MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
OCTOBER 8, 2003
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, October 8, 2003, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Commissioners of the Board of Public Safety, Richard L. Zaharek, Thomas T. Telman, Jr. (arrived at 7:20 p.m.), James E. Potter, Carolann Kennedy-Pucino, and Christopher H. Cook; Corporation Counsel Al Vasko, Police Chief Roger Janelle, Traffic Officer Robert Shopey, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, and Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Cornell.
In Mayor Quinn’s absence, Commissioner Pucino called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
MINUTES #110
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held September 10, 2003.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #120
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted to open the meeting to the public.
Judith Monk, 49 Water Street, reported that a police officer threw her grandson, Daeschon who is 100% disabled, on a car, causing a knot and indentations on his head. She and another witness filed a complaint at the Police Department and wanted to make certain that her statement would not be considered “unfounded” in the weeks to follow. She requested an investigation of this case.
She complained about the manner in which a police officer gave a 78-year old woman a ticket for not stopping at a crosswalk on Prospect Street when there was no pedestrian in the walk. She thought a warning should supercede a ticket.
She stated that she had reported an abandoned car in the municipal parking lot near her home and that it took a number of police officers to check for its identification number and two weeks for the vehicle to be removed.
Commissioner Cook asked Ms. Monk to have Daeschon’s attorney present the Police Department with any paperwork he may have concerning his disability. He informed Ms. Monk that the Police Department merely followed the laws that governed them and that removing a car was not a simple procedure.
Joanne Gauger, 92 Birchwood Drive, principal of Saint Francis School, spoke on behalf of a group of parents who wanted to know why they weren’t notified prior to the Board of Safety meeting last month when the board talked about removing the parking spaces on Main Street in front of the school. She stated that the matter was brought to her attention by parents who saw a newspaper article about it and she was then visited by Officer Shopey who told her the meters were going to be removed and that there was nothing the city could do about it because it was a state road.
When she reported that information back to the parents, they requested documentation. She was told that the decision was made by the DOT not the city. She then spoke to John Bado at the Thomaston DOT who told her that they didn’t know anything about it, that it was the decision of the city. The parents wanted to know how the matter came about because they considered those parking spaces vital for dropping off children at the school and only involved about twenty minutes a day. Ms. Gauger asked if the meters on the other side of the street could be removed instead. She was informed that was not possible because the lane on the east side was wider than the one on the west.
Please refer to further discussion, #580.
Ms. Beauchaine, 113 Sharon Avenue, spoke in regard to the constant disregard for traffic safety in Torrington. People were going through red lights, turning right on red when they shouldn’t be and completely disregarding the speed limit. She opposed the elimination of the parking spaces on Main Street at St. Francis School without giving consideration to an alternative.
SUPPORT SERVICES REPORT #550
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted to accept the Support Services Report for September 2003.
INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES REPORT #560
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Telman, the board voted to accept the Investigative Services Report for August and September 2003.
TRAFFIC UNIT REPORT #570
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted to accept the Traffic Unit Report for September 2003.
ST. FRANCIS SCHOOL #580
On a motion by Commissioner Telman, seconded by Commissioner Cook, discussion took place in regard to Officer Shopey’s recommendation that five parking spaces on the west edge of Main Street between the two driveway egresses of the St. Francis School property be eliminated and posted by the Connecticut Department of Transportation as a “No Parking” area. (Tabled on 9/10/03.)
Officer Shopey indicated that the matter was a result of a complaint received by the Traffic Unit. Upon receiving the complaint they reviewed the area and found the lane to be 8' 6" wide. Federal mandates require the lane to be no less than 11'. Safety was a concern especially in a school area where children constantly cross the street and doors open into oncoming traffic. It was brought before this board last month because it didn’t meet the mandate. The board tabled the matter in order to give Officer Shopey time to alert the school about the complaint and to allow them adequate time to come up with a contingency plan before the meters were removed. According to the DOT, the parking meters will be eliminated because the road violates their regulations regarding lane width,
and they believe it’s a safety issue. Officer Shopey’s recommendation was for the city to go along with the state to have the meters removed in a timely manner and to have the DOT post those spaces as “No Parking.”
Commissioner Potter suggested eliminating the spaces on the east side of Main Street instead, and having the state repaint the center line to provide proper lane width on the west side to accommodate parking spaces in front of the school.
Officer Shopey indicated that the state would not incur any costs for removing the center line. He further indicated that the matter was a safety issue because parents not only parked in the parking spaces, but also parked in the no parking areas, and parked too close to the corner restricting Main Street to a one-lane roadway at a time when it is highly traveled. The state agreed that it was a safety issue.
Commissioner Potter thought the state could easily agree to incur the cost to paint a few hundred feet of road and to remove the parking on the opposite side. It made more sense to keep the parking on the school side of the street, eliminating the need for children to cross the street.
