MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
NOVEMBER 8, 2006
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, November 8, 2006, in the Council Chambers.
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, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, Police Chief Robert Milano, Deputy Police Chief Michael Maniago, Traffic Officer Robert Shopey, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, Emergency Management Coordinator Thomas Vannini, Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Lawrence Dauphanais, and Brian Cornell, and Drakeville representative Dennis Tanner. Absent was Director of Operations at Campion Ambulance Fred Rosa, and Burrville Volunteer Fire Chief Roger Rougeot.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES #020
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held October 11, 2006
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #030
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
CHIEF MILANO’S REPORT #035
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Zordan, the Board voted unanimously to accept Chief Milano’s Report for October 2006.
Mayor Bingham said he handed out the collaboration from the Council and the Board of Safety on the Memorandum of Understanding and asked the board to read it over at their leisure and to provide him with notes and comments on it in the near future.
CENTER STREET #050
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, a discussion took place in regard to Officer Shopey’s recommendations to leave the meters located between East Main and East Center Street and remove the meters from East Center Street to Franklin Street.
Commissioner Potter said “I would like to suggest that we just remove all the meters on the whole street and put timed signage up right from the start and get it over with all in one shot. I don’t see where enough money is generated from those meters to make it worth to even bother to maintain them.”
He asked Officer Shopey what kind of time regulated signs he would recommend if the meters were removed.
Officer Shopey suggested two hours, however, monitoring the time might be a problem.
Chief Milano didn’t think timed zones should be installed in purely residential areas.
Commissioner Cook suggested tabling the matter until next month.
Mayor Bingham stated that the board should vote on the recommendation and place the discussion/vote to remove all meters on Center Street on the next agenda.
On the previous motion, the board voted unanimously to accept Officer Shopey’s recommendation to leave the meters located between East Main and East Center Street and remove the meters from East Center Street to Franklin Street.
FREE PARKING FOR HOLIDAYS #315
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Zordan, the board voted unanimously to accept Officer Shopey’s recommendation that on-street metered locations be allowed two hours of free parking between November 24 and January 1, 2007 to benefit downtown merchants and holiday shoppers.
COMMUNICATION LETTER #330
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to accept the monthly Communication Letter from Officer Shopey for October 2006.
PRIVATE PROPERTY ACCIDENTS #340
A discussion was held in regard to the Police Department eliminating investigating private property accidents.
Chief Milano indicated that eliminating this procedure would help them maintain staffing levels and meet the demand for other police service in emergency situations. He stated that smaller Police Departments that have more time on their hands continue to investigate private property accidents, while others that are cramped for time, in particular the state police, no longer investigate private property accidents. Some of the departments that respond merely inform the people involved in the accident to exchange insurance information and they leave the scene. In this instance, there is still a response and a need to send a cruiser to the scene, and it’s not a pure savings of manpower.
The item will be on next month’s agenda for further discussion.
CHIEF FIELD’S REPORT #570
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Field’s Report for October 2006.
DEPUTY CHIEF’S REPORT #580
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to accept Deputy Chief Giampaolo’s Report for October 2006.
FIRE MARSHAL’S REPORT #615
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the Fire Marshal’s Report for October 2006.
TRAINING OFFICER’S REPORT #620
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zordan, the board voted unanimously to accept the Training Officer’s Report for October 2006.
INCIDENT REPORT #630
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the Incident Report for October 2006.
FIRE DEPT. MASTER PLAN #640
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Potter, a discussion took place in regard to the Torrington Fire Department Master Plan. (Tabled on 10/11/06.)
Commissioner Potter asked Chief Field how the downtown revitalization plan would affect the current headquarters.
Chief Field said it was his belief that the current location will not be conducive for a fire station once the revitalization is complete. According to NFPA standards, the ultimate goal is a four-minute response time for the first on-scene engine for anywhere within the city. Facilities should be located in areas where the fire department can get close to reaching that goal.
Chief Field indicated that the Master Plan was based on call volume, type of incidents, type of structures and occupancies, access and egress points, etc. The first step is to investigate and discuss available options and possibilities with Torringford. As soon as the board buys into the idea, they could start working in that direction.
Commissioner Cook recommended holding another meeting strictly on this issue to come up with different ideas. He didn’t feel comfortable voting on the Master Plan at this time.
Commissioner Benedetto suggested forming a sub committee.
Commissioner Potter preferred having the entire board meet for open discussions.
Commissioner Zaharek suggested having the Chief and Deputy do the leg work, i.e., locations, costs, negotiation agreement with Torringford, etc.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo indicated that they really don’t have the authority to talk to developers who might be eager to build a station for some concessions or tax base on a long term basis.
