MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
JUNE 11, 2008
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, June 11, 2008, in the Council Chambers.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, Board of Public Safety members 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, 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, and Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Thomas Vannini. Deputy Police Chief Michael Maniago, Burrville Volunteer Fire Chief Roger Rougeot, and Director of Operations at Campion Ambulance Fred Rosa were absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES #024
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. There was no public participation.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: PERSONNEL POLICE DEPT. #030
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Robert Zordan, the Board voted unanimously to go into an executive session under Personnel: Police Department at 7:01 p.m.
OPEN SESSION #005
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the Board voted unanimously to reconvene into Open Session at 7:33 p.m.
HIRE DANIEL CYR & RICHARD GALPIN: PROB. PATROLMEN #15
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Robert Zordan, the Board voted unanimously to hire Daniel Cyr and Richard Galpin as Probationary Patrolmen, effective at the pleasure of the city.
CHIEF FIELD’S REPORT #050
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the Board voted unanimously to accept Chief Field’s Report for May 2008.
DEPUTY CHIEF GIAMPAOLO’S REPORT #055
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Robert Zordan, the Board voted unanimously to accept Deputy Chief Giampaolo’s Report for May 2008.
Commissioner Potter inquired about TAC 10 and Deputy Chief Giampaolo indicated that it was back in service.
Commissioner Benedetto inquired whether there was a protocol to call the board in the event of an accident involving a piece of apparatus.
Chief Field indicated that the protocol was to notify the Mayor and Equipment Maintenance, but he could notify the board if they wanted to be notified.
FIRE MARSHAL’S REPORT #085
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Fire Marshal’s Report for May 2008.
TRAINING OFFICER’S REPORT #090
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Training Officer’s Report for May, 08.
INCIDENT REPORT #095
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Robert Zordan, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Incident Report for May 2008.
CHIEF MILANO’S REPORT #100
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the Board voted unanimously to accept Chief Milano’s Report for May 2008.
MONTHLY COMMUNICATION REPORT #120
On a motion by Commissioner Robert Zordan, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the Board voted unanimously to accept Officer Shopey’s Monthly Communication Report for May 2008.
PINE STREET #125
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the Board voted unanimously to accept Officer Shopey’s recommendation to submit an application to the State Traffic Commission for a permit to install 25 mph speed limit signs on Pine Street.
Commissioner Robert Zordan asked Officer Shopey if all unmarked city streets had 25 MPH speed limits.
Officer Shopey said no, if there’s no sign, it’s whatever is reasonable for that time of day, population, etc. It’s up to interpretation as to what one thinks is reasonable.
CHARLOTTE HUNGERFORD HOSPITAL ANTENNA WORK #155
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the Board
voted unanimously to accept the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to waive the
bid process and award the “Charlotte Hungerford Hospital Antenna Work” to
Northwest Communications in the amount of $15,713.00 and referred it to the City
Council.
Chief Milano indicated that the hospital is undergoing major roof repairs, and, as a result, the antenna will have to be relocated. He noted that the antenna being moved is the one they are currently using.
EMS PROVIDER ACTIVITY REPORT #190
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the Board voted unanimously to accept the EMS Provider Activity Report from Campion for May 2008.
Mayor Bingham said he will request Mr. Rosa’s presence at the July meeting.
EMERGENCY MGT. COORD.’S REPORT # 220
On a motion by Commissioner Robert Zordan, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the Board voted unanimously to table the Emergency Management Coordinator’s Report for May 2008 because it was not available.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #225
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads.
Chief Field thanked everyone, including Winsted, Torringford, Drakeville, and Burrville for their assistance during a very busy week.
BUS: VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPTS. #245
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by Volunteer Fire Departments. Torringford and Drakeville had nothing to report.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #250
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.
Commissioner Benedetto inquired whether something would be placed in front of the blocks that were installed at the Northend Firehouse.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo said he contacted Bob Lizotte to see if a trench could be dug so that stones and a manufactured wall could be placed in front of the blocks. He indicated that nothing can be done until they get money from next year’s budget.
Commissioner Potter thought it would be less costly to buy shrubs instead of installing a manufactured fence in front of the blocks at the Northend Firehouse.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo said in the past, the Northend Association was willing to do some work at the Firehouse and perhaps he can resurrect that concept with them. Maybe he can get some donated products as well.
Commissioner Benedetto asked Chief Milano if he could hire an outside company to do background investigations instead of paying overtime.
Chief Milano stated that they did use an outside agency in the past and their product was unsatisfactory. He doesn’t know of any agency who would hire out that type of work because it’s so critical.
Commissioner Cook requested that a meeting of the Sub Committee on Communications be scheduled.
Chief Milano stated that they met this afternoon. The combined aspect of it and the future of overhauling the system are the biggest issues.
Commissioner Benedetto reported that the sign is down again at the entrance of WalMart and Price Chopper and more accidents have occurred. He asked if it was possible to make that a one way.
Officer Shopey related that he called the management company twice in regard to the sign being down, and will call them again tomorrow. After talking with City Engineer Ed Fabbri and reviewing the plans of the bank, it was their recommendation to close the driveway and prohibit vehicles from exiting onto East Main Street. Vehicles traveling east on East Main would use the entrance to go in but would have no exit out. The Planning & Zoning Commission disregarded their recommendations and they plan to allow that exit to remain. Engineering has asked Officer Shopey to write a letter to Planning & Zoning expressing their dissatisfaction and if they continue to rule in favor of the exit, Officer Shopey will ask the State Traffic Commission to rescind their permit to allow the driveway.
Approximately one hundred accidents have occurred at that location in the past two years.
Mayor Bingham said he can pass this board’s comments to the Planning & Zoning Commission Chairman, Richard Calkins.
Commissioner Potter asked if they had the authority to ask that the entrance be shut down.
Officer Shopey said yes. He stated that his plan reviews and recommendations are done under the authority of this board. Planning & Zoning has the final approval of the site. In most cases, they go along with his recommendations. If they disagree, they usually ask the developer to talk to him to see what can be worked out. He will speak with Mr. Connor in the morning. Because it’s a state road, the ultimate decision belongs to the state and they’ll usually follow his recommendations. He stated that cars traveling east don’t have any problems, but those traveling west and turning in, and those exiting are causing the problems.
Commissioner Zaharek asked Officer Shopey to advise the board in between meetings if something occurs so that a decision isn’t made without giving the board an opportunity to talk about it.
Officer Shopey indicated he would let the board know of any developments on the matter.
ADJOURNMENT #605
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:52 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
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