Commissioner Pucino suggested a half-hour loading zone in the morning.
Officer Shopey indicated that a loading zone wouldn’t solve the problems. Whether cars parked there for five minutes or an hour, they were still creating a narrow passage for traffic. Spaces would still need to be eliminated even if the line was moved over.
Officer Shopey suggested tabling the matter for another month in order to buy time. The state would wait for the city’s recommendation.
Chief Janelle suggested making a motion to have the DOT remove the parking spaces on the east side rather than the west, and to have them repaint the center line. Officer Shopey could bring that decision to the DOT.
MOTION #840
Commissioner Telman amended his motion to request the DOT to remove the parking spaces on the east side of Main Street instead of the west side and to repaint the center line to accommodate parking in front of St. Francis School. Commissioner Cook amended his second. Unanimous.
Under discussion, Officer Shopey said he was afraid if the board made the latter motion that it would have to be revisited next month because it won’t be the state’s decision as well. Any negotiation with the state would buy another month’s time.
Commissioner Potter felt the DOT would be more inclined to work with the city on the matter if they made a motion stating their preference.
CALHOUN STREET #930
On a motion by Commissioner Telman, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, discussion took place in regard to Officer Shopey’s recommendation to change, on a temporary basis, the present “No Parking” area on Calhoun Street from John’s Produce to a point 25 feet from the intersection of Main Street to “15 Minute Parking,” and in 90 days evaluate the change for permanency.
Officer Shopey indicated that the rear part of Mr. Falcone’s building was being used by Torrington Furniture and that a small van owned by them parked there for a few minutes at a time on a daily basis to move furniture in and out of the building. Unfortunately the area they parked in was posted No Parking, and people were complaining. His recommendation was to approve the request on a trial basis and revisit it in 90 days.
Chief Janelle suggested making it a loading zone instead of 15 minute parking.
Officer Shopey thought people may take advantage of a loading zone. People were apt to park there and go to other businesses and stay a while.
MOTION #1060
On the same motion the board voted to accept Officer Shopey’s recommendation to change, on
a temporary basis, the present “No Parking” area on Calhoun Street from John’s Produce, to a
point 25 feet from the intersection of Main Street, to “15 Minute Parking” and in 90 days evaluate
the change for permanency.
TRAFFIC SIGNALIZATION SYSTEM #1090
On a motion by Commissioner Telman, seconded by Commissioner Cook, a discussion took place in regard to Councilman Jerram’s request to update the traffic signalization system to 2003 standards.
Officer Shopey explained that our traffic signalization is on a coordinated system, with the exception of two locations, namely Laurence Square and the center of town, which are on a traffic responsive time-based system. He explained that a coordinated system will give you on a pie chart, a piece of that pie the entire time. Whether there’s a vehicle sitting there or the street is empty, that side of the intersection gets that portion of the pie. On a traffic responsive time-based system, if there are no vehicles there, then it goes to the other side where there are vehicles and allows that light to be green until another vehicle approaches the opposite side until the time is maxed out. Putting the center of town on a coordinated system would cause traffic to backup because they would
only have 30 to 40 seconds on Main Street, whether there’s one car or a hundred.
Officer Shopey stated that the city’s system is up to par and where it should be. There were a few issues, mainly due to projects that were just closed out and because the state hadn’t been too helpful in making changes because of recent layoffs. He was currently looking into purchasing software programs to upgrade the signal system and new computers to upgrade those purchased in 1995, which are not compatible to the new software. The new software will allow the traffic unit to take traffic counts to determine whether the timing needs to be changed. All changes will still have to be approved by the DOT. New upgrades will be installed concerning right turn arrows, etc. Officer Shopey reported that basically the system is up to 2003 standards and there’s really
nothing more that can be done to it. It’s true that our system was based on counts from 1997, however, minor changes have occurred throughout the years due to traffic count, equipment upgrades, etc. We may not be 100% accurate on traffic counts because they change on a daily basis, however we’re in the ball park.
Commissioner Telman asked Officer Shopey if he knew exactly what Councilman Jerram was looking for.
Officer Shopey said he believed the Council wanted the signals changed to reflect new traffic counts. He thought Councilman Jerram wanted all the timing changed to be more responsive to the traffic. Basically it was for the most part, said Officer Shopey. To change the entire system to meet the demands of everyday traffic is almost impossible.
Commissioner Potter inquired how the computerization fit into what they did with the pedestrian crossings downtown and whether we would ever have dedicated crosswalks downtown?
Officer Shopey indicated that the probability of ever having dedicated crosswalks in the center of town is very close to zero. The cost to go to that system is huge. There are issues about coordinating the system because it would have to go to a responsive system. You’re talking about timing changes and adding time. He explained that pedestrians have about 25-30 seconds of cross time at any intersection. If you were to add 20-30 seconds to every single intersection, you would probably add ten minutes to the traffic on Main Street. You would be hitting every one of them on a walk signal and the walk would come up every time the button is pushed. Presently vehicles and pedestrians cross in the same direction at the same time.
