MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
APRIL 9, 2008
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, April 9, 2008, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, Board of Public Safety members Gerald A. Zordan, Douglas J. Benedetto, James E. Potter, and Christopher H. Cook, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, Police Chief Robert Milano, Traffic Officer Robert Shopey, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Lawrence Dauphanais, and Burrville Volunteer Fire Chief Roger Rougeot.
Absent included Board of Safety Commissioners Richard L. Zaharek and Robert C. Zordan, Deputy Police Chief Michael Maniago, Drakeville Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Maccalous, Emergency Management Coordinator Thomas Vannini, and Director of Operations at Campion Ambulance Fred Rosa.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES #020
On a motion by Commissioner Gerald Zordan, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the special meeting held March 5, 2008.
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held March 12, 2008.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #045
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
CHIEF FIELD’S REPORT #060
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Field’s Report for March 2008.
DEPUTY CHIEF GIAMPAOLO’S REPORT #070
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept Deputy Chief Giampaolo’s Report for March 2008.
FIRE MARSHAL’S REPORT #075
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept the Fire Marshal’s Report for March 2008.
TRAINING OFFICER’S REPORT #080
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept the Training Officer’s Report for March 2008.
INCIDENT REPORT #090
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to accept the Incident Report for March 2008.
DISPATCH & RADIO SYSTEM #095
Commissioner Potter made a motion to waive the bid process and award the bid entitled “Centralize City’s Dispatch and Radio System” to Northwest Communications in the amount of $39,250.00, and to refer it to the City Council. Commissioner Cook seconded the motion.
Commissioner Cook asked if Northwest Communications was the firm that has been doing this work for the Fire Department for quite some time, and
whether they were comparable to other firms in the field.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo said it was. He explained that the Police Department paid for the first part of the evaluation on the citywide dispatch system and more portions will be forthcoming. In the meantime, he and Chief Field felt it was the board’s pleasure to keep the dispatch issue moving forward. His request to waive the bid process and award the bid to Northwest Communications was to expedite the process by installing new equipment at the Police Station and begin the use of civilian dispatchers. He also stated prices from two other firms, Utility Communications and Motorola, were received.
Commissioner Potter asked if the Police Department had room to accommodate the dispatch system, and if the equipment will be compatible with other equipment they’ll need to purchase in the future.
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Chief Milano stated that their dispatch center will be tighter than they would like it to be for a long period of time, but they’ll make it work until they decide where the communication center will be located.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo indicated that the technology field changes quickly but assured the board that this system will work with the equipment they currently have. He doesn’t know what the communication consultant hired by the city, Elert, Inc., will propose.
Commissioner Potter asked if it will be several years before the dispatch center is operational.
Chief Field said they hoped to move the dispatch center as quickly as possible, but because of the large financial impact it will have upon the city, he was certain it will take some time to get to that point.
Chief Milano added that the matter will probably end up being a bonding issue.
Commissioner Potter asked if the funds were available in the current budget.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo said yes.
VOTE #265
The board voted unanimously to waive the bid process and to award the bid entitled “Centralize City’s Dispatch and Radio System” to Northwest Communications in the amount of $39,250.00, and referred it to the City Council.
CHIEF MILANO’S REPORT #270
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Milano’s Report for March 2008.
COMMUNICATION REPORT #275
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept Officer Shopey’s Monthly Communication Report for March 2008.
Officer Shopey said they printed a list of approximately 420 people who owed more than $100.00 in parking fines and letters will be sent to them. He noted that Commissioner Benedetto visited his office and observed how much time it takes to find a person. They’re trying to streamline the process, but can’t just call the software company to fix the obstacles.
Officer Shopey said he took four names from the list that were fairly recent and attempted to find them, but was unsuccessful.
In the future Officer Shopey would like to go to a different system that will integrate with a computer generated ticket that will eliminate writing tickets by hand. This system is made to recognize whether a plate is in violation of parking fines, so it can be called in immediately. Because it’s a cost issue, he’ll try to fit it into his budget within several years as part of the Master Plan.
Chief Milano said the compatibility of transferring data from one system to another may be a problem. However, he didn’t think the software would be overly expensive and the investment would be prudent in order to get that source of income.
Officer Shopey said he sent Corporation Counsel an updated contract from the collection agency for her review. They want to update their two-year-old agreement with us to become more current. Once the agreement is reviewed, approved, and signed, they’ll start collecting from the names of people they have a record of who owe the city money for parking fines. Fines will show up when people try to get car loans or try to register their cars with the Motor Vehicle Department. The system in place should make the collection of parking ticket fines successful in the near future.
Chief Milano noted that some fines will never be collected because people move in and out of Torrington. Perhaps the most effective way to attack the list is to hit the most recent fines and work backward.
Officer Shopey indicated they have tickets dating back to 1993. The collection agency will allow the fine to remain within their system for one year, then it’s sent back to Officer Shopey for him to decide what to do with it.
Commissioner Benedetto asked if there was a cost to the city if a ticket sent to the collection agency is never collected.
