MINUTES
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
March 4, 2014
A SPECIAL MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held in the City Hall Auditorium on Tuesday,
March 4, 2014.
Those in attendance included Mayor Elinor Carbone, Corporation Counsel Raymond Rigat, Members of the Board of Public Safety Angelo LaMonica, Douglas Benedetto, Darlene Battle, Robert Conforti, Richard Zaharek and Glenn McLeod, along with Fire Chief Gary Brunoli, Deputy Fire Chief Christopher Pepler, Police Chief Michael Maniago, Deputy Police Chief Christopher Smedick and Officer Steven Pisarski.
Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
Chief Maniago said his budget has a 9% increase this year caused by a 2¾% pay raise, two additional police officers, additional line items for the radio system upgrades due to increased cell tower lease prices, additional software to help comply with state mandates, electronic printers for vehicles, and updated software for other programs. Chief Maniago said its time to start funding some of the things we have not had the money to fund such as bicycle patrols, new members in the SRT team and updated equipment.
Commissioner LaMonica asked how the Police Department has managed with a staff reduced by two. Chief Maniago said he's shorthanded. Commissioner LaMonica asked if other line items will be cut to make up for this increase. Chief Maniago said no, because he's cut to the bone.
Commissioner Benedetto asked if money could be saved by eliminating the second Captain. Chief Maniago said a department of his size needs to have the command authority to do the versatile things they are asked to do and this position offers career growth for his officers. Commissioner Benedetto noted there are 5 lieutenants and 14 sergeants, to which Chief Maniago said every sergeant is accounted for. Commissioner LaMonica said the Captain's salary would allow for almost two more patrol officers. Chief Maniago said the position couldn't be eliminated entirely and someone would have to take over those duties. Commissioner Benedetto asked how the department was able to function in the past, before the second Captain was added. Chief Maniago said he didn't have a full-time PAL officer then, a Regionalized
Animal Control, or a centralized dispatch that that Captain now oversees. He said neither the other Captain nor the Deputy Chief could pick up the slack because that would take away from their duties.
Commissioner McLeod asked if our Police Department is accredited and Chief Maniago said it is not because he's gone after other programs instead.
Commissioner Benedetto questioned the $30,000 increase in the Education and Schools line item. Chief Maniago said that figure includes payments for the Academy, and an estimated 7 new recruits.
Commissioner Battle asked if hiring additional officers will affect the overtime budget, Chief Maniago said the overtime budget won't be reduced because it can take more than a year to get an officer on the road.
Commissioner LaMonica asked what the overtime budget increase was and Chief Maniago replied it is about $40,000 more, and noted that the N. Elm Street homicide alone was more than $10,000 in overtime.
Chief Maniago said he is requesting Community Policing initiatives with bicycle and foot patrols to have the police officers interacting with patrons and business owners to make people feel safe. He listed special events where extra patrols are requested.
Commissioner Conforti noted that the number of service calls dropped by 4,000 in the past year. Chief Maniago said the decrease in call volume can be attributed to the officers' proactive work and their omnipresence in the field.
Commissioner Benedetto questioned the 11% increase in regular wages and Chief Maniago said that includes a 2¾% pay raise and two additional officers.
Commissioner Benedetto said he'd like to revisit the issue of paying outside vendors for building maintenance and trying to eliminate that from the budget. Mayor Carbone and Chief Maniago agreed. Chief Maniago requested that a part-time janitor be increased to full-time.
Commissioner Benedetto noted that the Evidence Management line item has been increased quite a bit. Chief Maniago explained this is due to an anticipated installation of a drug drop-off box and there is a new state mandate for ammunition seizure. He said he would like to demolish the existing storage shed and have Oliver Wolcott students build a new one.
Commissioner Zaharek informed Chief Maniago that the State Judicial Dept. will supply property bags for free.
Mayor Carbone asked if grant funding will be available for state mandates and Chief Maniago said he will continue to look for it.
Commissioner Benedetto questioned the separate PAL budget. Chief Maniago explained that this $17,000 budget is overtime money for police officers as well as custodial fees. Commissioner Benedetto expressed concern that if the Board of Education cuts Middle School sports, the PAL program will have to pick up that
POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET Continued
slack. Chief Maniago said the community would rather see their fundraising go to basketballs and uniforms, rather than administrative fees. Mayor Carbone noted that $12,800 may be in the Boards and Agencies budget for PAL.
