MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
FEBRUARY 23, 2005
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety, adjourned from February 9, 2005, was held on Wednesday, February 23, 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, and Carolann Kennedy-Pucino, Corporation Counsel Al Vasko, Police Chief Robert Milano, Acting Deputy Police Chief Michael Maniago, Traffic Officer Robert Shopey, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, Fire Marshal Timothy Taurau, and Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Cornell. Absent were Commissioners Michael Colangelo, and Thomas T. Telman, Jr., Drakeville Volunteer Fire Chief Aaron Picz and Burrville Volunteer Fire Chief Jason Noad.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 7:25 p.m., immediately following a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Police & Firemens’ Pension Fund.
MINUTES #160
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held January 12, 2005.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #165
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Pucino, the board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
Fire Marshal Timothy Taurau presented the following students with an award for winning the Fire Prevention Poster Contest:
Edward Dubois Kendra Hunte
Mollie Bartles Wednesday Webb
LETTER OF RESIGNATION: ROBERT LAPERRIERE #350
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the letter of resignation from Officer Robert Laperriere, Jr., effective January 17, 2005.
PROMOTION: OFFICER PAUL KALISZ #360
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to approve Officer Paul Kalisz’s promotion to Patrolman C on February 2, 2005.
POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT #370
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted unanimously to accept the Police Chief’s Report for January 2005.
MIDDLE SCHOOL DRIVE #380
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to give Officer Shopey permission to submit an application to the State Traffic Commission for a permit to install a 25-MPH speed limit sign on Middle School Drive.
FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT #400
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Field’s Report for January 2005.
DEPUTY FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT #410
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept Deputy Chief Giampaolo’s Report for January 2005.
FIRE MARSHAL & TRAINING OFFICER’S REPORT #420
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the reports from the Fire Marshal and the Training Officer for January 2005.
INCIDENT REPORT #425
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the Incident Report for January 2005.
COLONIAL ALARM #430
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, a discussion took place in regard to the Fire Department’s use of Colonial Alarm.
Chief Field informed the board that Colonial Alarm supplied equipment for the Fire Department to monitor alarms and that they had been having issues with them for the past couple of years.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo indicated that the Fire Department had experienced delays in getting equipment from Colonial Alarm for quite some time. In 2003, they had an incident whereby they needed to get in touch with Colonial and Colonial was unresponsive. The matter came to a head when the city investigated phone lines and Deputy Chief Giampaolo was asked to have Colonial Alarm match their list of companies they serviced with the Fire Department’s list and they were, once again, unresponsive. Several follow up calls were never returned. The Chief and Fire Marshal had the same issues. After some investigation, Fire Marshal Taurau was able to determine that Torrington wasn’t the only agency with these problems and that Colonial was in arrears in their business with SNET.
Chief Field and Deputy Chief Giampaolo concluded that Colonial wasn’t around and eighty customers weren’t being serviced. Their obvious concern was for the eighty companies for which they provided fire security. They called each customer on the Keltron list and suggested, without going into detail, that they should find another vendor. They followed up with letters that were delivered in person to those businesses, schools, churches, etc. It seemed as though everyone had the same problem in not being able to reach Colonial. Fire Marshal Taurau did finally talk to someone from Colonial, but it was well after they started making phone calls advising people to put fire security into their own hands.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo requested permission to terminate the city’s ongoing contract with Colonial because of their lack of responsibility, however, the contract has a six-month grace period before it can be terminated. He pointed out that there were plenty of security businesses in town that could do a yeoman’s job for those companies presently being monitored.
Mayor Quinn inquired whether the contract with Colonial could be terminated immediately for cause.
Corp. Counsel Vasko indicated that the last time the contract was amended was in 1986.
Police Chief Milano indicated that they had the same issues with Colonial. The Police Department also contacted their customers on record in person and by letter advising them of the situation. He strongly recommended that they get out of the business of providing alarm monitoring services for private companies.
Chief Field agreed.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo felt the matter was urgent since they didn’t have a vendor who could respond in a moment’s notice. He stated that Tech Controls had offered to keep us up and running should the equipment fail. Their concern was that the equipment belonged to Colonial Alarm and if they were in financial straights, someone could repossess their equipment leaving the Fire Department with nothing.
Chief Milano asked for the board’s permission to work on this matter in the best interest of the departments with Chief Field, Deputy Chief Giampaolo, Acting Deputy Chief Maniago, and Corp. Counsel Vasko.
Mayor Quinn indicated that Deputy Chief Giampaolo’s recommendation was to terminate the contract with Colonial Alarm by the date specified (February 8), however, it was essential that it be terminated sooner.
Commissioner Pucino made a motion to terminate the Fire Department’s contract with Colonial Alarm as soon as possible. Commissioner Cook seconded the motion.
Commissioner Pucino amended her motion to include the termination of the Police Department’s contract with Colonial Alarm. Commissioner Cook amended his second. Unanimous.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #840
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Cornell indicated that the senior members of the department appreciated having members of the Board of Safety and Mayor Quinn in attendance during their preliminary budget meeting for the three volunteer departments.
Chief Cornell informed the board that his department had another incident in regard to snow plowing. After speaking with Capt. Newkirk, their driveway was plowed within half an hour.
Chief Cornell indicated that his department gets nervous when the fuel tank gets below 1/4, and the oil company has been more receptive to their calls when they get low.
He reported that eight people were attending the certified fire/police course in Nepaug.
Mayor Quinn thanked Chief Cornell for having been invited to their budget meeting. He thought it was beneficial to watch the lively exchange of ideas. Thinking outside of the box was something he thought we needed more of. Although the Commissioners usually attend those meetings, he was open to another invitation, should he be needed.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1030
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and members of the Board of Public Safety.
Commissioner Pucino asked Officer Shopey if he was aware of Mrs. Vanoni’s situation near Oliver Wolcott.
Officer Shopey indicated that he had informed Mrs. Vanoni that Engineering would not install a guard rail on her property. He believed she had filed a complaint with the Mayor’s Office.
Commissioner Pucino informed Officer Shopey that the traffic light at the intersection of South Main and Albert was not working.
Mayor Quinn reported a stop sign that was knocked over at the intersection of Mountain Road and Marshal Lake Road, and another on Saw Mill Hill.
Mayor Quinn noted the tragic incident that occurred in Burrville.
ADJOURNMENT #1200
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:55 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
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