Minutes of the regular meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners held on Tuesday, July 10, 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, six members of public, one member of press.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. Lisa Flores, 32 Queen Street, asked that if the Commission endorses speed humps on Queen Street, that Elizabeth Street, Lovells Lane and Borough Lane also be considered as these roads will be the only ones children can safely play on and ride bikes if people use these roads to avoid the speed humps on Queen Street.
Jill Bontifacus-Beaudry, 33 Queen Street, said we should not be afraid to try something new. We will then find out if it will work.
Chairman Mattegat read a letter from Lincoln and Jean Sander of Walnut Tree Hill Road asking for more motor cycle enforcement this year. They suggested that the best time is Saturday or Sunday after 1:00 p.m. when the weather is good. The said that the two checkpoints last year were not enough.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS.
Discussion, comments and approval on the Newtown Police Commission’s response to the Queen Street Area Traffic Improvement Plan. Commissioner Simon moved to accept the July 10, 2007 Board of Police Commissioners’ response to the Queen Street Area Traffic Improvement Plan as ordered on July 10, 2007 to be attached to the original minutes. Second by Commissioner Connor and unanimously carried.
MINUTES. Upon motion of Commissioner Simon, the minutes of the regular meeting of June 5, 2007 were unanimously approved as presented. Upon motion of Commissioner Simon, the minutes of the special meetings of June 7, 2007, June 28, 2007 and July 5, 2007 were unanimously accepted as presented.
CHIEF’S ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT (June, 2007). Overtime for Fiscal Year 2006-2007 was within boundaries. Budget 98-99% was used. GL Accounts were unremarkable. Fleet The two new cruisers are in service. The motorcycle is in and we are waiting for outfits for Officer Ketchum. The command vehicle is being prepared to be operational worthy. Personnel two new hires are in field training. Two hires started at the Academy yesterday. The new officer will be hired next Tuesday, July 17 at 6:30 p.m. Training included canine police dogs. Two Letters of appreciation were received. There were letters between Borough Zoning and other members of the government. Speed limit question raised at the last meeting – a brochure from the STC says
that speed limits less than 25 m.p.h. are seldom established because it is unrealistic to expect motorists to adhere to this limit and thus it is difficult to enforce. The STC also sent a letter reminding that signs are not to be posted on any State street signs; Newtown does not post signs on State signs. CIP Update: Commissioner Simon moved to accept the figures as set forth for the Fiscal Year 2009-2013 Capital Improvement Plan: Radio Communication System Upgrade for $300,000 and Architect’s Review and Space Needs Studies for Renovation of the Existing Building or for a New Building for $2,200,000. Second by Commissioner Finnegan and unanimously carried. The Board commends the Chief and the Captain for their work on the CIP.
CAPTAIN’S OPERATIONAL REPORT (June, 2007) included Motor Vehicle Activity Report, DUI Report, Monthly Calls for Service and Detective Division Report.. The Department is conducting programs for underage drinking, including false ID’s and associated crimes such as investigating parties and following up on who is purchasing kegs and where. The DUI checkpoint in June resulted in one DUI arrest and hundreds of motorists being checked. There will be another checkpoint on July 21. Performance and Observation Reports have been completed, including inspections of vehicles and uniforms. Captain Rios thanks Sgt. Vanghele and Officer Hynes for their statistical reports. He said that the officers have improved each month. Motorcycle enforcement will be undertaken this
summer.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
St. Rose School Expansion Project. Chief Kehoe will copy pertinent sections of the Wilbur Smith Associates traffic report for the Commission to review. A representative from Wilbur Smith will attend the next meeting. Chief Kehoe said that the project qualifies as a major generator as the site will go from 18,650 square feet to 32,700 square feet with 53 more parking spaces. There will not be any additional school children. The Borough will be contacted in view of all the activity that is going on in that area.
NEW BUSINESS.
Evaluation of the Chief of Police for 06-07. Commissioner Simon suggested adding that Chief Kehoe has an extreme knack to make the Department and Commission successful and also that he cares about what he is doing and is a good person. Commissioner Finnegan said that under Item #1 – Managing the Budget – Chief Kehoe mastered the overtime budget fantastically. Commissioner Simon moved to accept the performance rating of Chief Kehoe as presented. Second by Commissioner Finnegan and unanimously carried.
COMMISSIONER’S PARTICIPATION. Commissioner Simon said that this will be his last meeting because he is moving to Florida. He said that his eight years on the Commission were a life changing experience and he appreciated being able to serve.
Commission Finnegan suggested an emergency road from the back of Eton Center to the back of the Middle School. Commissioner Connor objected to this. Chairman Mattegat said that the Police Commission would address this issues if it came up in the future.
EXECUTIVE SESSION. Commissioner Connor moved to enter executive session at 8:15 p.m. to discuss update on pending civil claims and to invite Chief Kehoe and Captain Rios to attend, second by Commission Finnegan and unanimously carried. At this time the clerk left the meeting.
Ann M. Mazur, Clerk
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