OLD SAYBROOK POLICE COMMISSION
OCTOBER 24, 2005
MINUTES
The regular monthly meeting of the Old Saybrook Police Commission was held on Monday, October 24, 2005 at 7:30 p.m. at the Old Saybrook Town Hall. PRESENT: Chairman Conklin, Commissioners Dobratz, Gallicchio, Seaforth and Sparaco. Also Chief Mosca, Lt. Spera, Lt. Barrows and Det. Sgt. Heiney.
Chairman Conklin called the meeting to order at 7:30 p.m.
1. Minutes
Chairman Conklin asked for discussion or approval of the minutes of the September 26th regular meeting and the October 11, 2005 special meeting of the commission. There being no discussion, motion was made by Comsr. Gallicchio and seconded by Comsr. Dobratz to approve the minutes of the September 26, 2005 regular meeting of the Police Commission, as submitted. Motion passed by unanimous vote in favor.
Motion made by Comsr. Sparaco and seconded by Comsr. Seaforth to approve the minutes of the October 11, 2005 special meeting of the Police Commission, as submitted. Motion passed by unanimous vote in favor.
2. Comments from the Public
Comments were made, and questions were asked and discussed regarding the recent labor board ruling.
3. 05-06 Operating & Capital Budget
Chief Mosca reported that the department is faced with the issue of having to pay overtime rates to cover the shifts of three people out on disabilities. Although the town has received compensation, now close to $20,000, this compensation is not being paid back into the police budget. Therefore, the department may be looking at the same situation at the end of this fiscal year as it faced at the end of the last fiscal year. The Chief said he was very happy to report that Ptl. Bergantino has been cleared by his doctors to return to full duty. He described the department’s program to get him back to full speed over a period of about a month, which he said was the program followed with Det. Sgt. Heiney, and seemed to work well for both the officer and the department. He reported that Ptl.
DellaRocco has been out and has almost come to the end of this sick and vacation days. He said there is some communication between Ptl. DellaRocco and the worker’s compensation company, and it is possible Ptl. DellaRocco may have to go on unpaid sick leave for a period of time. The Chief reported that Sgt. vanderHorst has been out for two weeks with a work related back injury also. The Chief stated that department personnel will also be present at the Park and Recreation Halloween party and the Fire Department hayride.
The Chief then reported that Expenses and Supplies expenditures are pretty much on track with the exception of the gasoline line item, which was heavily encumbered with a prepaid gasoline purchase due to rising gas costs. He hopes gasoline will not have to be purchased until the end of April or beginning May, by which time he hopes prices will have come down.
The Chief reported the department has taken delivery of the new car, which has been outfitted with lights and is to have the radio installed this week. He hopes it will be on the road by the weekend.
4. Personnel
The Chief again stated he is delighted to report that Ptl. Bergantino is finally released by his doctors for full duty. He stated Bill is looking forward to getting back to work and anxious to get back up to full speed. The Chief gave a description of the process that will be followed to get him back on patrol as quickly as is practical to ensure his comfort and success in returning.
The Chief reported the department has hired three individuals, Richard Goetz, Shannon Murphy and Candace Secchi, as part time communications personnel. They are receiving State training and will start training in the department at the end of the week.
Comsr. Dobratz asked about the advisability of hiring communications personnel considering the Labor Board ruling that the department must rehire the three officers who were laid off. He commented that the state has no law requiring two communications technicians on duty at one time. Chairman Conklin reminded Comsr. Dobratz of the reasons for the department’s policy of having two technicians on duty at one time as a result of a combination of State law and NFPA Standards and the practicality of providing the function to ensure public safety. He stated that if the officers return, the commission will have to meet with the Board of Finance to discuss funding their positions. The Chief stated he wanted to clarify that these new communications people are part time to fill in the schedule.
They are not full time and no cost of benefits will be incurred.
Chief Mosca asked Det. Sgt. Heiney to report on accreditation progress. Det. Sgt. Heiney reported he has attended the last of a series of meetings with the state accreditation team, reviewing and re-writing a number of standards. So far, no changes have been made to policies and procedures that were recently approved by the commission and that most department policies already meet requirements. He asked the commission to review the three policies given to them in April, for discussion and approval at the next meeting. He gave a description of the projected state activity and the timetable for the department’s compliance, which he will be sure the department meets.
