The Charleston City Council approved an agreement with the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #88 during its meeting Tuesday evening.

The agreement explains the requirements and expectations of working as an officer for the Charleston Police Department and covers patrol officers, sergeants and lieutenants.

The agreement explains management rights, supervisory duties, the no strike policy, bill of rights, resolution of impasse, discipline and discharge, grievance and arbitration, layoffs, maintenance of standards, dues deduction/union business, conditions of employment, hours of work, seniority, types of leave, overtime, wages, holidays, uniforms and equipment, vacations, insurance and pension, general provisions, on duty injuries and deaths of officers, savings clause, probationary period, and drug testing.

The agreement will be in effect from May 1, 2021 to April 20, 2025.

The council approved the destruction of audio and video recordings of closed session meetings.

The meeting recordings that will be destroyed are all from 2019 and include recordings of Jan. 2, March 5, April 2, April 16 and May 7 meetings.

The partial release of some closed meeting minutes was also approved.

The dates of closed meeting minutes that will be partially released are July 2, 2019, July 16, 2019, Aug. 6, 2019, Oct. 1, 2019, Oct. 15, 2019, Jan. 21, 2020, March 17, 2020 and July 21, 2020.

The council also approved a petition from Coles County Habitat for Humanity for a conditional use permit.

The property for which they are asking for the permit is at 990 West State St. and currently houses Habitat for Humanity, the Charleston Food Pantry and the Coalition for People in Need.

The reason for the petition is to allow for an expansion for the Charleston Food Pantry and the petition will allow for all three groups to remain in Charleston and continue their work. 

The Charleston Board of Zoning Appeals and Planning recommended the approval.

The council approved the purchase of portions of land at 224 Grant Ave. and 1615 University Dr. to build ramps to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The owners of the land were offered $300 and $331 respectively.

The state of emergency in Charleston is due to “the nature of the emergency is the ongoing Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic of sufficient severity and magnitude that it may result in or threaten the death or illness of persons to such an extent that extraordinary measures must be taken to protect the public health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City of Charleston, and thereby it has warranted an emergency declaration for all states and local government entities and more specifically within the corporate limits of the City of Charleston.”

Mayor Brandon Combs expressed his gratitude for the work of local police officers, firefighters and individuals who maintain Charleston roadways during the meeting.

He said he was happy with the work that they have been doing during the winter weather the city has been experiencing recently.

He also mentioned his pride in the Charleston Fire Department for their work on a fire in Comb’s neighborhood recently.

Combs said he was interested in watching the firefighters at work.

No public comment was made during the meeting.

The next meeting will be held in City Hall on March 2 at 6:30 p.m.

Corryn Brock can be reached at 581-2812 or at [email protected].