MINUTES
SPECIAL JOINT MEETING
BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY
BOARD OF COUNCILMEN
APRIL 9, 2007
A SPECIAL JOINT MEETING of the Board of Public Safety and the Board of Councilmen was held on Monday, April 9, 2007, in the Council Chambers to review budgets.
Those in attendance included Mayor Ryan J. Bingham, members of the Board of Public Safety Christopher H. Cook, Richard L. Zaharek, Douglas J. Benedetto, James E. Potter, Michael Colangelo, and Robert C. Zordan, members of the Board of Councilmen Richard E. Dalla Valle, Andrew Slaiby, Marie Soliani, and Drake Waldron, Police Chief Robert Milano, Deputy Police Chief Michael Maniago, Fire Chief John Field, Deputy Fire Chief Jaye Giampaolo, Corporation Counsel Ernestine Yuille Weaver, and Comptroller Alice Proulx. Councilors James McKenna and Thomas Jerram were absent.
Mayor Bingham called the meeting to order at 7:15 p.m.
EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT #020
A discussion took place in regard to the Emergency Management Coordinator’s
salary.
Councilor Dalla Valle opposed the reduction of Mr. Vannini’s salary from what was originally proposed. He felt the board should spend the extra $3,600.00, as proposed.
The Board of Safety agreed that Mr. Vannini was doing an excellent job but they were uncomfortable in tripling his salary. The ultimate decision would be the City Council’s.
Perhaps the increase would be justified if the position changed from part time to full time at some point in the future.
FIRE DEPARTMENT #260
A discussion took place in regard to the Uniform Allowance.
Commissioner Zaharek stated that the $85.00 trousers will be phased out and replaced by the new BDU’s.
CANINE #490
No discussion was held.
POLICE DEPARTMENT #505
Councilor Dalla Valle inquired about the 10% in wages for the MIS Sergeant and the Traffic Officer.
Chief Milano said they were premiums for those positions; in other words, those positions carry that percentage more money by virtue of the classification of the jobs.
Councilor Dalla Valle inquired whether the $75,000.00 increase in Data Processing for computers for the cruisers would effectively help reduce the Overtime Line Item if officers could communicate from the field as opposed to going back to headquarters to write reports.
Chief Milano explained that the $75,000.00 will create the ability to write
reports in the cruiser and move the department toward a paperless reporting system of record keeping. It will enhance the existing number of forces deployed on the streets at any one time and will increase public safety, but it is not expected to reduce costs in overtime.
Councilor Slaiby said he preferred hiring more officers as opposed to spending money on overtime.
Commissioner Colangelo indicated that the Police Department has struggled to maintain their current number of officers through retention and new hirings. The reality is finding time and/or space to hire good candidates and finding space for them at the academy. In the meantime, they have to make certain the streets are safe. Until they can get to 85 or 90 police officers, there will be a need for overtime. Hopefully, overtime will decrease in the next couple of years because more active duty officers will be coming on line.
Councilor Soliani indicated that officers working excessive hours in overtime could create a hazard because they may not be functioning as well as if they were well rested.
Chief Milano said the department has a mandatory ability to work rule, no more than 16 consecutive hours, which is taken very seriously.
Councilor Dalla Valle said it was his belief the city was negotiating to eliminate overtime a few years ago.
Chief Milano said department heads in public safety have very little say in contract negotiations on economic issues. He explained that overtime is handled through a rotating card file maintained and operated by supervisors.
TRAFFIC #1090
No discussion took place.
PUBLIC SAFETY MISCELLANEOUS #1150
No discussion took place.
ADJOURNMENT #1170
On a motion by Councilor Slaiby, seconded by Commissioner Colangelo, the boards voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:50 p.m.
JOLINE LeBLANC
Asst. City Clerk
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