Public Safety Committee

PRESIDENT Scott Joseph Graves, Esq. CITY OF GARDNER COUNCILLORS AT LARGE MASSACHUSETTS 01440-2630 James S. Boone Craig R. Cormier OFFICE OF THE Ronald F. Cormier CITY COUNCIL Edward A. Gravel Scott J. Graves, Esq. Christine A. Johnson WARD 1 COUNCILLOR ________________________________ __________________________________ James M. Walsh, Esq. WARD 2 COUNCILLOR Elizabeth J. Kazinskas WARD 3 COUNCILLOR Nathan R. Boudreau December 12, 2018 WARD 4 COUNCILLOR Karen G. Hardern PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING NOTICE WARD 5 COUNCILLOR Date: Monday, December 17, 2018 James D. Johnson Time: 6:30 p.m. Location: Mayor’s Conference, Room 128, City Hall ANNOUNCEMENT - Any person may make a video or audio recording of an open session of a meeting, or may transmit the meeting through any medium, subject to reasonable requirements of the chair as to the number, placement and operation of equipment used so as not to interfere with the conduct of the meeting. Any person intending to make such recording shall notify the Chair forthwith. All Documents referenced or used during the meeting must be submitted in duplicate to the Chair of the Committee, pursuant to the Open Meeting and Public Records Law. All documents shall become part of the official record of the meeting. I. Review and Approval of the Minutes of the December 3, 2018 Meeting. II. Motor Vehicle Dealer Licenses. (1) Class I. • Rob’s Dyno Service, LLC, 268 Coleman Street • Salvadore Chevrolet, 442 West Broadway • Salvadore Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram, 442 West Broadway (2) Class 2. • AC Auto Clinic, 411 Parker Street • APB Automotive Enterprises, 408 Parker Street • Auto Mart, 182 West Street • Brian’s Auto Sales, 549 West Broadway • Chair City Auto Sales, 144 Pearson Boulevard • Gardner Five Star Auto Sales, 407 Chestnut Street • JPJ Automotive, LLC, 78 East Broadway • J. Wood, Inc., 361 West Street • Mike’s Auto, 251 East Broadway • R&R Motors, 7 Donlan Street • Rahaim Auto Sales, Rear 27 Hill Street • Ric’s Radiator Repair Used Car Sales, 800 West Broadway • Riverside Auto, 65 Riverside Road • Salvadore Chevrolet, 249 Timpany Boulevard • Salvadore Chevrolet, 421 West Broadway • TJ & Sons Auto Sales, 537 West Broadway • Vilson Auto Sales, 119 Pearson Boulevard II. Motor Vehicle Dealer Licenses (continued). (3) Applications for Licenses to Deal in Motor Vehicle Junk, Class 3. • Lajoie’s Used Auto Parts, Inc., Rear 27 Hill Street. • Riverside Auto, 65 Riverside Road III. An Ordinance to Amend the Code of the City of Gardner, Chapter 600 Thereof, Entitled “Vehicles and Traffic,” Article V, Parking Meters (Submitted by Councillor Boone). IV. Other Business. V. Adjournment. NOTICE: The listing of Agenda items are those reasonably anticipated by the Chairman which may be discussed at the meeting. Not all items listed may in fact be discussed and other items not listed may also be brought up for discussion to the extent permitted by law. CITY COUNCIL OF GARDNER James D. Johnson COUNCILLOR JAMES D. JOHNSON Chairman, Public Safety Committee  CITY OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DECEMBER 3, 2018 _______________________________________________________________________________ The Committee Chairman, Councillor James Johnson, called the Public Safety Committee meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. in the Mayor’s Conference Room, City Hall. Committee members present were Councillors Karen Hardern and Edward Gravel. Other Officials present and/or participating were Public Health Director Jennifer Susen-Roy; Building Commissioner Roland Jean; Police Chief Neil Erickson; Deputy Chief of Police Richard Braks; Fire Captain Gregory Lagoy; and, City Clerk Alan Agnelli. I. Minutes of Prior Meeting(s). On a motion by Councillor Edward Gravel and seconded by Councillor Karen Hardern, it was voted to accept the Minutes of September 25, 2018 Public Safety Committee Meeting, as printed. II. Department Head Reports Fire Captain Gregory Lagoy provided the following report from Fire Chief Ares: • All Firefighters are now out of the Academy and on shift. • A 4-year veteran Firefighter resigned in October for personal reasons and the Chief was advised that a 13-year veteran Firefighter will be leaving in February for a job in another community, so the Department will be short two positions once again. The HR Director was notified and that some replacements may be hired shortly after the first of the year • The new ambulance went into service on September 7 and has been working out very well. The older ambulance is used as a back-up. It would be wise for the City to have the box on the older ambulance remounted on a new cab and chassis at some point. • The Advanced Life Support services contract (“ALS”) with Wood's Ambulance took effect on September 15. The Department now has two Wood’s ALS units dispatched from the Fire Station. • The GFD responds first to all calls. If the call indicates Paramedics are needed, they ALS Units respond along with GFD BLS units and patients are transported on GFD BLS units. If a second call comes in while the first units are tied up, another ALS ambulance can be dispatched to the second call. • Since the start of the fiscal year (July 1, 2018), the Department has responded to 1,088 emergency medical calls. Of the 1,088 medical calls, the Department has transported 806 times, with 402 transports in the months of October and November. • The Ambulance has averaged $53,140.14 per month in gross receipts for the first four months of FY2019. 