MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
November 4, 2015
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Wednesday, November 4, 2015.
Those in attendance included Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, Commissioners Richard Zaharek, Douglas Benedetto, Glenn McLeod and Robert Conforti were present. Commissioner Darlene Battle arrived at 6:39. Commissioner Angelo LaMonica was absent. Also present were Police Chief Michael Maniago, Deputy Chief Christopher Smedick, Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Fire Marshal Ed Bascetta, Training Officer David Tripp and Campion Ambulance Director of Operations Fred Rosa, along with Drakeville Fire Chief Mike Maccalous, and representatives from Torringford VFD and Burrville VFD.
Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. starting with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Chief Maniago and Sgt. Dowd presented the Exceptional Duty Medal to Officer Denunzio for showing great courage and calmness during a life-threatening incident on March 25, 2015. Sgt. Dowd said this medal is for an outstanding act in the line of duty with imminent personal hazard of life and with full knowledge of the risk involved. Officers Foley and Gallagher and Sgt. Southard were awarded the Medal of Valor Award for their brave acts in the line of duty on March 25, 2015. Sgt. Dowd said this medal is for a highly credible accomplishment that brings recognition to the individual, the department and the police profession as a result of training, devotion to duty or service to the public.
MINUTES
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular meeting held October 7, 2015.
OPEN TO PUBLIC
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Conforti, the Board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no one present who wished to address the Board.
POLICE OFFICER: D. Lovallo
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Conforti, the Board voted unanimously to approve the appointment of Officer Daniel Lovallo as a regular member of the Police Dept. after completing his probationary period through one year after graduation from the Academy on October 20, 2014.
FIRE DEPT. APPTS
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to approve the permanent appointment of Deputy Fire Marshal Todd LaMothe and Lt. Walter Dixon who have completed their six-month probationary period.
REPORTS
On a motion by Commissioner McLeod, seconded by Commissioner Conforti, the Board voted unanimously to accept Police Chief Maniago’s Report received October 22, 2015.
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to accept Officer Pisarski's Traffic Operations Unit Report received October 27, 2015.
On a motion by Commissioner Conforti, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to accept Fire Chief Brunoli's Report received October 28, 2015.
On a motion by Commissioner Conforti, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to accept Deputy Fire Chief Pepler's Report received October 28, 2015.
On a motion by Commissioner Conforti, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to accept Training Officer Tripp's Report received October 28, 2015.
On a motion by Commissioner McLeod, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to accept Emergency Management Report received October 28, 2015. Commissioner McLeod requested notification of upcoming drills.
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Conforti, the Board voted unanimously to accept Fire Marshal Bascetta’s Report received October 28, 2015.
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board voted unanimously to accept EMS Provider Activity Report received October 6, 2015.
TABLED: BURRVILE VFD FUNDING
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to table consideration of Corporation Counsel’s recommendation to withhold further funding from the Burrville Volunteer Fire Department in light of an unauthorized purchase of a fire truck, as previously tabled by the Board of Public Safety on October 7, 2015. Commissioner Benedetto said he did not receive the information he requested. Commissioner McLeod said a subcommittee meeting was requested and he’d like to get both sides together to talk about the conflicting issues. Mayor Carbone pointed out that the minutes of the previous meeting indicate that the only information requested by the Board was for the Burrville Fire Dept. to explain what impact the stipend reduction would have.
BUSINESS: VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by Volunteer Fire Departments.
Drakeville had no report, Burrville notified the Board of an upcoming meeting, and Torringford announced an upcoming Food Drive.
BUSINESS: DEPT. HEADS
On a motion by Commissioner Conforti, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads.
Chief Maniago congratulated the newly re-elected, reported that three recruits are in the Police Academy right now and the Personnel Subcommittee will review more applicants next week. He thanked the participants in the statewide exercise, the police union for their food drive, Det. Farfan for her work with the Special Olympics and those involved with the PAL Lobsterfest and Golf Tournament because these things show that the Police Department is a fabric in the community, taking that relationship very seriously.
Chief Brunoli announced the Fire Department’s participation in a Veterans’ appreciation event at Southwest School. He invited the Board to attend a talk on December 1st by Dr. David Griffin, the Charleston South Carolina Fire Captain, who will speak on changes his Department has made since the 2007 sofa fire that took 9 firefighters.
BUSINESS: MAYOR & MEMBERS
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Conforti, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by the Mayor and members of the Board of Public Safety.
Commissioner Zaharek congratulated those who received awards and thanked those who re-elected him to a new term of office.
Commissioner Benedetto thanked those who received awards, congratulated those newly re-elected with himself and said that he hoped they would continue to work well with the Mayor.
Commissioner Conforti congratulated those who received awards, saying it shows the leadership they are following by example. He also congratulated the newly re-elected, saying he thinks they work well together.
Commissioner McLeod congratulated those who received awards, and the newly re-elected. He said he would like to see this Board be more proactive instead of reactive to everything.
Commissioner Battle congratulated and thanked those who received awards for their service. She welcomed back her fellow Public Safety Commissioners and asked Chief Maniago for an update on his trip to Chicago. Chief Maniago said he attended Leadership, Social Media and Law Enforcement classes with the International Assn. of Chiefs of Police. He said they discussed current trends such as the national heroin situation, police legitimacy and community policing.
Mayor Carbone noted that while the Board continues to table the decision regarding Burrville’s stipend reduction, Burrville remains in a state of limbo regarding funding. She asked for clarification of what the Board is looking for and a clear understanding of what information is needed to make this decision. Commissioner McLeod requested a subcommittee meeting, saying there hasn’t been one for two years. He said they could return to the full Board with a recommendation. Chief Brunoli said the Fire Service Coordination Committee meets every other month. Mayor Carbone questioned the value of a subcommittee meeting for this issue and recommended the information be presented to the full Board. She asked the Board to identify what information they require. Commissioner McLeod said he would also
like to see a list of costs associated with the Department. Commissioner Battle asked to receive the information with enough time to study it. Mayor Carbone noted that requests for information should be brought forth at the full board meeting to allow everyone the same understanding and follow-up opportunity.
Mayor Carbone reiterated the requests made: 1) A report from Burrville on the impact of the proposed cut and 2) a report from Chief Brunoli on the total expenses of funding the operation of the Burrville Fire Dept. Mayor Carbone asked that the information be sent to the City Clerk’s Office for documentation, distribution and inclusion on the next agenda. Commissioner Benedetto said that Capt. Noad bought the truck because the City delayed repairs to their old truck. Chief Brunoli explained that they were not going to repair the old truck because no funding was provided for it during the budget process. He said he was trying to have it repaired through the City to make sure it was mechanically safe, for liability’s sake. Chief Brunoli said he instructed Captain Noad to wait until they had
enough personnel to ride on the truck before making the purchase, added that the real issue is about having enough staffing to provide service to protect the City for liability reasons and to protect our firefighters.
Mayor Carbone also congratulated the newly re-elected.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:16 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Carol L. Anderson, MCTC, CMC
Assistant City Clerk
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