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Minutes <br />City Council Regular Meeting <br />Monday, May 12, 2025, 6:00 PM <br />City Council Chambers 2780 Kelley Parkway, Orono, MN 55356 <br />Benson moved, Persian seconded to adopt Resolution 7590 terminating the employment of the full- <br />time Orono Fire Chief. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br />Ricks moved, Berrett seconded to adopt Resolution 7591, a resolution of appreciation for Orono <br />Fire Chief James Van Eyll. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br />Berrett moved, Persian seconded to appoint Deputy Chief Shea Chwialkowski as the interim Orono <br />Fire Chief. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br />7. Hire Part -Time Firefighters <br />Persian suggested the City table hiring part-time firefighters until a joint operational model is worked out <br />by the leadership of the Orono and Long Lake Fire Departments, allowing the leadership to create the <br />model and then determine the staff needs. An exception would be the individual who is currently a <br />member of both departments. He said his fear was taking away opportunities from the existing part-time <br />firefighters. <br />City Administrator Edwards countered that the two departments are currently struggling to fill the shifts <br />that are open due to resignations and turnover. Discussions with Long Lake officials indicated that they <br />are looking to Orono to fill the ranks of part-time fire fighters that could eventually join a joint <br />department. Everyone is working hard to set up the joint department, but it takes time, according to <br />Edwards.. The two chiefs and two administrators are having biweekly meetings. He said there could be a <br />seniority system for bidding shifts. <br />Council discussed the item and asked questions of staff. <br />Persian moved, Benson seconded to table for two weeks hiring new part-time fire fighters, but <br />appoint Chris Adams as a part-time fire fighter for the Orono Fire Department. VOTE: Ayes 4, <br />Nays 1 (Berrett). <br />COUNCIL COMMITTEE REPORTS <br />Benson reported on attending the Orono Park Commission meeting as the ex officio representative. <br />Tunheim reported on attending the Planning Commission meeting. <br />MAYOR/COUNCIL REPORT <br />Mayor and Council provided reports and expressed appreciation to Councilmember Claire Berrett for her <br />service at her last City Council meeting, since she had not chosen to be a candidate in the special election <br />to fill the seat vacated by Matt Johnson last November. <br />ADJOURNMENT <br />Benson moved, Ricks seconded, to adjourn the meeting at 7:13 p.m. to Monday, May 26, 2025, at <br />6:00 p.m. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. <br />Page 3 of 4 <br />10 <br />