MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
AUGUST 10, 2005
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, August 10, 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., Police Chief Robert Milano, Acting Deputy Police Chief Michael Maniago, Traffic Officer Robert Shopey, Fire Chief John Field, Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Cornell, and Personnel Director Thomas Gritt. Absent was Corporation Counsel Al Vasko, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, Drakeville Volunteer Fire Chief Aaron Picz, and Burrville Volunteer Fire Chief Jason Noad.
Mayor Quinn called the meeting to order at 7:40 P.M.
MINUTES #040
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, a discussion took place in regard to accepting the minutes of the regular meeting held July 13.
Commissioner Cook made a motion to table the minutes of July 13 until he had a chance to discuss them with Assistant City Clerk Joline LeBlanc. Commissioner Colangelo seconded the motion to table. Commissioners Telman and Pucino opposed. The motion to table carried.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #055
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Officer Jennifer Hayes, Torrington Police Department, invited the board to the pasta supper on Wednesday, August 17th, at the Cornucopia to benefit the Law Enforcement Torch Run.
CHIEF MILANO’S REPORT #080
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Pucino, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Milano’s Report for July 2005.
LETTER OF RETIREMENT: THOMAS VANNINI #090
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to accept Officer Thomas Vannini’s letter of retirement effective August 20, 2005.
ARBOR RIDGE ROAD #095
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to approve Officer Shopey’s recommendation to seek a permit from the State Traffic Commission to install a 25 MPH speed limit sign on Arbor Ridge Road.
Commissioner Pucino inquired whether the city was responsible for these signs since Arbor Ridge was private property.
Officer Shopey indicated that even though it is private property, they still had to go through the Traffic Division and the State Traffic Commission for enforcement issues. Once approved, they will be responsible for posting the signs.
DARE CAR SHOW #120
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to approve Officer Shopey’s recommendation to seek a permit from the State Traffic Commission to close Main Street from Pearl to Water Street from 4:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 27, 2005 for the annual DARE Car Show.
Commissioner Pucino suggested that Officer Shopey attempt to keep the cars at a minimum near St. Francis Church until the end of their 4 p.m. mass.
Officer Shopey stated that he would comply.
3 ON 3 BASKETBALL #140
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Pucino, the board voted unanimously to approve Officer Shopey’s recommendation to allow Parks & Recreation to hold their Annual 3 on 3 Basketball and to seek a permit from the State Traffic Commission to close Main Street between Mason and Water Street between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 20, 2005 for the event.
CHIEF FIELD’S REPORT #155
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Pucino, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Field’s Report for July 2005.
DEPUTY CHIEF GIAMPAOLO’S REPORT #160
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept Deputy Chief Giampaolo’s Report for July 2005.
TRAINING OFFICER’S REPORT #170
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the Training Officer’s Report for July 2005.
INCIDENT REPORT #175
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the Incident Report for July 2005.
LETTER OF RETIREMENT: MAURICE THEEB, JR. #180
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the letter of retirement from Lt. Maurice J. Theeb, Jr., effective the week of February 5, 2006.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #190
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Police Chief Milano informed Mayor Quinn and members of the board that their invitations to the Awards Banquet scheduled for September 16th at the Elks will be forthcoming.
Chief Milano stated that Officer Kenneth Deland will be reactivated into the Navy and will be deployed to the middle east for approximately one year. Chief Milano will speak with the Personnel Director about the ramifications of Officer Deland’s benefit package. This is the second time that Officer Deland has been called to active duty.
He congratulated Officer Vannini for his retirement and thanked him for his many years of service. He also congratulated Lt. Theeb.
Fire Chief Field advised the board that the Fire Department will be conducting their “Fill the Boot” on September 1. He also congratulated Lt. Theeb for his many years of service.
Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Cornell congratulated Lt. Theeb on his retirement.
He informed the board that the FEMA grants which his department had written for a vehicle exhaust system and a new cascade system were slow in coming.
Mayor Quinn suggested that he furnish copies of their FEMA grant applications to Chief Field so that his staff could obtain further information. He pointed out that legislators from time to time inquire about FEMA grants and Public Safety issues, and it would be a good reference point if he knew what was being requested. He further explained that the city had a contract with Randall Funding to secure additional funds.
He asked Chief Cornell to inquire whether Drakeville and Burrville had anything in the pipeline, and if so, to forward it to the Mayor’s Office.
Chief Cornell expressed his concern over the fact that the volunteers were being asked to pick up a magnetic key at fire headquarters in order to get fuel. He noted that each volunteer department has been provided with one pass key; however, Torringford has four vehicles, Drakeville and Burrville each have three. After speaking with the Superintendent of Streets Bob Lizotte, he was informed that the volunteers would only get one pass key.
