Board of Public Safety recommends ordinance to codify Fire Merit Commission

The Board of Public Safety on July 17 unanimously approved Resolution 2026‑01, which recommends that the City Council amend Title 2 of the Bloomington Municipal Code to recognize and describe a Fire Merit Commission and to delineate responsibilities between that commission and the Board of Public Safety.

Chris, a legal department representative, told the board: "The legal department has decided that there should be some acknowledgment in our Bloomington Municipal Code of the existence of the Fire Merit Commission." He said the proposed ordinance would add a new section mirroring the board's code language, set out the commission's makeup, officers and terms, and clarify that the commission will handle hiring, promotion and discipline of fire members.

Board members asked whether the ordinance would establish pay for commission members. "We have not identified that through this ordinance," Chris said; "No." A board member noted the Board of Public Safety had recommended the commission not be paid until funding is identified. The chair and Chris also explained that state statute can create the Merit Commission without a separate ordinance—an outcome often described as the commission 'springing into existence'—but that codifying it in the municipal code makes the arrangement clearer to the public.

Chris moved to approve Resolution 2026‑01; the police department representative seconded. The chair called the question and the motion passed unanimously. The resolution is a recommendation to the City Council; the council will consider the ordinance as a separate next step.