City Council - Public Safety Committee

CHICOPEE CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE ACCEPTED MEMBERS PUBLIC SAFETY Robert J. Zygarowski, Chairman Frank Laflamme, Vice Chairman John Vieau Jean Croteau, Jr. Dino Brunetti MINUTES February 27, 2013 The following are the minutes of a public hearing held Wednesday, February 27, 2013 at 6:30 P.M. in the City Council Chambers, Fourth Floor, City Hall Annex, 274 Front Street, Chicopee, MA 01013. Members Present Zygarowski, Laflamme, Croteau, Not Present Brunetti, Vieau Also Present Councilor Krampits, Councilor Tillotson, Councilor Roy, Dan Garvey (Associate City Solicitor), Thomas Charette (Acting Chief of Police), William Jebb (Deputy Chief of Police), Rick Rege, Jr. (Superintendent of Schools), Captain Mark Galarneau (Fire Prevention Officer) The meeting was called to order at 6:31 P.M. ITEM #1 Communication from Detective Paul Gay, Local 401 Executive Board, regarding the implementation of readily accessible M-4 patrol rifles secured in police cruisers. Acting Chief of Police Charette stated we have thirty M-4 patrol rifles, one in each patrol cruiser. Some are assigned to our special response team and the rest are in a secured area. Motion made to place on file – motion passed. Committee vote 3 – 0 favorable. ITEM #2 ORDERED THAT the Chicopee City Council hold a Public Safety Committee meeting to investigate banning Level 2 and Level 3 Registered Sex Offenders from Halloween activities within the city. Councilor Roy stated in Massachusetts there’s a few towns that are implementing programs just to follow up on people that are level 2 or 3 sex offenders that are on probation or parole. There are eight to twelve level 2 or 3 sex offenders here in Chicopee actively on parole or probation. Acting Chief of Police Charette stated that there are three level 3 sex offenders on probation and those individuals are notified that they shouldn’t be participating in any Halloween activity. Councilor Roy asked could we run them on channel five through the course of October so the residents are aware of the offender’s locations. Rick Rege answered technologically it’s not an issue if I had legal clearance to do it. Councilor Laflamme stated let the Chief of Police, Superintendent and the City Solicitor work on this and come back to us with some ideas. 1 Dan Garvey stated there are approximately 33 level 3 sex offenders who live in and or work in the city of Chicopee but it doesn’t necessarily mean they’re all on parole or probation. So as far as broadcasting who those people are as they do on channel 5, you’re lawfully in your power, problem is if you’re not on probation or parole there’s no enforcement other than a cruiser driving by. There are around 150 level 2 sex offenders in the city of Chicopee and you have to call the Police Department to get information on them. If you want to broadcast the level 2 sex offenders I can certainly look into this. Councilor Tillotson stated I think we should focus on monitoring them year round not just on Halloween.  Councilor Laflamme motion that Councilor Roy work with Rick Rege (Superintendent of Schools), Acting Chief of Police Tom Charette and Dan Garvey (Associate City Solicitor) on his concerns and bring it forward to us on our next Safety Committee meeting. Motion to table – motion passed Committee vote 3–0 ITEM #3 Open Door Resolution Angela Breault-Klusman – President of the Open Door Resolution stated that I’ve been a Chicopee resident all my life. I have a dozen kids who have contacted me needing my help besides the crisis centers in the schools. Councilor Croteau asked is this similar to Big Brothers Big Sisters or do you spend time with them on a regular basis. Angela Breault-Klusman answered we’re open twenty four hours per day, 7 days per week. We’re here whenever they need us. Councilor Croteau asked what training do you have for this field. Angela Breault-Klusman answered basically its hands on. I have some experience from my Mother’s daycare and I have children of my own. I’m willing to get licensed. Councilor Laflamme stated I have concerns about you not having a license. The School Department does a great job with its resource officers. I understand what you want to do but without licensing I’m not going to support it. Councilor Tillotson asked what do you want from the City Council. Angela Breault-Klusman answered what should our next step be. Councilor Tillotson answered you need to form something. You need to get a license so you can have some credibility from the State of Massachusetts. Angela Breault-Klusman stated I have a 501C in progress and from there we will move forward with everything else we need. Councilor Tilloston stated if you become a 5013C that means you’re a non-profit organization and then you have to have credibility in order to go out and raise funds from the private sector or from the federal government. If you write for a grant they’re going to want to know who the people are and what their credentials are. I just think you have to create an organization that has a little more structure than you have now. Councilor Zygarowski stated I can appreciate what you’re trying to do; I’ve spent quite a few years in the Chicopee Schools and on the Police Force. I think you can understand where we’re coming from with the liability issues. Councilor Roy stated that I think you’re more approachable than someone in a sterile environment that has a clinic or an office, I can appreciate that aspect of it but I think you need to work that in with the credentials. Motion to place on file – motion passed Committee vote 3–0 2 ITEM #4 ORDERED THAT the Public Safety Committee meet with school officials concerning what safety measures are in place concerning all public schools. Councilor Zygarowski stated I feel our schools are safe but I think it’s a good idea to bring this out there so we know what’s in place. Rick Rege stated that I always felt that our schools were safe but when a tragedy with the magnitude of Newtown occurred I think caused every Superintendent in the Commonwealth and every state in the union to reconsider and reassess at what levels of security their buildings were operating. The first priority was to make sure the outer security was intact and the inner security was operational. Next they looked at the drills that are run in the schools. Mr. Morton the liaison between the school department and resource officers has worked with the resource officers to inspect various schools throughout