Commissioner Telman thought the Council was looking for the whole intersection to change at the push of a button.
Officer Shopey indicated that would take software changes including having to redesign and re-engineer the entire system. You would be looking for all the time that it takes someone to cross to be added to the timing at the intersection. He explained the following: If you’re on the coordinated system and have a 60-second cycle, right now under that 60-second cycle you may have 20 seconds of walk time, but that’s included with your green time. If you were to add that 20 seconds of walk time out of that 60 seconds, you would only have 40 seconds of green time on all sides of the intersection, causing you to lose 20 seconds of green time. People would be sitting at red lights longer because pedestrians would have more green time.
On the day that the signals were monitored and tickets were handed out, one of the main issues that came about was that pedestrians pushed the button, didn’t wait for the walk signal and walked across the street when they weren’t suppose to. Those people didn’t get tickets but were warned and explained how the system worked.
Commissioner Telman thought educating the public would be more advantageous and more cost effective.
Commissioner Pucino believed that ticketing people was a good educational process as well.
No action was required on this matter.
CHIEF FIELD’S REPORT #1490
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Telman, the board voted to accept Chief Field’s report for September 2003.
DEPUTY CHIEF’S REPORT #1500
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted to accept Deputy Chief Giampaolo’s report for September 2003.
FIRE MARSHAL & TRAINING OFFICER’S REPORT #1510
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Telman, the board voted to accept the Fire Marshal’s and the Training Officer’s report for September 2003.
INCIDENT REPORT #1520
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted to accept the Incident Report for September 2003.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #1530
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Chief Janelle thanked the Fire Police for assisting the Police Department with traffic control during the recent training exercise conducted by the Fire and Police Departments, Charlotte Hungerford, and the EMS. Without their assistance, their task would have been very difficult.
Chief Janelle further reported that the Police Department and DARE will be sponsoring a Car Show on October 19th at the Ames Plaza.
Chief Field stated that the training exercise was very successful. Both the Fire and Police Departments worked well with other emergency response agencies, local facilities, convalescent homes, and elderly apartments. He thanked everyone involved, especially Officer Thomas Vannini who helped organize the entire event and was very instrumental in making it happen. It was a great learning experience for each agency, and it gave everyone an opportunity to view each other’s operations in a different light.
He also thanked everyone who donated blood during their Annual Blood Drive. He reported that it was quite successful.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo concurred with Chief Field in regard to the training exercise. He commended Chief Janelle and his staff for their professional manner working with the EOC bus.
He also thanked the Board of Public Safety for their persistence in the Vehicle Replacement Plan, for allowing the Fire Department to move forward with the entire concept, and for their support on October 6 when the Plan, along with the rescue, was approved by the City Council.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1720
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Telman, the board voted to consider business presented by Commissioner Pucino, acting as Mayor, and members of the Board of Public Safety.
Commissioner Potter pointed out that the sidewalks at Coe Park were completely blocked off, and saw it as a potential problem for the elderly who cross by the Elks to get to the shopping center. He had seen them walking along the edge of the fence.
Officer Shopey said he believed it was properly posted as “Sidewalk Closed” and the elderly had several other crosswalks to chose from. They should be walking on the west edge of the roadway on the sidewalk and not be on the Coe Park side of the street at all.
City Clerk Joseph L. Quartiero inquired whether the Civic Center would be usable for the upcoming election.
Chief Janelle stated that he had seen several hundred people lined up to go into the Civic Center that night and suggested speaking with the Park & Rec. Director.
Commissioner Potter asked Officer Shopey to observe the closed sidewalks at Coe Park and if it continued to be a problem with the elderly, some action may be necessary.
Officer Shopey indicated that he would mention it to the DOT because it’s a state road.
Commissioner Potter commended Chief Janelle on his Traffic Enforcement Squad. He noticed them pulling over drivers all over town, even with unmarked cars.
Chief Janelle was glad Commissioner Potter had brought that up, especially since someone in the public portion of this meeting had complained about drivers not observing the laws. He pointed out that his department had issued 312 summonses during the last three months. That number is unprecedented in Torrington. That was the result of the Traffic Enforcement Squad.
Commissioner Potter asked Chief Janelle to look into Ms. Monk’s complaints and concerns and to address those issues.
Chief Janelle indicated that he would review her complaints.
In regard to the rescue truck, Commissioner Potter didn’t feel as confident as the rest of the board on how things moved along during the City Council meeting and felt strongly that additional hurdles were yet to come.
Commissioner Cook commended both departments for a job well done during the training exercise.
ADJOURNMENT #2040
On a motion by Commissioner Telman, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted to adjourn at 8:05 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CCTC, CMC
CITY CLERK
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