MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
JANUARY 12, 2005
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, January 12, 2005, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., members of the Board of Public Safety, Richard L. Zaharek, Douglas J. Benedetto, Christopher H. Cook, Carolann Kennedy-Pucino, Michael Colangelo, and Thomas T. Telman, Jr., Corporation Counsel Al Vasko, Police Chief Robert Milano, Acting Deputy Police Chief Michael Maniago, Traffic Officer Robert Shopey, Fire Chief John Field, Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Cornell, Burrville Volunteer Fire Chief Jason Noad, and Drakeville Volunteer Fire Chief Aaron Picz. Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo was absent.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M.
MINUTES #010
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held December 8, 2004.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #020
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Police Chief Milano reported that federal funds totaling $61,200.00 was awarded to the Torrington Police Department for DUI Enforcement.
HIRE POLICE OFFICER MEDINA #060
On the recommendation of Police Chief Milano, Commissioner Cook made a motion to hire certified Police Officer Hector Medina on a probationary status. Commissioner Benedetto seconded the motion. Unanimous. (The appointment was effective immediately.)
CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION #115
Chief Field presented a Certificate of Appreciation to Lt. Joseph McElroy and recognized him for performing as Coordinator of the Fire Prevention Program for more than ten years.
OUTSTANDING OFFICER AWARD #160
Chief Milano reported that Officer James Crean was chosen by his peers to receive the Outstanding Officer Award. The criteria used to determine the recipient includes the lack of absenteeism, aggressiveness on the streets, willingness to help fellow officers, a positive attitude and overall work ethics.
State Representative Anne L. Ruwet spoke in support of a traffic signal on Route 4 near the Post Office. She informed the board that she had spoken to Officer Shopey on several occasions in regard to this matter and that she had been working with the Department of Transportation. She was looking for the board’s support.
Mayor Quinn pointed out that the matter was on the agenda.
There were no further comments from the public.
LETTERS OF RETIREMENT #300
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to accept the letter of retirement from Officer Kenneth Stuka, effective January 15, 2005.
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the letter of retirement from Officer Frederick Schapp, effective January 15, 2005.
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the letter of retirement from Sergeant Steven Williams, effective March 19, 2005.
PATROL & SUPPORT REPORTS #330
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the Patrol Division and Support Services Report for December 2004.
INVESTIGATIVE SERVICES REPORT #340
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to accept the Investigative Services Report for December 2004.
TRAFFIC UNIT REPORT #380
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Pucino, the board voted unanimously to accept the Traffic Unit Report for December 2004.
TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT SQUAD REPORT #390
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the Traffic Enforcement Squad Report for December 2004.
ABANDONED VEHICLES REPORT #400
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the Abandoned Vehicles Report for December 2004.
PROCEDURE FOR EMPLOYMENT #420
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to adopt a proposal to standardize the procedure and method of selecting applicants for conditional offers of employment in the Police Department, and included the proposal as part of the existing general order on hiring.
The following verbiage was added to the motion: That the Commissioners would participate in the selection process as long as it didn’t impede or slow the process down and that the Commissioners would “observe” and not “participate.”
TRAFFIC SIGNAL: POST OFFICE #640
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Pucino, the board voted unanimously to grant Officer Shopey permission to seek an investigation and feasibility study to be conducted by the State of Connecticut Department of Transportation for the installation of a traffic signal at the intersection of East Elm Street, the U.S. Post Office, and Brook Street.
TRAFFIC SIGNAL: GREENWOODS ROAD #660
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to allow Officer Shopey to bring before the City Council the issue of installing a traffic signal at the intersection of Greenwoods Road and Winsted Road for additional action and funding.
CHIEF FIELD’S REPORT #680
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Field’s Report for December 2004.
DEPUTY CHIEF’S REPORT #690
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept Deputy Chief Giampaolo’s Report for December 2004.
FIRE MARSHAL & TRAINING OFFICER #700
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the reports from the Fire Marshal and the Training Officer for December 2004.
INCIDENT REPORT #710
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to accept the Incident Report for December 2004.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #720
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Police Chief Milano requested that letters be sent from the Mayor’s Office on behalf of the Board of Public Safety to Officers Kenneth Stuka, Frederick Schapp, and Steven Williams for their combined eighty years of police service.