12-03-2018 Safety Committee Minutes Page 1  CITY OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DECEMBER 3, 2018 _______________________________________________________________________________ • It is the Chief’s opinion that the way the Department’s EMS services are operating; there is a benefit to the care of the community as well as operationally to GFD’s service. • Fire-related services have been merged with the Dispatch Center at the Police Department as of November 12 and all is going very well. • This Dispatch merger has taken untold hours of work to move forward. All parties involved, including the Dispatchers, Firefighters, Police Officers, Department Heads and City Government have worked (and are still working) cooperatively together to ensure that this endeavor is successful. The GFD is adjusting daily as minor issues come up to make the system better and better. I thank all involved for their hard work and cooperation. • The GFD has an Apparatus Committee working on the purchase of the new engine. • The choice of unit was narrowed to three manufacturers. • GFD will be using a cooperative buying contract so as to negate the need to go out to bid - FEMA recommends the use of cooperative buying contracts. • FEMA advised that the new engine should be ordered no later than the end of December, so that is the Departments’ timeline. Building Commissioner Roland Jean provided the following information. • 797 building permits have been issued so far this calendar year and, to-date, receipts are $117,530 higher than the prior year. • A scrap yard has been operating at 450 Chestnut Street. The Department issued a Citation and the owners have responded and are addressing the violations. • ZPT Energy applied to the ZBA for a Use Variance for a large scale ground- mounted solar array on Lovewell Street. The ZBA continued the case until January 2019 as they are seeking additional information. • The Electrical Inspector will be out for the next few weeks, so the Alternate Inspector will handle the inspections. The Alternate Inspector is available only sporadically, so there may be delays in obtaining permit approvals. • The Department is fully-staffed for the first time since January 2018. • The City has signed an Intermunicipal Agreement with the Town of Hubbardston for Building Department Services and Zoning Enforcement. The Agreement became effective on December 1, 2018. Health Director -Jennifer Susen-Roy provided the following information: • The BOH 2019 licensing and permitting application period has passed. 235 permits are up for renewal including septic, food, common victuallers, etc. 33 current license/permit holders did not return their completed application 12-03-2018 Safety Committee Minutes Page 2  CITY OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DECEMBER 3, 2018 _______________________________________________________________________________ packets, so Cease and Desist Orders will be issued at 12:00 a.m. on New Year’s Day. • Salvation Army Store running smoothly – no more dumping of trash on their property. • Last two perc tests of the year were completed. • Waste Management contract up in 2020. The trash/recycling contract does not have to be publicly bid, but has been done to achieve best deal. • New tobacco law (under 21) takes effect on January 1, 2019. Gardner will follow State regulations. • Elevated levels of mercury in Wright’s Reservoir. Health Advisory was posted on the City’s website. Police Chief Neil Erickson and Deputy Chief Braks provided the following information. • 3 new recruits will graduate from the Academy on December 21, 2018, all having served in the military. All should be on street duty in March. • Sgt. Brow retiring on December 10 and Police Chief Erickson is retiring at the end of the year. • One Police Officer has been on Injured-on-Duty (“IOD”) status since June. • Combined Fire-Police Dispatch “coming together.” Dispatch employs 1 Director; 3 full-time Supervisors; 6 full-time Dispatchers; and, 3 part-time Dispatchers. • Combined Dispatch overseen by Police, Fire, and Dispatch Director. • $18k Grant awarded from Governor’s Highway Safety to acquire license plate readers for cruisers. • Code Red used for the first snowstorm (2-day storm). 