East Windsor Police Commission
Regular Meeting December 12, 2007
Minutes
CALL TO ORDER AND ATTENDANCE
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Sherman. Commissioners Barton, Devanney, Nelson and Sinsigallo were present along with Capt. Hart.
ADDED AGENDA ITEMS
A motion was made by Commissioner Barton, seconded by Commissioner Sinsigallo to add the following item:
NEW BUSINESS:
d) Exit Interview Policy
Barton/Sinsigallo Unanimous
PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
Special Meeting – November 14, 2007
The minutes of the special meeting of November 14 , 2007 were reviewed by all commissioners present. A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to accept the minutes of the special meeting of November 14, 2007 meeting as presented. Sinsigallo/Devanney Barton – Aye
Devanney – Aye
Sinsigallo – Aye
Nelson - abstention
Regular Meeting – November 14, 2007
The minutes of the regular meeting of November 14, 2007 were reviewed by all commissioners present. Commissioner Barton requested that there be a change to the minutes and that is as follows:
Page 4 – Paragraph B) Commission Members
Original sentence: He did not feel that it was done properly as the entire commission was not notified that this officer was put on paid administrative leave and then unpaid administrative leave while there was an ongoing investigation.
Change to: The Commission has the responsibility for taking action to place someone on any kind of leave; it was up to the commission to take the action regarding this officer.
BUDGET AND EXPENDITURES
A) Police Department - Monthly Billing
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to approve the East Windsor Police Department monthly billing dated December 4, 2007 in the amount of $3587.08 for the fiscal year 2007/2008
Sinsigallo/Devanney Unanimous
B) Police Department Financial Statement
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to approve the East Windsor Police Department Financial Statement dated December 6, 2007 as presented.
Sinisgallo/Devanney Unanimous
During the discussion regarding the Police Department Financial Statement, Commission Nelson questioned the Captain as to whether or not there could be a more extensive report regarding the variable overtime expended. The variable overtime is at 56% expended and Capt. Hart explained that a majority of the overtime was for seat belt enforcement and the Department of Transportation would be reimbursing the Town of East Windsor for the time spent by our officers.
There was additional discussion regarding this request among the commissioners present and it was noted to Commissioner Nelson that the type of report he was requested was attached to the payroll sheets. All of the commissioners present agreed that the new report furnished to them was helpful in them understanding where the overtime (variable and fixed) is being used.
C) Police Commission - Monthly Billing
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo seconded by Commissioner Devanney to approve the East Windsor Police Commission Monthly Billing for 110.26
Sinsigallo/Devanney Unanimous
D) Police Commission Financial Statement
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to approve the East Windsor Police Commission Financial Statement for the fiscal year 2007/2008 dated November 30, 2007 as presented
Sinsigallo/Devanney Unanimous
E) Animal Control Monthly Billing
There was no monthly billing for Animal Control
F) Animal Control - Financial Statement
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to approve the East Windsor Animal Control Financial Statement for the fiscal year 2007/2008 dated December 6, 2007 as presented.
Sinisgallo/Devanney Unanimous
G) Legal Billing
The legal billing from the firm of Penny, Botticello & O’Brien, P.C. dated
December 10, 2007 was reviewed by all commissioners present. No action necessary as this is informational only.
PUBLIC INPUT
Kathy Everitt, read the following statement into the record:
“Mr. Chairman and other members of the Police Commission. For those of you that don’t know me, my name is Kathy Everitt, the wife of Officer Bruce Everitt. I filed a citizen complaint with the Commission on September 8th and received a two paragraph letter from the Chief of Police dated November 27th, stating that my complaint was unfounded. I obtained a copy of an eight page report written by Captain Hart that I have read and responded to as there were numerous discrepancies and contradictions in that report. What I would like to know, is it procedure for the citizen to get one response and the Commission to get an obvious one side report. Here is a copy of my response to review”
Mrs. Everitt then handed each one of the commission members and Capt. Hart her response. Mrs. Everitt also stated that she had made a tape and would like the two tapes (hers and the Police Departments) compared for any inaccuracies.
The response was reviewed by all members of the commission present. A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Nelson to table any further discussion of this matter until the January, 2008 meeting.
Sinsigallo/Nelson Unanimous
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
There was no Unfinished Business
TRAFFIC AUTHORITY
07-0006 Rockville Road
An investigation has been conducted by Capt. Hart regarding the request for a stop sign on Rockville Road by Gerald Roy. Capt. Hart explained that this request does not meet the criteria of the manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. This conclusion was arrived at by reviewing the statistical data and arrest records over the past year. There have only been two accidents on
Rockville Road in the past year. It was also his suggestion to have the contractors put up a control advisory sign on Matthew Road.
