Kincaid trustees split on hiring process, approve pay schedule for part‑time officer

The Village of Kincaid board debated whether to delay hiring a part‑time police officer so the candidate could be discussed in closed session, then approved a motion setting the officer's starting pay and a timeline of raises.

Chief Mathon told the board that discussing a specific candidate would require a closed session, and Mayor Morris and several trustees questioned whether the agenda allowed hiring rather than only setting wages. Trustee Nelson asked that the village use its established hiring process consistently for this candidate and in future hires; DJ said he had already completed a background check for the candidate. "We would have to go into closed to discuss a specific officer," Chief Mathon said during the discussion.

Trustee Lawrence moved to table hiring until the December meeting so the board could meet in closed session; the motion passed with four ayes and two abstentions. Shortly afterward, Trustee Warren moved — and Trustee Dees seconded — to hire a new officer at $25 per hour with a six‑month bump to $27; the motion also specified that Seath would move to $27 immediately and to $28 in May. That motion was recorded as approved by the board.

The board's actions left two distinct outcomes on the record: a formal tabling motion to postpone discussion of the candidate in open session, and a separate approved motion that established the pay schedule and hiring direction. The minutes do not record the name of the candidate in the public portion of the meeting, and the board noted the hiring process and potential use of closed session as reasons for holding further discussion at the next meeting.