East Windsor Police Commission
Regular Meeting June 11, 2008
Minutes
CALL TO ORDER AND ATTENDANCE
The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman Nelson. Commissioners Devanney, Sauerhoefer, Sherman, and Sinsigallo were present along with Chief DeMarco and Capt. Hart. Chairman Nelson took this opportunity to welcome the newest member, Joe Sauerhoefer to the Board of Police Commissioners
ADDED AGENDA ITEMS
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to add the following item to the agenda:
Under Unfinished Business – Item A
Transfer of Funds
Sinsigallo/Devanney Unanimous
A motion was made by Commissioner Sherman, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to add the following item to the agenda:
Under Executive Session – Item B
Grievance 08-05
Sherman/Devanney Unanimous
PREVIOUS MEETING MINUTES
Regular Meeting – May 14, 2008
The minutes of the regular meeting of May 14, 2008 were reviewed by all commissioners present. A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to accept the minutes of the May 14, 2008 meeting as presented.
Sinsigallo/Devanney Unanimous
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 June 6, 2008 in the amount of $12361.41 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 June 6, 2008 as presented.
Sinisgallo/Devanney Unanimous
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 dated May 31, 2008 for the fiscal year 2007/2008 in the amount of $100.00
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 May 31, 2008 as presented
Sinsigallo/Devanney Unanimous
E) Animal Control Monthly Billing
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to approve the Animal Control monthly billing date June 6, 2008 for the fiscal year 2007/2008 in the amount of $370.72
Sinsigallo/Devanney Unanimous
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 June 6, 2008 as presented.
Sinisgallo/Devanney Unanimous
G) Legal Billing
The legal billing from the firm of Goodman, Rosenthal & McKenna, P.C. dated June 3, 2008
for the month of May, 2008 was reviewed by all commissioners present. No action necessary as
this is informational only.
PUBLIC INPUT
Dale Nelson, the liaison to the Board of Selectman, took this opportunity to discuss the budget and it’s failure to pass. She stressed the importance of educating the public on the budget and if they have any questions to pick up the phone and call someone in the know. She also announced that the next Public Hearing on the budget will be June 16, 2006 with a referendum scheduled for June 24, 2008.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
a) Budget Transfers
The Chief has requested the following budget transfers to see the Police Department through to the end of the fiscal year 2007/2008. The Chief also stressed that these requested transfers are within the guidelines as set forth by the Board of Finance – salaries stay within salaries and operational stay within operational.
The transfers requested are as follows:
Salary - transfer $2600 from 125 to 102
Other Category – transfer $2000 from 325 to 430
Transfer $1400 from 542 to 630
After a general discussion among the commissioners present regarding this request, a motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Sherman to grant the request of the Chief for the above listed line item transfers.
Sinsigallo/Sherman Unanimous
TRAFFIC AUTHORITY
There were no new traffic authority complaints.
PUBLIC INPUT #2
There was no Public Input #2
NEW BUSINESS
A) Circle of Merit Nominations
A motion was made by Commissioner Devanney, seconded by Commissioner Sinsigallo that due to the lack of a full board, the Circle of Merit Nominations should be tabled until a later time.
Devanney/Sinisgallo Unanimous
EXECUTIVE SESSION
A) Personnel Matters
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Devanney to go into Executive Session at 7:18 pm. to include the Chief and the Captain for the purpose of discussing Personnel Matters.
Sinsigallo/Devanney Unanimous
Part A of the Executive Session was closed at 7:36 p.m. with no action taken.
B) Grievance 08-05
As this grievance involves an officer in the East Windsor Police Department; and this officer was present at the meeting, he was given the option of hearing the grievance in open or closed (Executive) session. The officer chose to have the grievance heard in a closed session.
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Sherman to go into Executive Session at 7:38 p.m. for the purposes of discussing Grievance 08-05 to include the Chief, Captain, Detective Matt Carl and Officer William Ludemann.
Sinsigallo/Sherman Unanimous
Part B of the Executive Session closed at 8:06 p.m. with the following action:
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinisgallo, seconded by Commissioner Sherman to deny Grievance 08-05.
Sinsigallo/Sherman Unanimous
After the vote was taken, Detective Carl, Union President, spoke to the Commission and informed them that he and Off. Ludemann had discussed the grievance and Off. Ludemann made the decision to withdraw the grievance. A letter regarding this decision will be forwarded to Chief DeMarco.