ANIMAL CONTROL BUDGET
Chief Maniago said the Regional Animal Control program has been in place for about seven months, has been working well procedurally, but needs a few things taken care of administratively. He said the program currently employs 2 full-time, 1 part-time and several per diem animal control officers that are supervised by patrol division sergeants, with the shift lieutenant as the commanding officer.
Mayor Carbone said this is a pilot program, and the NHCOG will apply for state funding for a larger scale facility. She said they hope the program will be the evidence NHCOG needs to make a final commitment to building that facility. She agreed that this pilot program has been moderately successful in its infancy.
TRAFFIC BUDGET
Officer Pisarski noted a few increases in his budget due to equipment that needs to be replaced. Commissioner Benedetto asked about the increase in the Service Agreements line item. Officer Pisarski said that is due to the parking ticket kiosk, costing $50.00 per month.
FIRE DEPARTMENT PRESENTATION
Chief Brunoli gave a budget presentation including a total increase of 3.36% or $167,000, allowing capital improvements of $78,000, staffing of 14 firefighters per shift, increased operations costs of $24,000 and increased personnel costs of $65,000. The presentation compared contractual wage increases and operations budget decreases for the past five years. Chief Brunoli noted that parking lot paving and breathing apparatus replacements will increase the capital budget amount this year. Seven cost-saving measures were listed, along with six new sources of revenue, and Chief Brunoli noted that he is looking to reduce the response time and provide better protection for the City.
Deputy Chief Pepler described the results of their Community Risk Assessment, changing demographics, city growth and new construction features that are detrimental to firefighting. Recounting a 2002 factory fire in Canton, he noted that protecting businesses equates to keeping people employed and keeping tax revenues for the city. Deputy Chief Pepler said they cannot neglect their responsibility to city schools attended by thousands of students and stated that their ultimate goal is to reduce firefighters' response time to reduce risk.
Chief Brunoli said his goals are to reduce response time by returning staffing to 1990 levels at 14 per shift, and add an engine company by moving overtime money to wages. He proposed opening a Fire Station at the Middle School, and a Temporary Firehouse at Burrville and noted that lowering response times will lower insurance rates. Chief Brunoli noted that his budget has only increased 1.91% since 2009.
VOLUNTEERS PRESENTATION
Chief Brunoli said the Volunteer Departments have been very cooperative and he proposed that Drakeville's stipend be increased to $25,000, Torringford's remain the same at $21,000 and Burrville's be reduced to $12,000. The stipends vary, he said, because he considered the revenues they each could generate. Chief Brunoli said that the Fleet Manager will take over their vehicle service, make their vehicles safer and save them money. He said he will be purchasing equipment for them as well.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT BUDGET
Chief Brunoli said this budget has remained the same, and he hopes to save money in the software line item by converting to the Everbridge system for calls. He added that another full-time staff person is needed in that department. Mayor Carbone commended the Deputy Emergency Management Director for his grant-writing success.
FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET
Chief Brunoli said he wants staffing increased to 14, using overtime money to pay for it and noted that there are upcoming retirements as well. He said that although there were 35 structure fires last year, the newspapers won't show that amount because the Fire Department's quick response times reduces the size of the fires. Chief Brunoli said he wants to increase his staffing to continue to improve response times, and he will not replace the Deputy Fire Marshall in order to keep his budget as close as possible to a 0% increase.
VOLUNTEERS
Chief Brunoli thanked the Volunteer Fire Departments for submitting their budget information, and proposed a stipend of $25,000 to Drakeville Fire Dept., $21,000 to Torringford Fire Dept. and $12,000 to Burrville Fire Dept. which will keep them all in the black. He said he will provide them with the equipment they need to keep providing service to the City. Chief Brunoli noted that there has been an unfortunate and drastic reduction in volunteer forces throughout the country. Commissioner Benedetto questioned the differentiation between the three stipends and Chief Brunoli explained it was due to their various abilities to raise funds. Commissioner Benedetto asked what the benefit is to fund Burrville when they haven't been dispatched since 2010. Chief Brunoli said it is up to the Board but since Burrville
is making an effort, we need to support them.
PUBLIC SAFETY MISC.
Commissioner Benedetto noted the 14% increase in water costs. Mayor Carbone offered to have the Torrington Water Company come before the Board again. Chief Brunoli said this cost is a rental fee of the hydrant system, in case we have a fire.
ADJOURNMENT
On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Zaharek, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:28 p.m.
ATTEST: JOSEPH L. QUARTIERO, CMC
CITY CLERK
Respectfully Submitted,
Carol L. Anderson, CCTC
Assistant City Clerk
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