Firefighter promoted to lieutenant

by Laura Bednar

Dec. 10 city council meeting

Independence firefighter Kyle Krysiak was promoted to lieutenant and sworn in by Mayor Greg Kurtz. He has been with the department for 15 years and is a lifelong resident of the city. His wife Andrea and daughter Emma were in attendance for the ceremony.

Krysiak thanked his family for their cooperation as he studied to become a lieutenant and thanked his fellow firefighters for being his “second family.”

Fire Chief Steve Rega commended Krysiak saying, “A positive attitude is his best attribute.”

Purchases

City council approved insurance underwriting services for $332,081. This includes Selective Insurance Company of America for property, inland marine, automobile, liability, umbrella, public office and professional liability coverage. The total cost includes cybersecurity insurance from Lloyd’s of London and crime insurance from Travelers Casualty and Surety Company of America.

Vice Mayor Anthony Togliatti asked if the Bramley House was covered under the city’s property insurance. Mike Perry, vice president of CBIZ, who coordinated the insurance coverage, said there is blanket insurance for all $57 million worth of real estate in the city.

Cuyahoga County lists Independence Historical Society as the owner, so city council will discuss a formalized lease agreement with the society so the building could be part of the city’s coverage.

At the end of each year, the city buys back unused holiday, vacation and comp time from city employees. Several council members said historically, a list of employee names was included.

Finance Director Vern Blaze said the names of each employee selling back unused time was not included in the document because he wanted to protect employees’ privacy given the current volume of public records requests the city is receiving.

Councilperson Jim Trakas said the names should be included because they are public employees. Law Director Greg O’Brien said that each employee was represented by a line, which he said is “definitive enough.” Council members did not approve the list until after seeing the names as part of an executive session. The city bought back just under $75,000 worth of time from employees.