Chief Cornell stated that it was quite possible for all of their vehicles to be at different places in town when they need fuel. Chief Field stated that his department received only enough keys for their front line pieces, and the spare pieces had to share keys. Mr. Lizotte provided Torringford with one additional key, but that still left them short. On behalf of his department as well as Drakeville and Burrville, he requested enough keys for each of their vehicles.
Chief Field indicated that Chief Cornell spoke to him about the matter; however, he didn’t have a chance to talk to Mr. Lizotte.
Mayor Quinn indicated that his office would check into the matter in the morning.
Chief Milano introduced Rafael Figueiral to the board. He will begin classes at the academy on Friday.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #435
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Mayor Quinn and members of the Board of Public Safety.
Mayor Quinn and each board member congratulated Officer Vannini and Lt. Theeb on their retirement and thanked them for their years of service.
Commissioner Telman asked Chief Field about the status of the ladder truck.
Chief Field stated that it was back in service after being down for approximately two weeks due to electrical and transmission problems. Those problems have been resolved.
Commissioner Telman said he didn’t think the taxpayers and business owners in Torrington expected the town to be without necessary equipment. This administration is pushing a policy that this board has never even seen, a policy of not providing the Fire Department with the equipment that they need. He felt the City of Torrington was being short changed.
Mayor Quinn said that was one person’s vision and concept, and obviously it’s erroneous. The concept of mutual aid is when municipalities work with each other when equipment is unavailable.
Chief Field explained that Winsted and Litchfield are both notified and put on stand by when our ladder truck is down, but obviously there’s a delayed response. He publicly thanked each of those communities for helping Torrington several times this year.
Commissioner Telman said it still goes back to reenacting the Vehicle Replacement Plan that we no longer follow.
Mayor Quinn stated that, if Commissioner Telman could find documentation to that effect, he could bring it up for discussion.
Commissioner Telman asked Assistant City Clerk Joline LeBlanc to see if she could research those minutes.
Mayor Quinn stated that the minutes were on line and he thought Commissioner Telman would like the due diligence of researching them on his own.
Commissioner Telman indicated that he had voted on the Vehicle Replacement Plan.
Mayor Quinn indicated that he was mistaken.
Commissioner Zaharek agreed that the board needed to take some action about getting the right equipment to the Fire Department. It wasn’t a question of “whether” a disaster could happen, but rather a question of “when” a disaster could happen. It was his belief that this board needed to look into the Vehicle Replacement Program, wherever it was. It used to be there, the former administration had it in place, it was in progress and it has since turned into dust. He requested that Mayor Quinn give this board an update during their next meeting on future plans for equipment.
Mayor Quinn said it was pretty obvious, but would be happy to do that. However, it was his belief that the Commissioners needed to do some research on their own.
Commissioner Colangelo congratulated Acting Deputy Chief Maniago for being accepted into the Master’s Program at the University of Connecticut for Home Land Security.
Commissioner Pucino said she would like to know where the Vehicle Replacement Policy went. They did have one during the Gryniuk administration, and she believed they voted on it as well. They attended a number a meetings and worked on it for a long time. It was a city-wide Vehicle Replacement Plan and she believed it was presented to this board. She was curious as to what was going on with it. If they don’t have one, they seriously need to get one because they are putting themselves in jeopardy. It isn’t right for a large city like Torrington to depend on small surrounding towns for help.
Mayor Quinn said “Most assuredly, there is a Plan.”
Commissioner Pucino asked to see it.
Mayor Quinn said “Absolutely.”
SECTION B #630
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to consider business in Section B.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: PERSONNEL - POLICE #640
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to go into Executive Session at 8:05 p.m. under Personnel - Police Department, inviting Chief Milano, and Personnel Director Thomas Gritt. Acting Deputy Chief Maniago would be on stand by.
OPEN SESSION
At 8:50 p.m. the board reconvened into open session.
ADD TO AGENDA
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Pucino, the board voted unanimously to add the promotion to Sergeant to the agenda by 2/3rds vote.
PROMOTION: VINCENZO CALABRESE
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to promote Vincenzo Calabrese to the position of Sergeant, effective at the next special meeting to be held. (Date not given.)
ADD TO AGENDA
Commissioner Cook made a motion to add an item to the agenda by 2/3rds vote in regard to filling the Deputy Chief’s position. Commissioner Benedetto seconded the motion. Commissioners Benedetto, Cook and Colangelo voted in favor of the motion. Commissioners Zaharek, Pucino and Telman opposed the motion. The motion did not receive 2/3rd majority vote and therefore failed.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:05 p.m.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
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