At its Nov. 20 meeting, the Hammond Board of Public Works and Safety approved several personnel and permitting items.

Correspondence from Fire Chief Bernard Gazzolia recommended promoting Captain/Inspector Brian Williams to battalion chief (inspector), effective Nov. 20, 2025. The board moved to approve the promotion, and the motion carried.

The board also approved a temporary street closure requested by the Knights of Columbus for its New Year's Eve event (Dec. 31, 2025, 10:30 p.m.–1:30 a.m.) and the associated request for barricades; Public Works will follow up on operational details.

A resident, Ellen Proctor, requested traffic cameras at River Drive and Calumet Avenue to record red-light running. Staff advised that video-only evidence cannot currently be used to issue citations and recommended that the request be referred to the Hammond Police Department for possible surveillance; the board voted to forward the request to PD for follow-up.

Engineering and contractors presented right-of-way and permit items including temporary closure and two-way conversion of Doty Street for sewer work and NIPSCO pole replacements citywide; motions to approve those permits and the flagger-protected work were adopted.

All motions described above were moved, seconded and approved on voice votes. Public-safety and traffic enforcement follow-up will proceed through the police and public works departments.