On the previous motion, the board voted unanimously to pass the Fire Department Master Plan “in concept” and get started on setting time lines, etc.
A meeting in January will be held specifically to discuss this matter.
RESCUE TOOL
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, a discussion took place in regard to the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to award the bid entitled “Rescue Tools” to Shipman’s Fire Equipment Co. for $53,861.00 ($60,410.00 less trade-in), if the boards approve the financing of the $10,122.00, and refer the matter to the City Council and the Board of Finance.
Commissioner Zordan inquired whether the current rescue tools should be given to the volunteers.
Deputy Fire Chief Giampaolo indicated that, if they were to give the tools to the volunteers, they would have to find another $6,000.00 within their budget to cover the expense. He noted that they were on a three-year program to lease purchase the new rescue tools, and they have already budgeted $43,739.00, and the final allotment would be available in July of 2007. Since they were only $10,000.00 short, the Purchasing Agent suggested borrowing funds from their capital reserve instead of lease purchasing them in order to avoid any interest fees.
Chief Field indicated that borrowing the funds wouldn’t affect their capital plan.
Commissioner Potter inquired why Firematic was willing to give the city $12,000.00 for the used equipment when the other bidders were only willing to give them up to $6,500.00.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo said he couldn’t speak in regard to what a vendor is willing to pay for certain equipment in comparison to another.
Chief Field indicated that the current tools are 17 years old and service is definitely becoming an issue. He preferred not to pass his problems onto the volunteers by giving them the old rescue tools, however, that decision was totally up to this board.
VOTE #1490
On the same motion, the board voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to award the bid entitled “Rescue Tools” to Shipman’s Fire Equipment Co. for $53,861.00 ($60,410.00 less trade-in), to approve the borrowing of $10,122.00 from capital reserve, and referred the matter to the City Council and the Board of Finance.
EMS PROVIDER ACTIVITY REPORT #1480
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to accept the EMS Provider Activity Report from Campion for October 2006.
EMERGENCY MGMT COORD’S. REPORT #1515
The Emergency Management Coordinator’s Report for October 2006 was not available. No vote was taken.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #1530
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads.
Dennis Tanner, representative from Drakeville Volunteer Fire Department, said their department will set up a Truck Committee to look at replacing their 1975 International pumper. The committee will work in coordination with the Master Plan and the Fire Service Coordination Committee.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1600
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to consider business by Mayor Bingham and members of the Board of Public Safety.
Commissioner Benedetto requested setting up a committee to see how the EMS Pilot Program was doing at their six-month mark. He suggested including the Chief or the Deputy, two members of the Board of Safety and a firefighter to serve on this committee.
Chief Field asked how this committee would effect the EMS Oversight Committee.
Mayor Bingham suggested that perhaps the EMS Oversight Committee could invite a group of people to talk about the newly instituted EMS Pilot Program.
In regard to the North Main Street parking issue, it was noted that Mayor Bingham and Officer Shopey drafted a letter and set it to the State Traffic Commission in lieu of having Officer Shopey attend the hearing.
Commissioner Potter asked Chief Milano to calculate the true figure of his overtime account.
Chief Milano explained that currently they have six positions vacant, one officer on extended sick leave, one officer on extended medical leave, one detective on extended injury leave, a patrol officer on extended family medical leave due to the birth of a child, an officer on extended family medical leave due to a serious illness of a spouse, an officer out for personal illness, and one on military leave for an entire year. He assured the board that the overtime account was being scrutinized.
Officer Shopey added that officers on duty because of events held downtown are paid overtime.
Commissioner Potter said it wasn’t fair to the taxpayers of Torrington to continue to pay for Out-of-Town Fire Prevention services.
Chief Field explained that one firefighter has to remain with the Fire Prevention trailer to operate its controls. If the board instructs them to start charging for these services, they will do so.
Further discussion will take place on this matter.
Mayor Bingham noted that the painting being displayed in the Council Chambers was done by a number of pre-schoolers and presented to the City Council.
Mayor Bingham commended Chief Milano and his staff members for the recent drug busts and asset forfeitures.
EXECUTIVE SESSIONS #2150
On a motion by Commissioner Colangelo, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to go into executive session at 8:00 p.m. under Personnel: Fire Department and Personnel: Police Department.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
OPEN SESSION
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to reconvene into open session.
ADJOURN
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 9:30 p.m.
Ernestine Yuille Weaver
Corporation Counsel
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