Chief Mosca stated the commissioners had a written School Resource Officer report, which report is attached to and made a part of these minutes. He noted targeted activities of the SRO’s, including efforts to educate parents on certain changes in the law, such as use of cell phones while driving. Comsr. Gallicchio asked what percentage of time each officer spends in the schools. The Chief responded that SRO officers work various schedules at different schools but are available for patrol to cover people out sick, and are also called for immediate response to emergencies, such as unusual events or accidents.
5. Training
The Chief noted that commissioners had a written Training report, attached to and made a part of these minutes, and stated that in addition, the department is in the process of completing an after action report regarding the shooting, and described activity in connection with that report.
6. Events
Chief Mosca reported the department is prepared for Mischief Night, the Haunted Hayride and Halloween, all of which cover a two-week period, and is preparing for additional patrols and traffic programs between Thanksgiving and Christmas.
7. Correspondence
Correspondence received since the September 26th meeting was circulated for review of commissioners.
8. Activity Report
Det. Sgt. Heiney reported the department has handled 1,700 incidents, exclusive of administrative incidents, since the September 26th meeting, and issued 887 citations. These citations included 23 at the Main Street/Old Boston Post Road intersection and 36 at the Route One/Schoolhouse Road intersection, both of which were discussed at the last meeting. He also reported on the investigation of a theft of about $4,000 in power tools from a local construction site; prevention of a fight between out of town youths and Old Saybrook youths at the high school homecoming dance which resulted in the arrests of five persons ranging in age from 15 to 24 from Middletown, New Britain and Wethersfield; an investigation into the unauthorized use of a customer’s credit card from a local convenience store by a
16 year-old employee; and an arrest warrant application regarding a 67 year-old step-grandfather charged with sexual assault, risk of injury to a minor and unlawful restraint of a 12-year old.
9. Comments & Concerns of Commissioners
Comsr. Dobratz stated that when the reorganization proposal was made, the commission was assured of 3-man shifts. He stated he has not seen a schedule, but knows that only 2 officers were on duty last Saturday. The Chief responded that he worked on Saturday and is not aware of there being only 2 officers on the shift. He stated that if there are occasionally 2 officers on a shift, a lieutenant is on stand-by and can arrive at a scene within 10 minutes. He explained that normally lieutenants cover all but 4 hours of each day, with occasional exceptions if they have training. He said that typically, if a lieutenant is not on duty, a shift supervisor is, with a lieutenant on call as described in the reorganization plan. He stated that occasionally, if an officer calls in sick, he will
allow the shift to go with 2 officers and a lieutenant on call, depending on the typical activity of that day and shift. With three people off on disability and replacements being paid at time and a half, he is required to manage the department in a fiscally prudent manner, as required by the Police Commission, while providing adequate police coverage. He also explained that from the time the monthly schedule is posted, having been developed to accommodate requested vacation days and provide optimal staffing, until the end of the month, many changes are made due to sick days, family sick days and last minute vacation and personal days, which he feels are important to maintain a reasonable quality of life for officers and their families. Comsr. Dobratz stated he would try to meet with Lt. Spera to review recent schedules, as offered by the Chief several weeks ago. The Chief felt that a meeting would be beneficial for Comsr. Dobratz to get a true picture of
actual shift coverage.
Comsr. Dobratz asked if the commission would have a special meeting before October 30th to discuss the labor board ruling. Chairman Conklin stated that when information the department has requested is received, the commission will meet and make a recommendation. He stated the final decision will come from the Selectmen’s office.
Comsr. Gallicchio asked if there was anything new on the Foodbag murder investigation or the Miller murder investigation. Det. Sgt, Heiney stated there is nothing new on the Foodbag murder, and there have been some developments in the Miller case, but he cannot discuss them at this time.
Chief Mosca stated that in light of the previous discussion pertaining to hiring three part time communications technicians, and the possibility of three officers being reinstated due to the Labor Board decision, he hopes the commission supports keeping communications and policing separate. He stated that contrary to what the Labor Board said, the State requires certain communications tasks. In order to complete those tasks, and following NFPA Standards, two communications technicians are scheduled for most shifts, and he would not like to see police officers return to doing communications work.
Motion to adjourn made by Comsr. Sparaco and seconded by Comsr. Dobratz. Motion passed by unanimous vote in favor.
Meeting adjourned at 8:12 p.m.
JoAnne Klingerman
Executive Assistant
These minutes are subject to approval by the
Old Saybrook Police Commission at its
November 14, 2005 meeting.
aHaunted Ha6ride
| 
