MINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
APRIL 5, 2006
A SPECIAL MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, April 5, 2006, in the Council Chambers to discuss budgets.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, members of the Board of Public Safety Christopher H. Cook, Richard L. Zaharek, Douglas J. Benedetto, James E. Potter, Michael Colangelo, and Robert C. Zordan, Police Chief Robert Milano, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, Treasurer for the Drakeville Volunteer Fire Department Michael Maccalous, and Burrville Volunteer Fire Chief Roger Rougeot.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to review budgets.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT/CIVIL PREP #030
On a motion by Commissioner Zordan, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted unanimously to approve the Emergency Management Budget.
CANINE #080
Commissioner Cook inquired whether an assistant was added to the budget.
Chief Milano explained that assistants work on a “per diem” basis, so an additional assistant wouldn’t add to overtime. They get paid per incident, and they wouldn’t both get called out at the same time. Therefore, they increased their “ability” to cover, but not the “cost” to cover.
On a motion by Commissioner Zordan, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to approve the Canine Budget.
POLICE #120
Line Item 5120 - Lump Sum Retirement, a reduction of $30,000.00.
Line Item 5211 - Cleaning Allowance, a reduction of $2,300.00
It was noted that the budget contained funds for two Captain’s positions.
Commissioner Cook asked if approving this budget meant that they were approving the two captains’ positions?
Mayor Bingham said no, they were merely approving funds towards the captain’s position, not the actual captain’s position.
Commissioner Cook pointed out that an increase of $17,200.00 in Line Item 5103 - Regular Wages was due to the staggering effect created by adding a second Captain’s position. If they were to reduce the budget by $17,200.00, would they be pro-active by bringing more police officers on board and going with the initial four versus the staggering two in July and two in January. He asked where they stood on this matter.
Commissioner Zordan thought the foundation should be established.
Commissioner Colangelo believed there was already a hierarchy in place, and thought it was a question on how they could prepare to get more feet on the street.
Commissioner Potter suggested to tentatively approve the Police Budget as is. He felt more discussion should take place concerning the Record and Traffic Divisions, that could affect everything.
Chief Milano indicated that there’s a residual effect all the way down to the hiring level when you hire a captain, so it may not be a mere $17,200.00, but more in the $30,000.00 range.
Commissioner Colangelo made a motion to remove $17,200.00 from Line Item 5103. There was no second.
Commissioner Potter made a motion to tentatively approve the Police Department Budget pending further discussions during their April 12th board meeting. Commissioner Zaharek seconded the motion. Unanimous.
TRAFFIC #840
Commissioner Potter indicated that the discussions he wanted held could affect this budget as well as another department outside of public safety.
Chief Milano indicated that any discussion on this matter would impact at least two union contracts, and should be discussed in executive session with the Personnel Director present.
On a motion by Commissioner Zordan, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to approve the Traffic Budget.
FIRE DEPARTMENT #980
Line Item 5106 - Extra help, a reduction of $40,000.00.
Line Item 5270 - Repairs, a reduction of $16,150.00.
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to approve the Fire Department Budget.
PUBLIC SAFETY MISC. #1040
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to approve the following:
Line Item 5114 - Outside Duty Police
Line Item 5121 - Hypertension Payments, Fire
Line Item 5122 - Hypertension Payments, Police
Line Item 5123 - Outside Duty Fire
Commissioner Potter made a motion to approve Line Item 5306 - Hydrant Rental. Commissioner Zaharek seconded the motion. (Commissioner Potter noted that, according to the City Charter, the other line items in this budget are under the City Council’s jurisdiction to approve.) There was no vote.
Commissioner Cook indicated that the items which Commissioner Potter mentioned as being under the Council’s jurisdiction were approved by the Board of Safety in the past. In fact, the Board of Safety increased the amount last year.
Commissioner Potter said the Board of Public Safety may make a recommendation to the City Council, but it is not necessary. It was his belief that the volunteers should plead their case before the Council.
Mayor Bingham felt this board should at least send a recommendation to the City Council on these items concerning the volunteers.
Mike Maccalous, Treasurer of the Drakeville Volunteer Fire Department, said he would like this board to make a recommendation to the City Council, since the volunteers do report to the Board of Public Safety. He noted that his department’s $36,000.00 budget is very tight and they can’t save anything for future purchases of apparatus, and that they would appreciate any increase given to them. At this time, they could use an increase of $3,000.00 for training.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo stated that the Training Officer could provide the training for the Drakeville Department.
Commissioner Zordan thought it would be difficult to increase the stipends to the volunteers when the career department is being held at a zero increase.
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Zordan, the board voted with the exception of Commissioner Potter who abstained, to approve the Public Safety Miscellaneous Budget.
ADJOURNMENT #1800
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:52 p.m.
Joline LeBlanc
Asst. City Clerk
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