Decatur Common Council adopts employee handbook amendments; volunteer firefighter wording left unchanged due to state code

The City of Decatur Common Council adopted Resolution 2025-17 on Dec. 2, 2025, updating the city’s employee handbook.

The council considered the amendments after Clerk-Treasurer Eran Hackman told members that changes discussed at the Nov. 18 meeting had been incorporated. Hackman said the only outstanding item was wording affecting volunteer firefighters, noting, "This cannot be changed due to state code." Jenny Bowers-Shultz moved to introduce and then to adopt the resolution; both motions were seconded by Councilmember Abby Wilder and the council voted to adopt the measure.

City Attorney Anne Razo read the resolution by short title as part of the first-reading procedure. The adopted resolution is recorded as Resolution 2025-17; the text was read aloud during the meeting but a full ordinance text was not read into the record on Dec. 2.

The change to the volunteer firefighter language was discussed only insofar as Hackman explained that state law prevents altering the phrasing requested at the November meeting. The transcript does not specify the exact statutory citation; the city identified the constraint during the council’s review, and no amendment was made to that provision.

Other routine items on the agenda — including prior meeting minutes and claims — were handled by separate motions. The council completed its business and adjourned at 6:24 p.m.