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New Berlin Police and Fire Commission ratifies two permanent fire appointments, establishes eligibility lists
Summary
At its April 21 meeting the New Berlin Police and Fire Commission approved meeting minutes and an invoice, entered closed session on personnel matters, ratified the permanent appointment of a battalion chief and a firefighter/paramedic, established eligibility lists for several fire positions and deferred one promotion.
The New Berlin Police and Fire Commission met April 21 at 1:02 p.m. at the city’s Public Safety Building and approved routine business before convening a closed session on personnel matters.
After reconvening in open session at 2:32 p.m., the commission ratified Fire Chief Mark Polzin’s recommendation to end the probationary period for Battalion Chief Ross Gscheidmeier and make his appointment permanent effective April 14, 2026. The commission also ratified ending the probationary period for Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan David and making his appointment permanent effective immediately. Both ratifications passed on 4-0 votes.
The commission established an eligibility list for the position of Battalion Chief containing James H. Ziech; the list is valid for one year. It also established an eligibility list for Firefighter/EMS containing Kaylin L. Bergum, Joseph R. Fogeltanz and Michael F. Kooi, also valid for one year. A separate recommendation to promote a Firefighter/EMS personnel to lieutenant was deferred, and no promotion action was taken.
Earlier in the meeting commissioners approved the March 17, 2026 meeting minutes (motion passed 4-0, Commissioner Lanser recorded as an abstention) and unanimously approved an invoice from Froedtert Health, Inc. for new employee physicals for the Fire Department in the amount of $1,912.00 (Invoice No. 00023373-00; PO 26523120).
The commission voted to enter closed session at 1:06 p.m. under Wisconsin Statute § 19.85(1)(c) to consider employment, promotion, compensation or performance evaluation data of public employees. The closed-session agenda listed consideration of removing personnel from probationary status, interviews for Battalion Chief, Lieutenant promotion consideration, and interviews for firefighter/EMS applicants. The meeting adjourned at 2:46 p.m.
Votes at a glance • Approval of March 17, 2026 minutes — Motion by Commissioner Palechek; second Commissioner Buer; result: passed 4-0 (Commissioner Lanser abstained). • Approval of Froedtert Health invoice ($1,912.00) — Motion by Commissioner Michael D. O'Donnell; second Commissioner Piontek; result: passed 5-0. • Enter closed session under Wis. Stat. § 19.85(1)(c) — Motion by Commissioner Palechek; second Commissioner Lanser; result: passed 5-0. • Reconvene and ratify end of probation for Battalion Chief Ross Gscheidmeier — Motion by Commissioner Michael D. O'Donnell; second Commissioner Piontek; result: passed 4-0. • Ratify end of probation for Firefighter/Paramedic Ryan David — Motion by Commissioner Piontek; second Commissioner Palechek; result: passed 4-0. • Establish eligibility list for Battalion Chief (James H. Ziech) — Motion by Commissioner Palechek; second Commissioner Piontek; result: passed 4-0. • Promotion to Lieutenant — Deferred; no action taken. • Establish eligibility list for Firefighter/EMS (Kaylin L. Bergum; Joseph R. Fogeltanz; Michael F. Kooi) — Motion by Commissioner Palechek; second Commissioner Piontek; result: passed 4-0. • Adjourn — Motion by Commissioner Buer; second Commissioner Palechek; result: passed 4-0.
The article is based on actions recorded in the commission’s meeting minutes. The commission did not release additional narrative or direct quotations in the meeting record.
