MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
MARCH 9, 2005
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, March 9, 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, and Michael Colangelo, 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, Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Cornell, and Burrville Volunteer Fire Chief Jason Noad. Absent were Commissioner Thomas T. Telman, Jr., and Drakeville Volunteer Fire Chief Aaron Picz.
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.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #660
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
PROMOTIONS: PAUL ABELING & DUSTIN BALDIS #680
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to approve Officers Paul Abeling and Dustin Baldis’ promotions to Patrolman C effective March 8, 2005.
NEW HIRES: WILLIAM BERNABUCCI & JONAH MEZZACANE #720
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to hire William Bernabucci & Jonah Mezzacane on probationary status pending final medical reports and medical clearance, to start at the convenience of the city. Both are scheduled to attend the academy beginning March 24.
DONATION OF TASERS #870
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Milano’s letter regarding the donation of tasers.
Chief Milano recognized the Northend Community Association for their generous donation of two tazers. He asked for the board’s permission to accept their donation and to arrange a time for the Northend Community Association to publicly present them to the Police Department. There was no objection.
CHIEF MILANO’S LETTER #900
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Milano’s Report for February 2005.
T.H.S. COMMENCEMENT EXERCISE #910
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to give Officer Shopey permission to seek the necessary permits from the State Traffic Commission to hold the Torrington High School commencement exercise on Sunday, June 19, 2005 at the Warner Theater, and that Main Street be closed between Water Street and Maiden Lane between the hours of 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and again between the approximate hours of 8:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m.
MEMORIAL DAY PARADE #930
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to give Officer Shopey permission to seek a permit from the State Traffic Commission to hold the annual Memorial Day Parade on Monday, May 30, 2005 beginning at 9:30 a.m. with road closures beginning at 9:00 a.m.
CHIEF FIELD’S REPORT #950
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Field’s Report for February 2005.
DEPUTY CHIEF’S REPORT #960
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Pucino, the board voted unanimously to accept Deputy Chief Giampaolo’s Report for February 2005.
FIRE MARSHAL & TRAINING OFFICER #970
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 February 2005.
INCIDENT REPORT #980
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept the Incident Report for February 2005.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #990
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Chief Milano stated he received a request from the Fire Police Unit of the Torringford Volunteer Fire Department to allow installation of police radios in their Fire Police van. Chief Milano felt that communication with the Fire Police would be beneficial for them as well as for the Police Department. To further enhance their communication, he asked Chief Field and Deputy Chief Giampaolo if they would like a unit installed in their vehicles as well, thereby increasing everyone’s capacity to communicate.
Chief Milano suggested arranging a lending agreement to assure that the units would be returned to the Police Department should the service ever be terminated.
The Board of Public Safety had no objection.
Burrville Volunteer Fire Chief Jason Noad pointed out that no one from the Board of Public Safety had attended their last Fire Service Coordination Committee meeting.
Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Cornell informed the board that his department had a repeated issue with the plowing of their parking lot. He wished someone would do something to give the voluntary fire departments some priority in having their parking lot plowed.
Mayor Quinn said he was unaware of the latest incident. He would check into the matter and report directly to Chief Cornell.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1180
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Pucino, the board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and members of the Board of Public Safety.
Commissioner Zaharek inquired how the process was moving along in selecting a permanent Deputy Police Chief.
Mayor Quinn stated that the process of selecting a new Deputy Police Chief was pushed back somewhat because the Personnel Department was busy dealing with issues in Social Services and Building Dept. and because the testing agency was on a month long vacation. Personnel was now in the process of reviewing dates to advertise the position. The process of selecting the Deputy will be identical to the one used for the Chief. There is no assurance that the Acting Deputy Chief will be promoted, and until it is decided, there is no vacancy in either position of Captain or Lieutenant.
Commissioner Pucino said she thought the Police Department had a list of people who had already tested for the positions of Captain and Lieutenant, which was soon to expire. Should the list expire, the need to re-test will cost the city more money.
Commissioner Zaharek added that the list has a value of $8,000.00 to $12,000.00 and that it would be prudent for the city to move the process along.
Mayor Quinn said “The date is what the date is going to be, and the process is going to be what the process is going to be. Should that go past that date, then it opens up to other people who may be eligible. I know that the Union will be concerned about its membership and it’s got two issues. Those people that are currently on the list, and should that date go past its sunset, then there will be other Union members that might be eligible for promotional activities that are not on the list. That might also be something that would concern that membership.”
Mayor Quinn said he would be happy to share the dates as soon as he was made aware of them from Personnel.
Commissioner Zaharek asked Mayor Quinn to let the board know the date when the current list for the Captain’s position will expire.
Mayor Quinn would get him that information.
Commissioner Colangelo commended Chief Milano for the DARE Program and Officer Jennifer Hayes for her dedication to the program.
Chief Milano informed the board that they will be able to apply some asset forfeiture money toward the DARE Program.
Mayor Quinn stated that a special meeting would be held to discuss budgets in the future. He thanked the members of the sub committees who met individually with the Police and Fire Department to review the budgets.
ADJOURNMENT #1570
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:50 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
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