Minutes of the regular meeting of the Board of Police Commissioners held on Tuesday, January 3, 2008 in the Lower Conference Room, 3 Main Street, Newtown, CT. Vice-Chairman Connor called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Robert Connor, Brian Budd, Bruce Walczak. ABSENT: Carol Mattegat, Duane Giannini. ALSO PRESENT: Chief Michael Kehoe, Captain Joe Rios, two members of public, one member of press.
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION. Dr. Terence Trow, 10 Pinnacle Drive, said his son was injured on Queen Street by a hit and run driver last October. He requested that speed bumps be put on that street. Commissioner Connor said that last summer the Police Commission did vote to place the speed bumps but that First Selectman Rosenthal said there were no universal standards for the speed bumps. Dr. Trow said his son was told that it was his fault because he was not in a crosswalk but Dr. Trow said that there was no crosswalk there. Please bring this matter up to the new First Selectman. Commissioner Walczak said there is an ordinance before the Legislative Council but there is now no ordinance to allow the Town to put in speed bumps. Commissioner Walczak said that speed signs could be placed at the discretion of the Police and
Building Departments but that this is not recommended as a tool for speed control. Dr. Trow does not want someone else to be injured before something is done. Commissioner Connor suggested that Dr. and Mrs. Trow attend a Board of Selectmen’s meeting. Commissioner Walczak said that the Board of Selectmen passed this onto the Legislative Council and that they should attend a Legislative Council meeting.
MINUTES. Upon motion of Commissioner Walczak, the minutes of the regular meeting of December 4, 2007 and the addendum were unanimously approved as presented.
CHIEF’S ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT (December, 2007). Overtime is according to schedule. Budget balances and GL Accounts were unremarkable. Commissioner Walczak questioned the high balance in the Traffic Guards account and Chief Kehoe said he does not believe that this figure is correct and perhaps was not updated from last month. Commissioner Budd asked if the Board of Education could share in the cost of the traffic guards, but Chief Kehoe said that the Police pay for this as the guards are actually traffic enforcement guards, not just crossing guards, and are trained by the Police Department. Fleet we are looking to buy cruisers that match the specs that are in place. Personnel two new hires graduated from the academy; Officer Smith was the head of his class. Newtown
Officer Seabrook is now at the top of his class at the academy. Lieutenant’s duties. Lt. Sinko will become the operational lieutenant and Lt. Mooney will be the administrative lieutenant. Training will include recertification of thirteen officers in January, February and March. One Letter of appreciation was received. Budget deliberations will be held by the Board of Selectmen on January 22 at the Senior Center. Index Guide Report was unremarkable. Commissioner Walczak thought at a 48% reduction in crime for the first quarter was remarkable, but Chief Kehoe said that this was a small data base and he looks for trends over a longer period. Follow up letters from the STC were included. The Technology Park on Commerce Road is in preliminary design. The State DOT had a meeting of all involved parties. Also discussed were problems with I-84 and Church Hill Road. The Space Needs Committee chose Jacunski Humes Associates. Commissioner Budd moved to accept the Chief’s Report, second by
Commissioner Walczak and unanimously carried.
CAPTAIN’S OPERATIONAL REPORT (December, 2007) included Motor Vehicle Activity Report, DUI Report, Monthly Calls for Service, Detective Division Report and Traffic Unit Enforcement Report. A DUI checkpoint two weeks ago resulted in 2 DUI arrests, several infractions, 5 vehicles towed and 700 cars going through the checkpoint. The majority of the funds were from a State DOT Grant. Commissioner Walczak thanked the Captain for the Traffic Enforcement Unit report. Commissioner Budd moved to accept the Captain’s Report, second by Commissioner Walczak and unanimously carried.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS. None noted.
NEW BUSINESS.
Officer Amity LaFantano’s resignation effective December 26, 2007. Commissioner Budd moved to accept Officer Amity LaFantano’s resignation effective December 26, 2007, second by Commissioner Walczak and unanimously carried.
Policy and Procedures. Commissioner Budd moved to adopt Policy and Procedure #4.02 Fingerprints for Other than Custodial Arrests (Revised), second by Commissioner Walczak and unanimously carried.
Commissioner Budd moved to adopt Policy and Procedure #9.02 Appearance in Court and Court Time Payments (Revised), second by Commissioner Walczak and unanimously carried.
Commissioner Budd moved to adopt Policy and Procedure #10.03 Uniform Brass and Accoutrements (Revised), second by Commissioner Walczak and unanimously carried.
Commissioner Budd moved to adopt Policy and Procedure #10.05 Wearing of Uniforms (Revised), second by Commissioner Walczak and unanimously carried.
Commissioner Budd moved to adopt Policy and Procedure #10.08 Uniform & Equipment Inspections (Revised), second by Commissioner Walczak and unanimously carried.
Commissioner Budd moved to adopt Policy and Procedure #10.09 Authorized & Required Equipment (Revised), second by Commissioner Walczak and unanimously carried.
Commissioner Budd moved to adopt Policy and Procedure #1.25 Personal Grooming (New), second by Commissioner Walczak and unanimously carried.
Commissioner’s Participation. None noted.
Executive Session. Commissioner Budd moved to enter executive session at 8:26 p.m. to discuss update on pending civil claims, strategy for Police Collective Bargaining (Successor) Agreement, and review of probationary police officer’s candidates files and to invite Chief Kehoe and Captain Rios to attend, second by Commission Walczak and unanimously carried. At this time the clerk left the meeting.
Ann M. Mazur, Clerk
ADDENDUM TO
MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING OF THE TOWN OF NEWTOWN BOARD OF POLICE COMMISSIONERS HELD ON JANUARY 2, 2008
At 9:42 P. M., the Board left executive session.
At 9:42 P. M. Commissioner Budd moved to offer William Chapman a firm offer of employment as Probationary Police Officer with conditions, starting date of employment January 23, 2008, seconded by Commissioner Walczak, unanimously passed by the Board.
At 9:43 P. M. Commissioner Budd moved to proceed with Psychological examinations for Probationary Police Officer candidates Walter Lucia and Michele DiCocco, seconded by Commissioner Walczak, unanimously passed by the Board.
At 9:43 P. M. Commissioner Budd moved to immediately begin an open enrollment recruitment of lateral certified police officers, seconded by Commissioner Walczak, unanimously passed by the Board.
At 9:44 P. M. Commissioner Walczak moved to adjourn, seconded by Commissioner Budd, unanimously passed by the Board.
Submitted by:__________________________________
Chief Michael K. Kehoe
For
Robert Connor, Vice-Chairperson
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