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Home My WebLink About2022-05-25 City Council MinutesGITY GOUNCIL SPEGIAL MEETING Wednesdav May 25, 2022 5:00 p.m. TO BE HELD AT: Galdwell Police Department Community Room 110 South Sth Avenue AGENDA ACTION ITEM: Mayor's Presentation of Appointment for the Caldwell Police Chief. Posted: May 19,2022 BOOK 63 PAGE 98 CALDWELL CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING May 25,2022 5:00 P.M. Mayor Wagoner opened the meeting at 5:00 p.m. and welcomed those in attendance. The meeting was held at the Caldwell Police Depirtment Communit-v Room al I l0 South 5tt Avenue. The City Clerk called the Roll of the City Council Members present: Allgood (via Zoom), Williams, Doty, Stadick, Register, and Mccee. (ACTION ITEM: MAYOR'S PRESENTATION OF APPOINTMENT FOR THE CALDWELL POLICE CHIEF) Mayor Wagoner welcomed Mr. & Mrs. Jason Kuzik and asked Mr. Kuzik to provide opening remarks. Mr. Kuzik greeted those in aftendance and introduced his wife, Sandy. He outlined his law enforcement work history at the Henderson Police Depanment including the Field Training OfIcer, lnvestigations, Financial Crimes, Federal Task Force, SWAT, Crisis Negotiation, and ITAC. He currently serves a Captain overseeing sixty-three (63) officers, three lieutenants, six sergeants. and victim advocates, He emphasized that he follows a team leadership approach based on communication, cooperation. and collaboration. He expressed appreciation for the opportunity to be considered for the Caldwell Chief of Police position, Councilor Williams congratulated Mr. Kuzik on a notable career. Mr. Kuzik indicated that he was looking forward to being able to continue his career at the City ofCaldwell, Mayor Wagoner provided comments in support of the appointment: "Mr. Kuzik wqs inteniewed with lhe other candidates .for the poiition of Chie/ of Police and I u,as thoroughly impressed with the questions he qsked, his excitement about the Caldv,ell Police Departmenl, inlornation dbout his past work in Henclerson Police Department, and thefuttrre ofCaldwell. I personally yisited the City of Henderson to viett their operqtions and to follou-up with ML Kuzik's supertisors ond co- *orkers. I vas qble to neet with him, and to speak with his chief and co-workers. The respect that everyone has for hin. including nory positive connnenls mode by menbers o/ the communily vlhile we were at dinner q! a local restatranl, speaks tolunes. After talking b,ith his slpe, ,-isors and wilh the olher inleniett, teart members, we felt thar he was lhe one lo lead ou. omazing police depanment. My yisit to Henderson solidified in ny nind that Captain Kuzik is the one lo lead the Jine nen qnd v,onen here vilh digniq, and wilh honor. I am asking /or Council's support in lhis recommendqtion, lo supporl your Mqvor. supporl )!ottt' communi6', and xrpport those police olficers in attendance here today-" Mayor Wagoner brought forward the name ofJason Kuzik to be appointed to fill the position ofCaldwell Police Chief. MOVED by Dor-v. SECONDED by Allgood to accept the recommendation and appoint Jason Kuzik as the Caldwell Police Chief. The Mayor asked ifthere was any discussion on the motion. Comments from Councilor Stadick " lt is n1, personql belief thal City Council has a responsibility to our constituenrs for the fnture of this cib'. I qn? concerned with the ongoing FBI irwestigation qnd the uncertainty of not knowing what has been going on in the Police Depdrtnent until lhqt invesligation is complete. Until the invesli4ation is complete, ite are nol aswred in knoving thot good decisions are being mode. I do not see o problern with Mr. Ku;ik's qualifications: however, I ha,e concern that his experience b'ith Henderson Police Deparlment does not include qrything similar to whqt is nov, happening in Caldv,ell. There is a systemic problern here. and fron lengthy corryersations with Mr. Ku:ik, I hqve concerns about his lack of experience on his port \4,ith lhis l),pe o/ problen. Also, there is a longevity concern. Mr. Kuzik is gelling close to retirement, qnd if he did choose to relire within fout' to five years, we would again be lookingfor rt Police Chief. " Councilor Stadick continued: "Regarding the grqding syslem that the interview team used for ranking the cdndiddles, Mr. Rex Ingram i,qs at the top ofthat list rather thqn Mr. Kuzik. I rqlked to Mr. Ingram at length and he indicdted that the L.A. police Diyision hatl a similar sy.