20 vehicles were towed and 30 vehicle owners were contacted and given warnings to move their vehicles. Weather conditions were very hazardous for officers as they went looking for the owners of the vehicles in order to avoid towing. • The second snow storm resulted in two vehicles being towed. • City uses signboards, website, radio, Facebook, and flyers to notify residents of the new procedure. • HVAC Commissioning – Was eliminated from the new Police Station Project Budget when cuts were required. Automated systems were not finished. Needed IT to manage and regulate the building’s HVAC units. • New Consultant will be retained to complete the IT process – should be completed by the end of January. • Drone not used for recent person search at Crystal Lake since unit does not have infrared capability. III. An Ordinance to Amend the Code of the City of Gardner, Chapter 600 Thereof, Entitled “Vehicles and Traffic,” to Change Provisions Relating to Rotary Traffic, Traffic Islands, and Obedience to Isolated Stop and Yield Signs. 12-03-2018 Safety Committee Minutes Page 3  CITY OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DECEMBER 3, 2018 _______________________________________________________________________________ The Ordinance recommended by the Traffic Commission – would classify Lafayette Square as a Traffic Island and delete the Rotary designation. On a motion Councillor Karen Hardern and seconded by Edward Gravel, it was voted to recommend adoption of the following Ordinance: AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND THE CODE OF THE CITY OF GARDNER, CHAPTER 600 THEREOF, ENTITLED “VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC,” TO CHANGE PROVISIONS RELATING TO ROTARY TRAFFIC, TRAFFIC ISLANDS, AND OBEDIENCE TO ISOLATED STOP AND YIELD SIGNS. Be it ordained by the City Council of the City of Gardner as follows: Section 1. The Code of the City of Gardner is hereby amended by striking from Article VII. One-Way Streets; Rotary Traffic. § 600-43. Rotary traffic, Lafayette Square: Parker Street, West Street and Oak Street. Section 2. The Code of the City of Gardner is further amended by changing Article XII. Traffic Islands, § 600-74. Location designated, to read as follows: D. Lafayette Square: Parker Street, West Street and Oak Street, where vehicular traffic shall move only in a counter clockwise direction, except when directed by an officer. Section 3. The Code of the City of Gardner is further amended by adding to Article VIII. Operation of Vehicles, § 600-55. Obedience to Isolated Stop Signs, the following: Stop Street Direction of Travel For Traffic Entering Hospital Hill Road Southbound Temple Street Section 4. The Code of the City of Gardner is further amended by adding to Article VIII. Operation of Vehicles, § 600-55. Obedience to Isolated Yield Signs, the following: Yield Street Direction of Travel For Traffic Entering Oak Street Eastbound Parker Street Parker Street Westbound West Street Section 5. This Ordinance shall take effect upon passage and publication as required by law. IV. Motor Vehicle Dealer Licenses. (1) Class I. • Rob’s Dyno Service, LLC, 268 Coleman Street • Salvadore Chevrolet, 442 West Broadway • Salvadore Chrysler-Dodge-Jeep-Ram, 442 West Broadway (2) Class 2. • AC Auto Clinic, 411 Parker Street • APB Automotive Enterprises, 408 Parker Street • Brian’s Auto Sales, 549 West Broadway • Chair City Auto Sales, 144 Pearson Boulevard • Gardner Five Star Auto Sales, 407 Chestnut Street 12-03-2018 Safety Committee Minutes Page 4  CITY OF GARDNER, MASSACHUSETTS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF DECEMBER 3, 2018 _______________________________________________________________________________ • JPJ Automotive, LLC, 78 East Broadway • J. Wood, Inc., 361 West Street • Mike’s Auto, 251 East Broadway IV. Motor Vehicle Dealer Licenses. Class 2. • Rahaim Auto Sales, Rear 27 Hill Street • Ric’s Radiator Repair Used Car Sales, 800 West Broadway • Riverside Auto, 65 Riverside Road • Salvadore Chevrolet, 249 Timpany Boulevard • Salvadore Chevrolet, 421 West Broadway • TJ & Sons Auto Sales, 537 West Broadway • Vilson Auto Sales, 119 Pearson Boulevard (3) Applications for Licenses to Deal in Motor Vehicle Junk, Class 3. • Lajoie’s Used Auto Parts, Inc., Rear 27 Hill Street. • Riverside Auto, 65 Riverside Road On a motion Councillor Karen Hardern and seconded by Edward Gravel, it was voted to recommend to the City Council that the Motor Vehicle Dealer License applications, All Classes, be referred to the Public Safety Committee for further study and report, since Detective Crockett is finalizing his annual review. VI. Adjournment. On a motion Councillor Karen Hardern and seconded by Edward Gravel, it was voted to adjourn at 7:20p.m. 12-03-2018 Safety Committee Minutes Page 5