MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
MARCH 12, 2008
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, March 12, 2008, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, members of the Board of Public Safety Gerald A. Zordan, Richard L. Zaharek, Douglas J. Benedetto, James E. Potter, Christopher H. Cook, 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, Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Lawrence Dauphanais, Drakeville Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Maccalous, Emergency Management Coordinator Thomas Vannini, and Director of Operations at Campion Ambulance Fred Rosa. Burrville Volunteer Fire Chief Roger Rougeot was absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES #020
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held February 20, 2008.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #030
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
Jim Marinelli, 455 Evergreen Road, asked why the city wasn’t hiring local people to become police officers and why we didn’t have a junior police academy at the high school where students could start training to be police officers.
Chief Milano indicated that the police recruitment process is advertised locally and state-wide. Applications are submitted by many local candidates but they are not as successful in the process as those from the tri-state pool of candidates. The standards are not being met by a large number of local candidates. He agrees with Mr. Marinelli that policing the town is best done by local people, born and raised in Torrington.
Commissioner Cook indicated that the city has an Explorer Program and two local candidates at currently at the academy.
Mr. Marinelli thought the high school should offer programs that would qualify potential candidates to become police officers.
Chief Milano said there are no programs that will help them prepare for the polygraph and psychological testing they must pass.
CHIEF FIELD’S REPORT #285
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Field’s Report for February 2008.
DEPUTY CHIEF GIAMPAOLO’S REPORT #295
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept Deputy Chief Giampaolo’s Report for February 2008.
FIRE MARSHAL’S REPORT #300
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted unanimously to accept the Fire Marshal’s Report for February 2008.
TRAINING OFFICER’S REPORT #305
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to accept the Training Officer’s Report for February 2008.
INCIDENT REPORT #315
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to accept the Incident Report for February 2008.
FIRE DEPARTMENT - ANNUAL REPORT #320
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to accept the 2007 Fire Department’s Annual Report.
Chief Field briefly reviewed the report.
Commissioner Potter asked if anything had been accomplished with Chief Field’s east side plans.
Chief Field said he continues to meet and work with representatives from Torringford to see what they can do in regard to the east end.
CHIEF MILANO’S REPORT #330
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Milano’s Report for February 2008.
COMMUNICATION REPORT #615
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted unanimously to accept Officer Shopey’s Monthly Communication Report for February 2008.
Officer Shopey indicated that desk and metered collections were not done because the secretary in his office was on vacation. Civilians/new recruits temporarily put into Traffic were able to update all their records and download approximately 9,000 traffic tickets to the collection agency. Officer Shopey stated they were unable to locate any of the 52 vehicles they were hoping to boot.
Mayor Bingham reported that officials from St. Francis & St. Peter’s School have complied with many of Officer Shopey’s recommendations.
EMS PROVIDER ACTIVITY REPORT #740
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to table the January and February 2008 EMS Provider Activity Report from Campion.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COORDINATOR’S REPORT #770
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to table the February 2008 Emergency Management Coordinator’s Report.
Thomas Vannini indicated that the Emergency Operating Center was in the process of being updated and the city will receive federal monies for a portion of the cost.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #835
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Potter,
the board voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads.
Deputy Chief Maniago informed the board that he will be attending the FBI Academy until the middle of June.
Deputy Chief Maniago indicated that Sgt. Wood has been spearheading the work on the crime scene van. Because his and the Equipment Maintenance work, the van looks outstanding and it will be a positive addition to the department.
Chief Field reported that head gasket repairs were done to his Jeep and the vehicle will be kept as part of their inventory.
In following up on their Fire Service Coordination Committee meeting, Chief Field asked the city to support the purchase of a tanker for the Drakeville
Volunteer Fire Department. As Chief of fire services, he believes a tanker will be beneficial to the city. He recommended the city support the purchase.
Mayor Bingham noted that Chief Field will be representing the fire services at a City Council meeting.
Commissioner Potter asked Chief Field to supply the Mayor with some ideas of what a new tanker will cost.
Chief Field said he will get together with Chief Maccalous to come up with a purchase price.
Mayor Bingham noted that this purchase is above and beyond what has been set aside for vehicle purchases.
Chief Field said “Well, they set aside a portion for vehicle purchases. Obviously, it’ll be utilized also, there’s no question there, but this is above and beyond that, Mayor. Obviously, these things are not cheap and I think it’s a need for the city as I spelled out in my Master Plan, and if we can support one, we should.”
BUS: VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS #930
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted unanimously to consider business by the Volunteer Fire Departments.
Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Lawrence Dauphanais had nothing to present at this time.
Drakeville Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Maccalous said they will need an addition to their firehouse in order to house a 3,000 gallon tanker. If the city funds the new tanker, they will use the money, approximately $33,000.00 they’ve been saving toward the purchase of a tanker, to build an addition to their firehouse.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #970
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 inquired about the status of McKinley and School Street.
Officer Shopey will report on McKinley Street at next month’s meeting.
In regard to School Street, it may be an existing problem that can’t be solved because of the fence issue, but he will continue to research the matter. He pointed out that when “No Parking” signs are installed, the kids from school move their vehicles from one street to the next, and when they do so, it becomes someone else’s problem.
Commissioner Zaharek inquired about the status of the light at the bottom of Kennedy Drive.
Officer Shopey stated he called the state and he’s been through there several times when it didn’t appear to be as problematic as it was in the past. If he continues to get complaints, he’ll look into the matter further. He informed the board that road work for the Big Y and Lowe’s project started today.
Commissioner Zaharek asked Deputy Chief Maniago if he considered the possibility of postponing his appointment to the FBI Academy because of the expected manpower shortage this summer.
Deputy Chief Maniago said he would discuss the matter with the Chief.
Commissioner Cook asked Deputy Chief Maniago if he could return from the Academy to Torrington if it was necessary.
Deputy Chief Maniago said he’s already been informed that he could return if necessary.
EXECUTIVE SESSION #1220
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to go into an executive session: Personnel & Security - Police Department. Chief Milano, Deputy Chief Maniago were invited to attend.
OPEN SESSION
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted unanimously to reconvene into open session.
Mayor Bingham stated that there would be no vote on the last agenda item.
(Discuss/vote in support of the Manpower Contingency Plan - Police Dept).
In understanding the utmost importance of safety of our children, the fight against narcotics traffic and the general safety needs of the city, the Board of Public Safety has come to a compromise that addresses those issues. This new plan no longer reflects the Manpower Contingency Plan previously presented for a vote, therefore no vote will be taken.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:24 p.m.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
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