Police Chief Milano informed the board that Detective Richard Good had been appointed to a statewide Committee called the Police and Juvenile Task Force, which will advise Police Departments on juvenile procedures. The committee is part of a larger committee that he belongs to called, Juvenile Justice Advisory Panel. Detective Good’s appointment recognizes his expertise in his involvement in the field of juvenile issues.
Police Chief Milano informed the board that the New Milford Police Department was coordinating a statewide program to collect used bullet proof vests to ship to Iraq to aid soldiers until such time as the military has an adequate supply. He indicated that Torrington had approximately fifty such vests that he would like to dispose of through that program. He requested placing that item on the agenda by 2/3rds vote.
ADD TO AGENDA: BULLET PROOF VESTS #800
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Telman, the board voted unanimously to add an item to the agenda in regard to the disposal of used bullet proof vests.
SEND BULLET PROOF VESTS TO IRAQ #820
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to give Chief Milano permission to send the used bullet proof vests to the New Milford Police Department whereby they will be sent to Iraq.
Chief Milano pointed out that more resignations from police officers were forthcoming throughout the year. He stated that the department is trying to maintain staffing needs and stretching the overtime account as far as it could. Adjustments in assignments have to be made in order to accommodate the retirements. Once again, he had to reduce the Traffic Enforcement Unit on a temporary basis in order to adequately staff all shifts. He was forced to shift priorities in order to combat the influx of drugs in this town. As a result, he had to use some of the $61,200.00 awarded from the DUI grant. The reduction in the Traffic Unit will be re-instituted in the future because they have been very effective in reducing accidents, related property damage, injuries, and deaths.
Commissioner Zaharek thought it was imperative to increase the staffing in the Traffic Enforcement Unit with at least one or two full time people.
Chief Milano indicated that the three resignations would make his department short by seven officers. That included two people at the academy who aren’t functioning at this point. His guess at getting a full time person back into the Enforcement Unit would probably be early summer.
Commissioners asked Chief Milano what it would take to get a full time person back into the Enforcement Unit.
Chief Milano indicated that the hiring process was extremely slow. In addition, Torrington normally gets only two seats at the academy. He told the board that he and the Acting Deputy would put some thought into the matter.
Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Cornell informed the board that his department had experienced a problem with an oil delivery from Dime Oil.
Chief Cornell reported not having representation from the Board of Safety at their last Fire Service Coordination Committee meeting. He informed the board that all three volunteer departments would like to have a special meeting with the Board of Safety to discuss their budgets, in general, before the city gets too far into the budget process.
Burrville Volunteer Fire Chief Jason Noad agreed with Chief Cornell that more funds from the city would be welcomed. His department was merely maintaining their services without making any improvements and felt they were twenty years behind.
Chief Noad expressed his disappointment in the lack of representation by members of the Board of Safety during the last two Fire Service Coordination Committee meetings.
Chief Noad reported that his department’s parking lot had gone beyond a week without being plowed. He said the driver of the snowplow in Burrville was specifically told not to plow the parking lot, and he stated that there was an agreement with the past Fire Chief and the past Superintendent of Streets, which was entirely not the case. Chief Noad stated that it’s part of his department’s agreement with the city that the doorways be kept clear during a storm and that the entire parking lot will be cleared in a timely manner.
Mayor Quinn noted that this was the first he had heard of this matter and would speak to the Superintendent of Streets about the agreement with Burrville.
Drakeville Volunteer Fire Chief Aaron Picz, reiterated that an increase in funds would be welcomed. He also urged the Board of Safety to attend the Fire Service Coordination Committee meetings.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1480
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and members of the Board of Public Safety.
Commissioner Telman requested a legal opinion in writing from Corp. Counsel on how a Deputy Fire Chief could be suspended without the Board of Public Safety’s knowledge.
Commissioners Zaharek, Pucino, and Telman felt it was the duty of the Board of Public Safety and not the Mayor’s to suspend anyone under their jurisdiction, with or without pay. They expressed their disappointment in not having been notified about the suspension.
Mayor Quinn indicated that his job was to notify the board after the disciplinary action.
Commissioner Telman requested the documentation in the Charter where it states that the Mayor has the authority to suspend a Deputy Fire Chief.
Commissioner Pucino reminded her peers to think before they speak when questioned about personnel matters.
ADJOURNMENT #1770
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:20 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CCTC, CMC
CITY CLERK
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