MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
OCTOBER 8, 2008
A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, October 8, 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, and Christopher H. Cook, 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, Deputy Emergency Management Coordinator Thomas Vannini, Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Lawrence Dauphanais, and Drakeville Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Maccalous. Commissioner Robert C. Zordan, Burrville Volunteer Fire Chief Roger Rougeot, and Campion Ambulance Director of Operations Fred Rosa were absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
MINUTES #025
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board, with the exception of Commissioner Potter who abstained, voted to accept the minutes of the regular meeting held September 17, 2008.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #035
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public.
SWEARING-IN: CAPT. McELROY #040
Mayor Ryan J. Bingham administered the oath to newly appointed Fire Captain Joseph McElroy.
Theresa Mastrogiovanni, 233 Albrecht Road, stated that she was a victim of an attempted home invasion in April of 2008, and thanked the 911 operator for clearly guiding her through a very harrowing incident. She also thanked Chief Milano and Captain Schaller for their attention to the matter.
CHIEF FIELD’S REPORT #220
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Field’s Report for September 2008.
DEPUTY CHIEF GIAMPAOLO’S REPORT #225
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept Deputy Chief Giampaolo’s Report for September 2008.
A discussion took place in regard to the purchase of 50 fluorescent road vests. A new regulation requires each sitting position on an apparatus to wear a road vest.
FIRE MARSHAL’S REPORT #385
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted unanimously to accept the Fire Marshal’s Report for September 2008.
TRAINING OFFICER’S REPORT #395
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Gerald Zordan, the board voted unanimously to accept the Training Officer’s Report for September 2008.
INCIDENT REPORT #445
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept the Incident Report for September 2008.
TURN OUT GEAR #450
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, a discussion took place in regard to the purchase of turn-out gear.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo indicated, when they went out to bid, they noticed the cost to purchase turn-out gear that included cleaning, full repairs, and tracking, was more than a cash and carry purchase. Therefore, the bids were thrown out and they are now looking to purchase the gear. They will deal with the cleaning and repairs on their own.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo was looking for the Board of Safety’s approval to:
1) Go out to bid for 35 sets of turn-out gear, on a purchase only proposition, and
2) Use the Fire Department’s capital account for the purchase of the turn-out gear and reimburse the capital account in the next three years.
The board voted unanimously to approve the aforementioned requests concerning the turn-out gear. The matter will be brought before the City Council and the Board of Finance for their approval.
CHIEF MILANO’S REPORT #825
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the board voted unanimously to accept Chief Milano’s Report for September 2008.
COMMUNICATION REPORT #830
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept Officer Shopey’s Monthly Communication Report for September 2008.
Commissioner Cook asked the board if they would be in favor of issuing less parking tickets on Saturdays because they are trying to get more people into town to shop.
Mayor Bingham indicated that the Parking Advisory Committee has been tossing around a number of ideas in regard to this matter.
Officer Shopey reported that 1,000 people paid their parking tickets because of the new program with the Department of Motor Vehicles.
CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS #1020
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to discuss the letter from Cricket Communications regarding wireless frequencies.
Chief Milano said he received a letter from Cricket Communications advising that they were purchasing 700 radio channel frequencies through federal auction and that they were mandated to do a study in the areas they purchased to determine who would interfere with those channels. During their study, they found that some of Torrington’s communication system microwave equipment interferes with their channels. According to FCC regulations, they will need to enter into negotiations with Torrington to move that equipment. The only equipment Chief Milano is aware of that involves that type of set up, is the microwave dish for a back up repeater at the hospital which was recently moved because of construction.
Chief Milano met with the city attorney and Don Nelson from Northwest Communications who has knowledge of this procedure. Research is being performed and he will keep the board posted on the matter. No vote was necessary at this time.
POLICE UNIFORMS #1110
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Gerald Zordan, a discussion took place in regard to the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to extend the current bid contract for Police Uniforms for the fiscal year 08/09 to New England Uniform LLC at the same rates, terms, and conditions as the existing bid. (Approved by City Council on 10/6/08.)
Commissioners Potter and Benedetto expressed their desire to look at other vendors.
Commissioner Gerald Zordan said if you considered the consumer price index, other companies may be higher than the price that was tied in years ago from New England Uniform.
Chief Milano stated that there are some start up costs when selecting a new vendor because they have to purchase a large supply of patches, trim for pants, etc. He would do more investigation if the board requested.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo said he handles the purchase of uniforms for the Fire Department and informed the board that each vendor has its own inventory so they wouldn’t be bidding apples to apples.
MOTION TO TABLE #1295
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to table the Purchasing Agent’s recommendation to extend the current bid contract for Police Uniforms to New England Uniform LLC.
EMS PROVIDER ACTIVITY REPORT #1300
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept the EMS Provider Activity Report from Campion for September 2008.
EMERGENCY MGMT COORD’S REPORT #1320
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to accept the Emergency Management Coordinator’s Report.
ADD TO AGENDA: EXEC. SESSION #1340
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to add an item to the agenda by 2/3rds vote in regard to an executive session for the Police Department.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: POLICE PERSONNEL #1355
On a motion by Commissioner Cook, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to go into an executive session at 7:38 p.m. under Personnel for the Police Department. Chief Milano and Deputy Chief Maniago were invited to attend.
OPEN SESSION #1375
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to reconvene into an open session at 7:58 p.m.
ADD TO AGENDA: 2 GRIEVANCES #1425
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to add an item to the agenda by 2/3rds vote concerning two grievances.
GRIEVANCES #1430
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept the Personnel Subcommittee’s recommendation on Grievance #08-15 to pay Officer Sullivan Grade C patrolman wages following twelve months of probation instead of fifteen months. The Personnel Subcommittee agreed with the Union that the employee was grieved, and the matter will be settled without precedence or prejudice.
On a motion by Commissioner Zaharek, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to accept the Personnel Subcommittee’s recommendation to deny Grievance #08-18 because there was no violation of the contract.
BUS: DEPT. HEADS #1495
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads.
Deputy Chief Giampaolo invited the board to attend a RIT (Rapid Intervention Team) class.
BUS: VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPTS. #1590
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Cook, the board voted unanimously to consider business by Volunteer Fire Departments.
Drakeville Fire Chief Michael Maccalous invited the board to attend their Pasta Supper on the 24th.
Torringford Fire Chief Lawrence Dauphanais stated they were disappointed in cancelling their Car Show because of the weather. He also indicated tickets for their Annual Ball will be available on November 1st.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1640
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the board voted unanimously to consider business by Mayor Bingham and members of the Board of Public Safety.
Commissioner Benedetto commended Officer Dowd in connection with a child pornography case in West Haven, and the Police Department for reuniting a found cat and a grateful family.
He inquired about the downtown park and walk program.
Deputy Chief Maniago indicated that the evening shift is doing Coe Park. He has reinforced the importance of park & walk to his staff, especially with the holidays coming up.
Commissioner Zaharek commended Officer Shopey for his constant efforts in collecting parking ticket money for the city.
Commissioner Cook recognized Lt. Hutson for the way he handled the dispatch center on an evening when he was inundated with calls.
ADJOURNMENT #1845
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the board voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:10 p.m.
ATTEST: JOLINE LeBLANC
ASST. CITY CLERK
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