MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
OCTOBER 12, 2005
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, October 12, 2005, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Owen J. Quinn, Jr., Commissioners of the Board of Public Safety Richard L. Zaharek, Douglas J. Benedetto, Christopher H. Cook, Carolann Kennedy-Pucino, and Michael Colangelo and Corporation Counsel Al Vasko, Police Chief Robert Milano, Deputy Police Chief Michael Maniago, Traffic Officer Robert Shopey, Fire Chief John Field, and Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Cornell. Absent included Commissioner Thomas T. Telman, Jr., 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 7:21 p.m., immediately following a meeting of the Board of Trustees of the Police & Firemens’ Pension Fund scheduled for 7:15 p.m.
MINUTES #120
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to approve the minutes of the regular meeting held September 21, 2005.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #130
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Pucino, the board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Mary Tamplaru, 75 Berry Street, informed the board that she requested an ambulance on March 7, 2005 to respond to Squire Hill Building #1 for her father. After waiting 25 minutes for the ambulance, she called 911 again and was informed that the ambulance service was trying to decide who they were going to call to respond to her father, either Harwinton or Litchfield Volunteer ambulance. The ambulance was called at 13:01 hours (1:01 p.m.) and her father arrived at the hospital at 13:58 hours (1:58 p.m.) She requested answers to her many questions, one of which was “If the Torrington Fire Department has the Supplemental First Responder certificate, why weren’t they called to assist my father?”
Mayor Quinn asked Ms. Tamplaru to furnish the City Clerk’s office with a copy of her complaint so the city could respond to her numerous questions.
CHIEF MILANO’S REPORT #290
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Milano’s Report for September 2005.
REGULAR MEMBER: BRIAN SABIS #300
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept Officer Brian Sabis as a regular member of the Torrington Police Department after having successfully completed his probationary period on October 4, 2005.
MEDICAL COVERAGE: KENNETH DELAND #315
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to approve the request from Officer Kenneth Deland to continue medical coverage for his family while serving in the Middle East for approximately one year.
BRIGHTWOOD AVENUE #325
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to accept Officer Shopey’s recommendation that the “No Parking Between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m.” sign on Brightwood Avenue between Jones Street and Winthrop Street be removed for a 3 month trial period to determine its need.
CHARLES STREET #355
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept Officer Shopey’s recommendation to install a “No Left Turn” sign on Charles Street, adjacent to the bus entrance, prohibiting all traffic from taking a left turn to enter the Torringford School driveway.
CHIEF FIELD’S REPORT #370
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Field’s Report for September 2005.
DEPUTY CHIEF GIAMPAOLO’S REPORT #380
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept Deputy Chief Giampaolo’s Report for September 2005.
TRAINING OFFICER’S REPORT #390
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to accept the Training Officer’s Report for September 2005.
FIRE MARSHAL’S REPORT #400
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept the Fire Marshal’s Report for September 2005.
INCIDENT REPORT #405
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the Incident Report for September 2005.
A & E AUTO SERVICE #410
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to accept the recommendations from the Purchasing Agent and the Fleet Manager to award the bid entitled “Repair and Repaint Ladder Tower Truck” to the low bidder, A & E Auto Service, Inc. for $16,150.00 and referred it to the City Council.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #430
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to consider business presented by Department Heads.
Chief Field informed the board that the new Prime Mover, paid for by Homeland Security, is now located at the Fire Department and the firefighters are currently undergoing training. He invited Mayor Quinn and the board to stop by and see it.
Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Brian Cornell informed the board that the three volunteer departments will be holding a city-wide food drive for FISH on Saturday, November 5, from 9:30 to noon at several locations soon to be determined. They would appreciate the board’s support.
Chief Cornell asked for an update of the electronic gas keys. Each volunteer department is still short one key.
Chief of Staff David Rivera indicated that it will take $1,000.00 to upgrade the system in order to get additional cards, and funds have not been budgeted.
Mayor Quinn stated that we should try to find $1000.00 somewhere in the budget or give Chief Cornell an answer that funds are unavailable. Either way, Chief Cornell should have a definitive answer by the next meeting.
Chief Cornell also thanked Officer Shopey for the “Do Not Block the Driveway” sign newly installed at the entrance of their department.
Chief Cornell thanked the Police Department for the great support his department has been receiving, and particularly Officers Currier and O’Connell for displaying their professionalism during an incident.
BUS: MAYOR & BOARD #585
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.
Commissioner Benedetto thanked Officer Shopey for following through and getting the sign installed for the Torringford Volunteer Fire Department.
Commissioner Benedetto inquired about the status of the “no thru traffic” on Torringford East.
Officer Shopey indicated that he has contacted New Hartford and Harwinton by phone and also by mail, but has never received an answer from either of them.
Commissioner Pucino requested a moment of silence for former Mayor Hodges Waldron who recently passed away.
Mayor Quinn led the moment of silence.
Commissioner Pucino said she thought the board voted to make the Fire Department Supplemental First Responders and was curious as to where it stands.
Mayor Quinn said it was his understanding that Campion makes the call on who they are going to bring back, and we brought the Fire Department up to Supplemental First Responders approximately two years ago. It was his intention to have a conversation with Campion Ambulance and Fred Rosa about the matter.
Mayor Quinn gave his condolences to the Waldron family. His staff would make the arrangements available to Board of Public Safety members and the City Council who would like to pay their last respect for former Mayor Waldron.
ADJOURNMENT #710
On a motion by Commissioner Pucino, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:39 p.m.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
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