Swansea recognizes drone pilots, approves travel, accepts resignation and hires accounting specialist

At its June 1 meeting, the Swansea Board of Trustees recognized department personnel who completed FAA remote-pilot training and approved several personnel motions including travel and hiring.

Deputy Chief and department leaders reported the village revamped its drone program, sent staff to training and awarded pilot wings to Firefighter Gabriel Seman, Lieutenant Tom (Don/Dong) and Deputy Chief George M. Trustees posed for a photo and congratulated the staff.

Trustees also approved a travel request to send Chief Bombberg and Deputy Chief Howard to the 2026 FBI National Academy Association state conference in Galena, Illinois (meeting materials list an estimated cost string shown in the packet). The board accepted the resignation of CPA/civilian police aide Hannah Bilkkey, who told the board she is pursuing a career as a sworn police officer after finishing a criminal-justice degree.

On hiring, trustees approved forwarding an updated accounting and payroll specialist job description and then approved hiring Belinda Thompson as a full-time, non-exempt accounting and payroll specialist at $30 per hour plus fringe benefits, with a potential 50¢ hourly increase after three months based on performance.

What happens next: staff will process the resignation and hire, finalize travel arrangements, and complete recognition photo documentation.

Why it matters: these actions reflect routine personnel turnover, workforce training investments and budgeted staffing adjustments that affect village operations and service delivery.