alderperson): Said commissioners work for the council and objected to the administration telling them not to appear, saying he has raised police and fire hiring disparities for 25 years. (1:05:57); Said contract negotiations are not a valid reason for absence because officials could answer hiring questions and decline contract questions. (1:16:57); Said the council already has subpoena power and only needs to exercise it. (1:21:29)
• Nicholas Sposato (alderperson): Reported that an applicant who spoke during public comment has an actual list number of 814 and will likely be called soon, and said the commissioners were told not to attend. (1:11:03); Said the absent officials are at-will employees who would risk their jobs by defying the administration and that they have been responsive to him, while calling the recent entrance exam an embarrassment. (1:25:01); Said Appendix G is a goal rather than a contractual requirement and that the December and May classes were 58 and 64 percent Black and Hispanic. (2:19:56)
• Jeanette B. Taylor (alderperson): Criticized the administration and colleagues for allowing officials to skip the hearing and said she has asked every year since 2019 why the number of Black firefighters keeps falling. (1:11:42); Said she would hold her budget vote over the issue and criticized the union over Appendix G. (1:13:05); Said a colleague was able to obtain hiring numbers she had requested for years without success and attributed the difference to race. (2:37:43)
• Walter R. Burnett (alderperson): Relayed a message from the administration that officials could not appear because of active negotiations with Firefighters Union Local 2. (1:16:34)
• Andre Vasquez Jr. (alderperson): Said not allowing commissioners to appear is a transparency problem, that council members answer to voters, and that the hearing could have been rescheduled. (1:17:40); Suggested members work together to draft a way to subpoena officials and said the council should communicate better internally. (1:19:45)
• Anthony V. Napolitano (alderperson): Said a commissioner could testify without violating the collective bargaining agreement by declining questions on matters under negotiation. (1:22:04); Said the council should vote together and withhold automatic yes votes until issues like this are resolved, and called for another meeting with officials present. (1:23:09)
• Derrick G. Curtis (alderperson): Said the council should use its subpoena power to bring the three officials before the committee and act on the issue at budget time. (2:33:28); Described his support for the Black Fire Brigade since 2018, including fundraising and enabling city worker contributions. (2:34:26)
• Desmon C. Yancy (alderperson): Asked whether labor board charges have been filed against the department over Appendix G. (2:36:53)
• James M. Gardiner (alderperson): Described being deemed unqualified on the 1995 exam and later hired in 2005 after a lawsuit lowered the cutoff, then performing at the top of his academy class. (2:44:37); Said a lieutenant promotion list he was next on was taken down and later restored after a lawsuit, and that he was told he could take the promotion only if he resigned as alderman. (2:47:36); Said such problems affect firefighters of all races and called for transparency. (2:51:45)

Exchanges between members

• 1:02:52 Alderperson Jason C. Ervin asked the chair whether anyone from Human Resources or the Fire Department was present.
• 1:03:03 The chair answered Alderperson Jason C. Ervin that the officials were invited but unable to attend.
• 1:06:39 Alderperson Anthony Beale objected to the chairs allowing the administration to keep commissioners from appearing.
• 1:08:52 The chair told Alderperson Anthony Beale he made a good point but the issue is with the administration and the council needs subpoena power.
• 1:10:57 Alderperson Anthony Beale asked the chair whether he had talked to the administration about the officials attending.
• 1:15:01 The chair asked Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor not to use profanity in the chamber.
• 1:15:05 Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor disputed the chair's objection and referenced his past role overseeing public safety.
• 1:16:57 Alderperson Anthony Beale responded to the vice mayor's message from the administration, saying contract negotiations were not a valid reason for officials to be absent.
• 1:18:36 Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. agreed with Alderman Anthony Beale point that a union contract is not an excuse for officials not to appear.
• 1:19:56 The chair thanked Alderperson Andre Vasquez Jr. and explained why the meeting proceeded.
• 1:21:29 Alderperson Anthony Beale told the chair the council already has subpoena power.
• 1:21:58 The chair told Alderperson Anthony Beale he would check with the Law Department on subpoena power.
• 1:23:09 Alderperson Anthony V. Napolitano said he agreed with Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor frustration.
• 1:28:54 Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson thanked Chairman Michael D. Rodriguez for allowing the hearing.
• 1:28:57 Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson thanked Chairman Chris Taliaferro for allowing the hearing.
• 2:17:05 Chairman Michael D. Rodriguez thanked Vice Chair Lamont J. Robinson for his effort on the hearing.
• 2:21:36 Alderperson Nicholas Sposato acknowledged Alderman Derrick G. Curtis for regularly asking him about fire department hiring questions.
• 2:32:54 Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis thanked Alderperson Jeanette B. Taylor for helping put the hearing together.
• 2:32:54 Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis thanked Alderperson Lamont J. Robinson for helping put the hearing together.
• 2:33:48 Alderperson Derrick G. Curtis said Alderman Nicholas Sposato should not have been the one providing statistics that city officials should have presented.

Documents

• Notice
• Agenda