\temic with things going on that shouldn't be. Becquse of his good job there, he was tronsferretl ro the Holllwoocl Division .for the same reasons and his superiors said that he did a fantastic iob there. He ha.t coordinated security lbr the Super BowL lhe Oscar Awards, and others. As far as longevity is concerned, Mr. lngram is younger lhan Mr. Ku:ik and is nrtt planning to rclire in the next fNe yeots- " Comments fiom Councilor Allgood: "/ do not agree with conments from Councilor Stadick. I do not believe that the problems ar the Caldwell Police Depart enl aresyslemic. Current issues can be worked through and I have no dottbt.s aboul the officers at the Calrlwell Police Deporlment al oll. Regarding Captqin Ku:ilt I have been part oflhe inlerviev process, havi spoken to Captain Ku:ik on the phone, looked at his resune, spoken to the background investigutor. and believes he is ettremely capable and could serve as our Police Chiefwithout qny issues. " Councilor Register also provided a statement that was read into the record conceming her opposition to the appointment of Jason Kuzik: " ln lhe shorr me I have sat on City Council, we have been charged with making marry dificuh decisions, yet for me, the selection of the Chie! of Police has by for been the nost difrcull one. While I agree thal there is an urgent need lor this posirion lo be Jilled. ! also believe stongly lhql there were things tha, needed lo be done lo ensure the integtity of the process. ! believe Mr. Ku:ik is a u'ell-rounded applicanl, ond though I hqve enjoyed getting to know hin, I reluse to put 'somebouy\ in the position jusf to get sonebody in there. The Police Deportment is in desperdte need o/ leadership, btn they t T I T BOOK 63 are also in desperate need o/ healing and I beliew thqt is going to take somebody who not jusl has the adminislratire and managerial experience, but sonebo$t who checl<s all the boxes for the needs of the department and the communily as a whole. As with the rest of the Council. this decision wqs not made lightly. and has weighed hewily on mefor weela. I have listened to the people in the interview panel, other City leaders, my constituents, our oficers, but most imPorlqntb), I hrye too many unanswered questions and doubts to mote.forwdrd at lhis time." Mayor Wagoner provided final comments: "l v)dnt to thank Councilor Stadick, Council President Allgood, and Councilor Register for their connlents. I agree thqt the Council and Mayor all hqve a commitment to rePresent the people and make the best decision.for rhe communit!^. I om 10094 positiNe that Coptain Kuzik is the one lo lead us as the ChiefofPolice. Previotts cofiments suggesting that we should wait until the FBI invesligqlion is finished is not reqlistic intlsmuch as the investiSqtion m(4' continue well intothe:[ ure. We cannot wait until lhen. ln respect to longeyity qnd retirement, one ofthe well-respecled interview teqm members (Garden City Chief of Police), has stated fuat a city does not a \a,qnt a police chieffor more thanfive to seten ye.trs, noting thot if q chiefofpolice is doing their job, they will gel burned out in lhqt amount ol lime. Mayor Wagoner concluded that Captain Klzik cares about his fomily, he cares about the people he serves with, and has my full support for the position ofColdwell Police Chief." Roll call vote: Those voting yes: Doty and Allgood and/or not voting: none. Those voting no: Mccee, Williams, Registel and Stadick. Absent MOTION FAILED (ADJOURNMENT) MOVED by Doty, SECONDED by Stadick to adjourn the meeting at 5:20 p.m MOTION CARRIED Closing comment liom Mayor Wagoner: "1 am very disappointed concerning the outcome of the vote for an exceplionql cqndidqte. " (ADJOURNMENT) The meeting adjourned at 5:28 p.m APPROVED AS written TI'IIS 20t YOF June ,$--l- Mayor Coun erson ouncilperson I Counci Jp cl o Councilperson rtli,tl':t-f&1 ioi rANrs ! ! 4;,t'- City Clerk -rY\J T PAGE 99