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MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
APRIL 21, 2003
A SPECIAL MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held to discuss budgets on Monday, April 21, 2003, in the Council Chambers.
Present were Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., members of the Board of Public Safety, Richard L. Zaharek, Robert C. Zordan, Thomas T. Telman, Jr. James E. Potter, Carolann Kennedy-Pucino, and Christopher H. Cook, Police Chief Roger Janelle, Deputy Police Chief Robert Milano, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, and Burrville Volunteer Fire Chief Jason Noad.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 5:35 p.m.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Commissioner Zordan indicated that the subcommittee for the Police Department, consisting of Commissioners Pucino, Zordan and Cook, looked at the alternative budget prepared by Chief Janelle and reported that they were uncomfortable with it and wished to remain with the original budget presented with a bottom line figure of $5,419,801.00, or a 3.13% increase.
Commissioner Zordan requested the opportunity to allow some input from Chief Janelle and/or the Board of Public Safety, should the Board of Finance want further cuts.
Mayor Quinn noted that the City Council will review all budgets within its jurisdiction and pass them on to the Board of Finance with their recommendations. The Board of Finance will meet jointly with the City Council to discuss priorities and narrow them down. The Board of Finance does have within its power, by Charter, the authority to make cuts within line items. It was his belief that more dialogue would take place and that input from various boards would be part of the record prior to making the final cuts and setting the mill rate.
Commissioner Pucino pointed out that further cuts in police protection would inhibit the safety of the city.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
Commissioner Telman indicated that the subcommittee, consisting of Commissioners Telman, Potter and Zaharek, had asked both departments to come up with alternative budgets and decided that further cuts would be drastic. The subcommittee re-submitted the original budget presented with a bottom line figure of $3,763,218.00, or a .097% increase.
On motion by Commissioner Telman, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to approve the Fire Department’s budget, as presented, with a bottom line figure of $3,763,218.00.
On motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Zordan, the board voted unanimously to approve the Police Department’s budget, as presented, with a bottom line figure of $5,419,801.00.
MINUTES #490
On a motion by Commissioner Telman, seconded by Commissioner Pucino, the board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the special meeting held March 26, 2003, on budgets.
PUBLIC SAFETY MISCELLANEOUS #530
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Zordan, the board voted unanimously to accept the Public Safety Miscellaneous budget with a bottom line figure of $1,645,500.00.
CIVIL PREPAREDNESS #540
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Pucino, the board voted unanimously to accept the Civil Preparedness budget with a bottom line figure of $16,275.00.
CANINE CONTROL #560
It was noted that the Canine Control budget had already been approved on March 26, 2003, with a bottom line figure of $68,653.00.
TRAFFIC MAINTENANCE #590
On a motion by Commissioner Telman, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted unanimously to accept the Traffic Maintenance budget with a bottom line figure of $207,925.00.
Commissioner Telman requested that the board be given the opportunity to pick and choose areas that could possibly endure any further cuts, should the need arise.
Commissioner Potter said “I think, when we get to this point, where we may be forced, once they get done seeing the overall picture of the entire budget in all departments, may be forced to cut additional.... (sentence unfinished.) I think we really need to, right now we do things individually by department, the Miscellaneous, the Traffic, and so on, but really the Fire Miscellaneous, when you get down to it, to me, it has to be lumped together with the regular fire department. Traffic is the same way. We need to keep aware that our guaranteed needed services, are more important to us than the stuff that’s not guaranteed or not a part of the day to day public safety issues.”
ADJOURNMENT #790
On a motion by Commissioner Telman, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 6:00 p.m.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
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