Monday, Jul. 06, 2009

Fairview Heights to consider first African American board appointee

FAIRVIEW HEIGHTS -- Aldermen will consider at a City Council meeting Tuesday whether to approve the mayor's appointment to the Board of Fire and Police Commissioners.

Mayor Gail Mitchell is recommending James Coates to fill a seat on the three-member volunteer board left vacant after Robert Simons submitted his resignation in June.

Mitchell said Simons resigned because he is moving out of the city. Simons has served on the board since 1971, and his term was set to expire Aug. 1, 2011.

Coates formerly worked for Union Electric and was a Monsanto management employee, served in the Air Force for 10 years and graduated from Southern Illinois University with a degree in business. He has lived in Fairview Heights for about 15 years and currently lives in Ward 5.

"I live in Fairview, and I think this is a good opportunity for me to try to do something that is beneficial to the city," Coates said. "I think I'm as qualified as anyone else. I don't know what real qualifications you need besides making sound decisions and having good judgment, and I think I'm capable of that."

If appointed, Coates would be the first African American to serve on the board.

Board members are appointed by the mayor with the City Council's approval.

Members currently serving on the board are Dale Sauer and former Fairview Heights Mayor George Lanxon.

Police Chief Ed Delmore recommended Coates to Mitchell as a possible replacement on the board.

"I thought James was an excellent candidate for this position because I know he has a background in managment, and hiring and disciplining people," Delmore said. "I know he's a man of good, moral character. I also know that he's not political. He really knows no one on the City Council well."

Delmore said he met Coates about 20 years ago when the two were neighbors in Collinsville.

The board is responsible for testing, hiring, promoting and disciplinary hearing for sworn police officers excluding the chief, who is employed by the city administrator. The board does not work with the Fairview Fire Department.

The Police Department currently has a sworn officer position open, Delmore said. If appointed, Coates will take part in interviewing and selecting candidates for the opening.

The meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at the Municipal Complex, 10025 Bunkum Road.

At a City Council meeting June 16, Ward 5 Alderwoman Bonnie Crossley asked the mayor to consider appointing Bev Mattison to the board.

Mattison is a founding organizer of Fairview Firefighters and Municipal Law Enforcemet (F.A.M.L.E.) Night, which was held for the 10th year on June 24.

Mattison said at a Law Enforcement Committee meeting June 23 that she was not interested in serving on the board. "When Bev said she wasn't interested, it basically makes the choice very obvious, without a doubt," Ward 1 Alderman Norm Miller said at the meeting.

Miller and Ward 1 Alderman Gil Klein then asked whether Mattison could be placed on the board as an honorary member so she could attend the meetings.

Delmore said that there is no provision in state statutes for such a position, but that the board meetings are open to the public.

Ward 4 Alderwoman Linda Arnold said she will vote to appoint Coates.

"He's not political, and that's what I really like," Arnold said. "He's not related to anybody, and he doesn't seem like he has an interest except being a resident of Fairview Heights. That's very refreshing. They're not there to choose sides, so to speak. Political on that particular board could be a problem."

The Law Enforcement Committee consists of Miller, Crossley and Arnold as chairman.