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Minutes 05/13/2009
        



MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
MAY 13, 2009
A REGULAR  MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday,
May 13, 2009, in the Main Room of the Senior Center.

Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, members of the Board of Public Safety Gerald A. Zordan, Richard L. Zaharek, Douglas J. Benedetto, and James E. Potter,  Police Chief Michael Maniago, Deputy Police Chief Christopher Smedick, Traffic Officer Robert Shopey, Fire Chief John Field, Administrative Assistant to the Mayor Stephen Nocera, Torringford Volunteer Fire Chief Lawrence Dauphanais and Drakeville Volunteer Fire Chief Michael Maccalous.

Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.


ADD TO THE AGENDA #28
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner G. Zordan, the Board voted unanimously to add Section B to the Agenda.
EXEC SESSION: PERSONNEL #34
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to enter executive session under personnel with the Police Chief, Deputy Chief and Corporation Counsel at 7:00 p.m.
OPEN SESSION #52
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board voted unanimously to return to open session at 7:17 p.m.

CONFINED SPACE EQUIP. #70
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board voted unanimously to waive the bid process and purchase Confined Space Equipment for the Torrington Fire Department from Shipman's Fire Equipment Co., Inc., Waterford, CT in the amount of $16,783.00 per the Purchasing Agent's recommendation dated May 12, 2009.
Chief Field explained these are smaller self-contained breathing apparatus units  from a sole-source provider using encumbered funds

MINUTES #145
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Regular Meeting held April 8, 2009.
MINUTES #151
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held April 13, 2009.
MINUTES #157
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held April 23, 2009.
MINUTES #162
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to accept the minutes of the Special Meeting held April 27, 2009.
OPEN TO THE PUBLIC #167
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. No one spoke.
DISPATCH BUDGET #179
On an amended motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner G. Zordan, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Dispatch Budget of $371,316.00 for fiscal year July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010.

Mayor Bingham explained that this is definitely a priority and suggested the systems be tested throughout the year, until the necessary staffing budget level is determined.

Commissioner Potter questioned the expense of uniforms. Chief Maniago explained that dispatch employees would have contact with the public at the front window, requiring an appearance of professionalism.

Commissioner G. Zordan asked about the time frame and Chief Maniago explained we're in the finance phase right now, with $150,000 coming from the government to remodel the temporary dispatch. He said that staff will be hired and trained, with a target date of July 1, 2010 for the full time centralized dispatch to be fully online.

A discussion ensued regarding the Police Station being the best location for the dispatch center, since Police Officers would be available elsewhere in the building to answer questions.

Commissioner Zaharek pointed out that a well-seasoned dispatch unit is vitally important to police work. Chief Maniago agreed and explained that an improved reception window with ballistic, smoke-colored glass is part of the plan, and hopefully the Records and Traffic windows could be ballistic glass as well.

POLICE CHIEF'S REPORT #678
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to accept Chief Maniagos Report for April 2009.

Commissioner Benedetto questioned 651 parking tickets being issued, while 249 traffic violations were issued. Chief Maniago explained that the number of traffic violations will rise now that the laser units are in, and training is being completed. He said the Deputy Chief and the Patrol Captain are working on a system for traffic enforcement to get all officers involved on all 3 shifts.  
FIRE CHIEF'S REPORT #761
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner G. Zordan the Board voted unanimously to accept Chief Fields Report for April 2009.
FIRE MARSHAL'S REPORT #775
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Fire Marshals Report for April 2009.
TRAINING OFFICER'S REPORT #784
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Training Officers Report for April 2009.
INCIDENT REPORT #829
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner G. Zordan, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Incident Report for April 2009.
EMS PROVIDER REPORTS #761
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to accept the EMS Provider Activity Reports from Campion for March and April 2009.      
BUS: DEPT HEADS #846
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads.

Deputy Chief Smedick thanked the Chief for his support making a smooth transition for the newly appointed command staff. He pointed out the great job Patrol and Detectives did solving the robbery at Francha's on April 23rd, the Cumberland Farms robbery on April 2nd, and providing information to Vermont authorities on two robberies there.

Chief Maniago said this is Police Memorial Week and the PAL Golf Tournament will kick off Friday at noon with a brief ceremony to commemorate it. The grant applications are all submitted including equipment, hiring, PAL, and Explorers grants and they are awaiting an application for a $30,000 grant from the State. He thanked the Board and the Mayor for the way the promotions were handled with speed which led to a good, team atmosphere in the Department.  He added that another house burglary was solved yesterday and that Detectives and Patrol have been doing outstanding work.

Chief Field said Probationary Firefighter Randy Patterson graduated from Recruit School and will start Sunday, and the Deputy Fire Chief's job has been posted.  He talked about the grants being applied for including the SAFER and construction grants.  He said he met with the Comp Time subcommittee, including Comm. Benedetto, Comm. G. Zordan and Comm. Cook. They are working on developing a draft policy.
BUS: VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPTS #1001
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by Volunteer Fire Departments.

Drakeville Chief Maccalous said there are 26,000 firefighters in the State of Connecticut. Of these, 22,000 are volunteers, with 72% of all firefighters in this country being volunteers. Volunteers can do the job if they are given the job to do.

Torringford Chief Dauphanais spoke about winning a new floor covering, and thanked everyone who voted for Torringford online.
BUS: MAYOR & MEMBERS #1066
On a motion by Commissioner Potter, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by the Mayor and members of the Board of Public Safety.

Commissioner Benedetto inquired about turning left on Rt. 4 from E. Main St.
Officer Shopey said the state has a policy of not restricting turns from state roads onto other state roads, but he will contact them further.  Commissioner Benedetto asked about turning left from Kennedy Drive onto Torringford West St. Officer Shopey said this may be solved next month when the road is re-striped. Commissioner Benedetto said another issue to address is the left turns being made into Price Chopper. Officer Shopey said he will call the state on this.

Commissioner Zaharek thanked everyone for coming together as a group during the promotions last month, and thanked the Mayor and Corporation Counsel for their leadership, keeping everyone focused. He added that morale seems to be on its way up.

Commissioner Potter said we all know there is extreme value for the volunteer fire service in this city. He reported the Fire Service Coordination meeting now has a positive and upbeat membership, with black helmet totals rising. He informed the Board that Drakeville is talking about replacing their 37 year old tanker, and will be requesting necessary approvals to access the funding that the City sets aside. Commissioner Potter asked Chief Field to compile a total cost for the Northend Fire Station Bunk Room.

Commissioner Benedetto asked Officer Shopey about N. Elm Street's light in front of the US Post Office.  Officer Shopey said he wrote the State Traffic Commission to have an investigator meet him and review the plans for it. The timing has been changed, and he has received no complaints about it since that time.

Commissioner Potter asked if we can expect to see improved conditions for pedestrians on the side streets now that the laser units are online. Chief Maniago assured him that all three shifts would work on this, the radar trailer will go out, and the Deputy Chief and the Patrol Captain are working on a plan to get the traffic enforcement up. Although there won't be a quota, there will be expectations that traffic enforcement is a priority.

Mayor Bingham asked Chief Maccalous if there are plans to work on the truck bays and if this would be part of the funding access plan.  Chief Maccalous explained the procedure for purchasing apparatus.
ADJOURNMENT #1686
On a motion by Commissioner G. Zordan, seconded by Commissioner Potter, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:04 p.m.

ATTEST:  JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
                 CITY CLERK

Respectfully Submitted,

Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Assistant City Clerk