the City not just the schools that they are assigned to. The school department has made certain that all the schools have been checked to make sure that all outside doors lock, cameras and buzzers are secured, drills have been updated, office protocols, (example if someone comes into the building that is not identified by a school ID, that person’s license and keys are taken by the office staff). Other things are still being looked at that can be done to ensure more safety. Every person in the school building is trained how to react to certain situations. Mr. Rege stated that this is now being a money making opportunity for vendors. He stated that there is a District Safe Schools Committee which meets monthly. On that committee are members of the Police Department, Fire Department, School Physician, and Transportation Director. He stated that the school department doesn’t want to become too explicit on what the response would be. Councilor Zygarowski asked who is called first if an intruder should gain access into a building. Mr. Rege replied if there is a Resource Officer in the building then he or she is called first. Then it’s 911. Councilor Zygarowski asked how a situation is handled if an employee in a school leaves a door ajar to run out to the parking lot. Mr. Rege stated that that employee receives a reprimand. Chief Charette stated that after the incident in Connecticut I met with the Resource Officers to ask their opinions of safety in schools. District cars are now performing checks on their schools on an interval. We’re in the process of getting cruisers assigned to the schools where the Resource Officer are now. Also have discussed placing rifles with the Resource Officers in their office in a secured vault. Awareness and patrols have increased. Captain Mark Galarneau stated that in the past the Fire Department has been involved with developing the emergency plan. The Fire Department would be present at the school during a shooting as support. Councilor Zygarowski asked if something happens in the school and it’s a major incident how are you prepared with ambulances. Captain Galarneau answered we run two fulltime ambulances and rely on outside agencies. There is an ambulance task force in the state that has been utilized in the past, they will be brought in and staged somewhere. Public Input David Barsalou School Committee (Ward 2), 12 Marion Street stated that I think we need improved communications in our schools. I have asked on several occasions that all the classrooms have an outside line. If at all possible a button could be installed in the main office similar to a bank where they could get instant communication to the Police Department. Carolyn Bliss of St. Joan of Arc School stated with our students from preschool through eighth grades; we’ve told them never to open the doors for any visitors, it’s just an overall policy now. Carolyn Bliss asked are parochial schools notified for a lock down? Rick Rege answered I don’t believe so but that’s something that we can do. The Police Department can make a direct call to you. Acting Chief of Police Charette stated we can look into that. 3 Angela Breault-Klusman stated that for the fire alarms that are getting pulled is there a way to make a different sounding fire alarm from the actual fire alarm itself. Rick Rege stated that I think the problem would be that you could have an alarm set off by smoke and you could have an alarm set off by someone who visually see’s something and manually pulls the alarm and there’s no way to differentiate from the sounds in that situation. Captain Galarneau answered there’s smoke detectors and the sprinkler system involved, the alarm code is written that way. Mike Pease School Committee (At-Large) , 33 Bonneville Avenue I’ve spoken to Deputy Chief Jebb and Alan Ryzek about the cruiser idea, the day after Newtown our cruisers were in front of the schools and it was very reassuring to the parents and the students and it helped with the entire atmosphere with the schools to know they were safe. I believe we’re purchasing a couple new cruisers and if we could keep the cruisers and not trade them in we could then use those cruisers to help the School Resource Officers; we would save money for the city and we would be able to have that presence to reassure the students and the parents that the schools are protected. Adam Lamontagne School Committee (Ward 1) 44 Mt. Claire Street asked are you purchasing two or four cruisers. Acting Police Chief Charette answered we’re looking to increase our fleet by two. That would give us plenty of cruisers with the School Resource Officers and still maintain a safe number of spares for our regular patrol operations. Councilor Laflamme asked is there a way similar to severe weather alerts to put something that will go out to all the schools. Acting Police Chief Charette answered I could address that with Captain Muse to see if something can be done. Councilor Roy asked about the doors being locked in classrooms. Rick Rege answered the default order for all teachers are the doors are locked at all times, so all they have to do is close the door and it’s locked. Officer Christopher Gates (Resource Officer) stated that if there’s an emergency inside the school and a lock down; how are the resource officers getting in. Acting Police Chief Charette answered we are in the process of getting master keys made for the Resource Officers. Councilor Zygarowski asked Deputy Chief Jebb regarding the Resource Officers; do you have any comment on their job functions. Deputy Chief Jebb stated the presence of the cruisers and the Resource Officers at the schools has made the parents and the community feel safer and more protected. Jennifer Poutre 120 Stebbins Street asked if there are procedures in place if an event large like Newtown occurs for children or staff as far as support. Rick Rege stated that our own Guidance Counselors are our first level of support because they’re know to the children but, we also have developed a good relationship with Behavioral Health Network of Hampden which specializes with that type of trauma counseling. We also use River Valley Counseling Services based out of Holyoke and Riverside Trauma Center. These are all highly accredited organizations; we make sure we have plenty of support available for students and staff. Motion to place on file – motion passed Committee vote 3–0 Minutes – December 19, 2012. Motion made to approve. Motion passed. 4 Meeting adjourned at 8:01 PM. 5