Minutes of the regular meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners held on Tuesday, May 1, 2007 in the Lower Conference Room, 3 Main Street, Newtown, CT. Chairman Mattegat called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Carol Mattegat, Gerald Finnegan, Robert Connor, Richard Simon. ABSENT: Duane Giannini. ALSO PRESENT: Chief Michael Kehoe, Captain Joe Rios, four members of public, one member of press.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION.
Jill Bontificus-Beaudry, 36 Queen Street, wants to follow through and ask that you continue to support us. Please ask Jay Maher, who oversaw the sidewalks in the Borough, to attend the next meeting as well as Mr. Rosenthal.
Bruce Walczak, 12 Glover Avenue, asked that the agendas be posted on the Town website. He is 100% in support of the Queen Street residents in their request for sidewalks. He thought that the people who purchased houses on Queen Street should have put in sidewalks. Chairman Mattegat said that the Police Commission made a request for sidewalks to Mr. Rosenthal but that is under the authority of the Board of Selectmen, not the Police Commission.
Lisa Flores, 32 Queen Street, asked where to we go from here with the sidewalks. Chairman Mattegat said that the Police Commission requested that the Board of Selectmen consider the sidewalks for the safety of the children. Ms. Floros said that the intersection at Glover Avenues dues not work because people turn around in her driveway daily and she is on the corner of Elizabeth Street. She said that the Borough said the intersection is fine but she feels it is a problem. Commissioner Connor noted that sidewalks were requested by the Police Commission when the Reed School was built.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
Discussion and comments on The Borough of Newtown Board of Burgesses’ Report on the Queen Street Area Traffic Improvement Plan. Chief Kehoe said that Mr. Rosenthal is out of town today. At the next meeting of the Police Commission Vollmer Associates will make a presentation concerning the Queen Street Traffic Study and the Board of Selectmen will attend. Commissioner Simon moved that the June 5 meeting be held at the Kendro Building, 31 Pecks Lane. Second by Commissioner Finnegan and unanimously carried.
MINUTES. Upon motion of Commissioner Finnegan, the minutes of the regular meeting of April 3, 2007 and the addendum were unanimously approved as presented.
CHIEF’S ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT (April, 2007). Overtime, Budget balances and GL Accounts were in good stead. Fleet We have received the two cruisers Equipment has been ordered for the command vehicle. Personnel two new hires at the academy will graduate May 22 at 6:00 p.m. One is number one in his class. New hiring process. Newtown and Brookfield will have a written test on May 5. There are fewer applicants than in the past. One or two certified officers have applied. Chief Kehoe recommends that he and Captain Rios sit on the panel to evaluate these officers as one certified officer is required to be on the panel.
Commissioner Finnegan moved that Chief Kehoe and Captain Rios sit on the panel to evaluate the certified applicants. Second by Commissioner Simon and unanimously carried.
Training report is included. Several Letters of appreciation were received. Citizen’s Police Academy is ongoing and will culminate on May 30. Student Police Academy finished with 17 participants. Station Meeting will be held on May 11 at the Kendro building. Slow Down in Newtown. Regional ideas will be considered with Newtown, Redding and Bethel participating. Three Newtown officers will participate for the day. Awards and Decoration Committee will meet tomorrow to pick a day for the ceremony.
Glover Avenue Crosswalk information was distributed by Chief Kehoe. He noted that bus service is available to the Middle School but he said that the parent who requested the crosswalk said that the bus is inconvenient as it comes too early for the students. Chairman Mattegat said that the Board was told there was no bus. She said this is a Board of Ed issue. Commissioner Finnegan moved to rescind the previous motion to study a crosswalk at Meadow Road and Glover Avenue. Second by Commissioner Simon and unanimously carried.
CAPTAIN’S OPERATIONAL REPORT (April, 2007) included Motor Vehicle Activity Report, DUI Report, Monthly Calls for Service and Detective Division Report.. MADD Award winners will be announced next month at the Academy in Meriden. Checkpoints are planned for May through August. Combined checkpoints with Brookfield and Bethel are being considered. Also multiple checkpoints on the same night will be held. These four DUI grants are separate from the Expanded Grant which is approved for Memorial Day, July 4th and Labor Day. Annual inspections of equipment and uniforms will be scheduled.
NEW BUSINESS
Policy and Procedure Prisoners, and the Holding Facilty (#2-1 revised). Commissioner Connor moved to adopt Policy and Procedure Prisoners and the Holding Facility (#2-1 revised). Second by Commissioner Simon and unanimously carried.
Commissioner’s Participation (next agenda). None noted.
Executive Session. Commissioner Connor moved to enter executive session at 8:10 p.m. to discuss update on pending civil claims and to invite Chief Kehoe and Captain Rios to attend, second by Commission Simon and unanimously carried. At this time the clerk left the meeting.
Ann M. Mazur, Clerk
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