Capt. Hart went on further to explain that the only way for the requested stop sign to be approved would be to have an engineering study done on the road.
There was also a request from the commission to have the traffic sign which is strapped to a utility pole on Neiderweiffer Road be removed and put on a regular pole. Capt. Hart suggested that the Town Highway Crew be notified regarding this traffic sign, removal from the utility pole and placement on a standard pole.
After additional discussion between Capt. Hart and the commission members, it was a consensus to have Capt. Hart follow up with his suggestion; i.e. engineering study on Rockville Road and removement of traffic sign from untily pole on Neiderweiffer Road.
07-0008 – Melrose Road
A letter has been received from Richard Garver regarding the waste trucks from Enfield using Melrose Road to get to and from the Ellington landfill.
Capt. Hart explained to the commission that the Police Department is working with Metro Traffic in training our officers in truck safety enforcement and when any additional information is available it will be brought to the attention of the commission.
A letter from the Police Commission will be forwarded to Mr. Garver.
PUBLIC INPUT #2 (Comments only - no discussion)
There was no Public Input
EXECUTIVE SESSION
A) Internal Investigation
B) Personnel Matter – tabled from the November 14, 2007 meeting
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to go into Executive Session at 7:33 p.m. to include Capt. Hart for the purposes of discussing Items a and b.
Sinsigallo/Devanney Unanimous
This portion of the Executive Session was closed with no action taken.
C) Litigation Update
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to go back into Executive Session at 7:45 p.m. to include Capt. Hart.
This portion of the Executive Session was also closed with no action taken.
NEW BUSINESS
A) 2008 Meeting Dates
The meeting dates for the year 2008 were reviewed by all commission members present. A motion was made by Commissioner Nelson, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to approve the meeting dates as presented.
Nelson/Devanney Unanimous
B) Re-hire Police Officer
There have been numerous discussions with attorneys regarding this re-hire and all involved are in agreement that it is ok to rehire this officer. 7As this is being regarded as a lateral transfer, there is testing that will need to be completed before this officer can return to work for the East Windsor Police Department. At this time there is no date as to when this officer will rejoin the Police Department.
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to go out of order to Item d – Exit Interview Policy.
Sinsigallo/Devanney Unanimous
D) Exit Interview Policy
Commissioner Barton stated that he did not believe that any of the officers that have either resigned or have retired since this policy went into effect has received the packet. He stated that he knew for a fact that Off. Stavol and Off. Petlik did not receive the packet and he felt that it should be part of their out-sourcing packet of information.
There was additional discussion regarding this matter among the Captain and the commissioners present and it was a consensus to change the first paragraph of the Procedure to read:
When an employee resigns, retires or is terminated for any reason. The employee will be given an exit interview questionnaire by the Chief or his designee and a copy of same to be forwarded to the Police Commission.
Capt. Hart will forward these packets to Officers Stavol and Seligman.
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Barton to go back to order – Item C Election of Officers – East Windsor Police Commission.
Sinsigallo/Barton Unanimous
C) Election of Officers – East Windsor Police Commission
Nominations were opened for the office of Chairman
Commissioner Sinsigallo nominated Cliff Nelson for Chairman
The nominations for Chairman were closed
Nominations were opened for the office of Vice-Chairman
Commissioner Nelson nominated Linda Sinsigallo for Vice-Chairman
The nominations for Vice-Chairman were closed
Nominations were opened for the office of Secretary
Commissioner Barton nominated Lorraine Devanney for Secretary
The nominations for Secretary were closed.
The following votes were taken:
Chairman – Cliff Nelson – Unanimous
Vice-Chairman – Linda Sinsigallo – Unanimous
Secretary – Lorraine Devanney – Unanimous
The new slate of officers will take effect with the January, 2008 meeting of the East Windsor Police Commission.
COMMUNICATIONS
The Chief was not present this evening as he is on a long planned family vacation and Chairman Sherman made the comment that he hopes he is somewhere warm
MONTHLY REPORTS
A) Chief of Police
Capt. Hart notified the Commission Members that Matt Carl is now the union president
B) Commission Members
Nothing new to report.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to adjourn the regular meeting of the East Windsor Police Commission at 8:08 p.m.
Sinsigallo/Devanney Unanimous
Respectfully submitted,
Darlene H. Kelly
Recording Secretary
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