Officer Shopey indicated that the city pays a 6% surcharge for every ticket sent to the collection agency and not called back within 30 days after it gets paid. If they send a ticket back to us within a year, there’s no cost to the city because they have ceased their collection process.
Commissioner Gerald Zordan asked if the Motor Vehicle Department had a time limit.
Officer Shopey said, according to State Statute, there is no time limit as long as we have continually made an attempt to collect the fine. He noted that they collected approximately $21,000.00 in tickets and meters last month.
Commissioner Benedetto indicated that Prime Time was requesting a crosswalk, and asked if there would be any cost to the city.
Officer Shopey indicated that a crosswalk at that location would require curb cuts, which would be the responsibility of Prime Time. They are confident they can get donations to pay for them. The DOT in Newington has tentatively approved the crosswalk pending the installation of the ramp by Prime Time, and the DOT will paint it and maintain it at no cost to any of us.
DARTMOUTH & AMHERST STREETS #620
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to discuss a matter in regard to Dartmouth & Amherst Streets.
Commissioner Benedetto indicated that there was a misunderstanding on this matter.
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to remove the item from the agenda.
SPEED LIMITS: LAKERIDGE #635
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, a discussion took place in regard to speed limits at Lakeridge.
Commissioner Gerald Zordan asked if the city was responsible for the roads at Lakeridge.
Officer Shopey said no. He explained that he was asked to do an audit of their traffic system, roadways, signs, etc. He accompanied their site supervisor throughout the entire project to re-evaluate the signs and everything on the property in terms of traffic safety, and created a report of things that should be changed on the property, not only from a safety standpoint, but also as a liability issue because they don’t meet the standards.
Their response was to obtain enforceable speed limits on the property. This will require the approval of the Police Department and a permit from the State Traffic Commission, just like a city street. Lakeridge will be responsible for the installation and maintenance, but the city has to make the decision on whether or not they will be enforced by the Police Department. Officer Shopey noted that Lakeridge is hiring city police on extra duty to patrol their complex.
Commissioner Potter inquired how much time Officer Shopey spent at Lakeridge doing the review.
Officer Shopey indicated about an hour. He noted that he has done similar reviews for other condominium projects in the past.
Commissioner Potter noted that the only one enforcing the speed limits would be their hired patrolman. He asked if Lakeridge was paying for the use of Torrington’s vehicle while the officer was working extra duty.
Chief Milano indicated that they are currently working on a pricing structure for the board to approve. He noted that Lakeridge eliminated their own security because of a union issue that resulted in a legal matter. Under federal law, they can’t re-institute their security at this time because they eliminated the one they had. He also noted that the city’s Police Department is required to answer calls from Lakeridge, just like they are required to answer calls from any other condominium project or neighborhood. Their original request was to place an officer in their guard shack, which Chief Milano opposed.
Commissioner Potter thought Lakeridge should absorb the cost of gasoline and the wear and tear on the vehicles.
Chief Milano indicated that they will come up with a figure. He will be happy to start charging Lakeridge prior to the next meeting.
No vote was taken on this matter.
EMS PROVIDER ACTIVITY REPORT #860
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept the EMS Provider Activity Report from Campion for January, February & March 2008.
EMERGENCY MGMT. COOR’S REPORT #915
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to table the Emergency Management Coordinator’s Report for February 2008 (tabled on March 12), and the Report for March, which was unavailable.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #920
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads.
Chief Field commended Lt. Brunoli on his appointment to Task Force Leader for the State’s Emergency Response Team.
He indicated that his department received a plaque from Fidelco Guide Dogs for allowing firefighter Todd Lamothe’s guide dog to spend some time at the fire house in order for him to get used to some chaotic circumstances, sirens, etc.
He also noted that he has his new vehicle.
BUS: VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPTS. #995
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Gerald Zordan, the board voted unanimously to consider business by the Volunteer Fire Departments. There was no business from either Torringford or Burrville. Chief Maccalous from Drakeville was absent.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1015
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to consider business by Mayor Bingham and members of the Board of Public Safety.
ADD TO AGENDA #1035
Commissioner Cook requested adding an item to the agenda by 2/3rds vote to go into an executive session under Police Personnel. Commissioner Potter seconded the motion. Unanimous.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: POLICE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL #1050
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to go into Executive Session at 7:38 p.m. under Personnel - Police Department. Chief Milano was invited to attend.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
OPEN SESSION
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Gerald Zordan, the board voted unanimously to reconvene into Open Session.
No vote was taken for Police Department Personnel.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: FIRE DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to go into an executive session under Personnel - Fire Department. Chief Field and Deputy Chief Giampaolo were invited to attend.
OPEN SESSION
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Gerald Zordan, the board voted unanimously to reconvene into Open Session.
CONDITIONAL JOB OFFER
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to make a conditional job offer to a new candidate.
DANIEL MATTHEWS
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Gerald Zordan, the board voted unanimously to make a conditional offer of employment to Daniel Matthews of Winsted.
WALTER DIXON
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to make a conditional offer of employment to Walter Dixon of Simsbury.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:05 p.m.
Corporation Counsel: Ernestine Yuille Weaver
Recording Secretary
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