COMMUNICATIONS
A letter dated June 3, 2008 was received by Chairman Nelson from Detective Matt Carl requesting that Grievance 08-03 (which had been denied by the Police Commission at the May 14, 2008 meeting) be sent to arbitration.
A letter dated June 12, 2008 from Chairman Nelson to Detective Matt Carl, Union President requesting that Grievance 08-03 be filed with the Connecticut State Board of Mediation and Arbitration.
MONTHLY REPORTS
A) Chief of Police
The Chief reported at this time that there have been some renovations done in the Police Department building. A wall has been partially knocked down to combine space and to enhance the work space between the Detective Division and the rest of the Police Department. The Detective area can now be accessed through the main hallway instead of through the back entrance. The Chief also stated that this Friday would be a “dress down” day with employees wearing “grubbies” in order to facilitate moving furniture and files into the new area.
At this point, the Chairman asked the Chief to speak, for the record, on the SRO. According to his memo to the Police Commission members for this meeting, he reported “ During rounds of budget cuts we initially suffered potential devastating losses. No officers are retiring that has been made aware to my office or the Town Treasurer. The cut to full time staff would put us in violation of the SRO grant. At the time of the grant, June 30, 2003 (before my arrival) the Town (First Selectman) and PD entered us into a binding agreement to receive the monies for an SRO. It provides that the program runs for 4 years with the last year being fully funded by us. During this time we cannot supplant or reduce from the authorized strength at the time of
application. Over the last few years we had grown slightly. Last year with a budget cut by the Town, we were brought to that authorized strength. This year the cut would bring us below the allowable threshold and would be considered supplanting. The potential of repaying the grant and not being eligible for future grants are possible sanctions. Although one member of the BOF hinted at not believing this fact, the Officer position was returned. We have the contract and all the information to support this.”
“However, we have still suffered cuts in areas that will have a negative impact next FY. I have been comprehensive in my presentation regarding training to all boards and commissions. To include the minimum requirements for maintaining Police officer certifications and their respective training areas/hours. The devastating cut will hamper us greatly in this area. The BOF then states we have not provided this detail to then when the cut was made. There are other areas I could have recommended that would not have negatively impacted services, certification or safety.”
After the above statements made the Chief were reviewed by all Commission members present, the Captain spoke to the contract that had been signed in 2003 and read the following items from that contract:
Assurances – By the applicant’s authorized representative’s signature, the applicant assures that it will comply with all legal and administrative requirements that govern the applicant for acceptance and use of federal grant funds.
In addition to this sentence, the Capt. read the following two paragraphs into the record:
Paragraph 13 – It will not use COPS funds to supplant (replace) state, local or Bureau of Indian Affairs funds that otherwise would be made available for the purposes of this grant, as applicable.
Paragraph 14 – If the awarded grant contains a retention requirement, it will retain the increased officer staffing level and/or the increased officer redeployment level, as applicable, with state or local funds for a minimum of one full local budget cycle following expiration of the grant period.
The Chief went on further to state that the SRO program had been suspended during this past school year due to the pregnancy of the SRO and the unavailability of any other officer to take over this position. He further stressed that in order for the East Windsor Police Department to be in compliance with the contract dated June, 2003; this position must be reinstated in September of 2008. September of 2008 will put the Police Department in the third year of the four year grant.
B) Commission Members
Chairman Nelson took this opportunity to commend the East Windsor Police Dept. on the Honor Guard which has been present at several town functions over the past few months. This is strictly voluntary with the officers in the Honor Guard having to pay for the jackets and leathers needed for this duty. As some of the newer officers are in the Honor Guard and do not have the necessary money in their uniform allowance to purchase the items necessary to participate in the Honor Guard, several of the older members have used their uniform allowance to purchase the necessary equipment for the younger officers in the Honor Guard. Also as being part of the Honor Guard is considered over-time and although the officers involved are allowed to take 4 hours of
over-time for their participation, not a single officer has taken more than 1 or 2 hours at the most.
The Chief spoke up at this point to announce that the Honor Guard would be escorting the East Windsor High School Graduating Class of 2008 into the ceremonies.
Chairman Nelson also thanked the Chief, the Captain and the rest of the commission members for their assistance and guidance over the last few months. Their help has made the transition from one Chairman to another easier.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Sinsigallo, seconded by Commissioner Sherman to adjourn the regular meeting of the East Windsor Police Commission at 8:31 p.m.
Sinsigallo/Sherman Unanimous
Respectfully submitted,
Darlene H. Kelly
Recording Secretary
| 
