Public Safety (Subcommittee of the City Council)

Public Safety Committee Meeting Occum Fire Department January 13, 2010 Minutes Committee Members Present Alderman William Nash Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. Alderwoman Jackie Caron (arrived at 7:24) Administration and Staff Present Alan H. Bergren, City Manager Timothy Menard, Norwich Police Captain Gene Arters, Emergency Management Director Ken Scandariato, Fire Chief Chief Patrick Daley, East Great Plains Fire Department Chief Tim Jencks, Taftville Vol. Fire Department Assistant Chief Tom Jencks, Taftville Vol. Fire Department Chief Frank Blanchard, Yantic Fire Department Chief Robert Patton, Occum Fire Department Chief Aaron Westervelt, Laurel Hill Fire Department Deputy Chief Frank Mankowski, Occum Fire Department Volunteer/Central Fire Departments and Others Roland Lambert, Occum Fire Department Karen Mankowski, EMS Coordinator, Occum Fire Department Ron Stolz, Yantic Fire Department Ray O’Connell, Yantic Fire Department Jeff Desrosier, Lieutenant, Occum Fire Department Jolette Riley, Occum Fire Department Jessica Strout, Occum Fire Department Ken Gauvin, Occum Fire Department Darrell Dunnum, Occum Fire Department Holly Watson, Occum Fire Department John Jakubowski, Occum Fire Department Joseph S Hebert, Norwich Fire Department Bill Eyberse, Yantic Fire Department Damian Rickard, American Ambulance Frank Cilley, Yantic Fire Department Jennifer Reilly, 30 Huntington Lane, Norwich Mark Vesligaj, 30 Huntington Lane, Norwich Kathy Cummings, 17 Huntington Lane, Norwich Gen Bergendahl, 17 Huntington Lane, Norwich Claire Bessette, The Day Newspaper I. Call to Order – Quorum Alderman William Nash called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m. It was determined a quorum is present. Public Safety Committee Meeting January 13, 2010 Page 2 II. Approval of Minutes Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. motions to approve the October 14, 2009 Public Safety Meeting Minutes. Motion was seconded by Alderman William Nash. All in favor, the motion passed. III. Correspondence Alderman William Nash asks if there is any correspondence. There is none. IV. Citizen Comment Jennifer Reilly of Huntington Lane, as well as several other neighbors, addresses the Committee to request an evaluation of the Huntington Lane, Scotland Road, and Washington Street Extension intersection. There are 2 stop signs that cause people to slow down but most do not stop. There are many accidents and the roadway is used by a lot of commuter traffic. The community does not have peace, and walkers, bike riders, and joggers are not safe. They would like an extensive evaluation done to determine how to increase the safety of the area. Mark Vesligaj adds that the portion of Washington Street Extension going up to Scotland Road which then goes up a hill is a double S blind curve, extraordinarily narrow, and there is no place to walk safely. If there is anyone walking and a car is coming there is nowhere for them to go to avoid being in the path of the vehicle. If there are two cars it is difficult for the vehicles to pass each other safely. Jennifer states that there are no sidewalks in the area and would like information about getting sidewalks and perhaps making this area an official walking loop. Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. asks who installed the sidewalks that are there. Jennifer states that she is not sure. Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. asks if she can send an email so they can get more information on that. V. New Business a. Safety Issues regarding the intersection at Washington Street Extension-Huntington Lane-Scotland Road. Alderman William Nash turns the floor over to Police Captain Tim Menard and asks if he has any suggestions on how to investigate this to determine what actions may need to be taken. Captain Menard states that design and sidewalks is something that Public Works could look into and has information on. Regarding speed, he can ask that there is attention paid to that. He can investigate numbers of citations in the area. Alderman William Nash asks if it would be feasible to do a traffic count. Also, maybe the possibility of installing larger faced stop signs. Captain Menard states that changing the stop signs would not be an option. Alderman William Nash asks Captain Menard to get accident and citation information for the neighborhood for the next meeting. Public Safety Committee Meeting January 13, 2010 Page 3  Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. asks Captain Menard if there is the ability to install camera’s. Captain Menard doesn’t have the budget for it and it is not legal to utilize camera footage for citations. If it is used for monitoring that would be fine. VI. Old Business a. Burton Avenue Closure Alderman William Nash asks the City Manager Alan Bergren what the most cost effective way to close the road is. Captain Menard believes the cost is unimportant when safety is concerned and that the cost should be charged to the residents that want it. Chief Scandariato would prefer an accessible fence for the police and fire department. That would eliminate having to find another way around and delays getting to calls. Chief Blanchard agrees about needing a gate with access to fire, police, and plows in the winter. Also, Vergasun Avenue gates are still not in working order. They are inaccessible and frozen to the ground. Alderman William Nash asks Alan Bergren to look into pricing and gate situation in the industrial park. Alderwoman Jackie Caron asks why the road is being closed. Alderman William Nash explains the dynamics of the road and why it’s being closed. VII. Other. a. Discussion pertaining to directive for assistance for Occum Fire Department Alderman William Nash asks the Chief’s for an update. Bill Eyberse States there have been some immediate actions taken, Occum receives 1 engine from Taftville or Yantic, whoever is closer, when needed. They are addressing the needs. b. Jennifer Reilly asks about Cell Phone while driving laws and enforcement of these laws. Captain Menard states that texting while driving is technically legal the way the law is written now. He mentions a group online that deals with distracted drivers. He wasn’t sure of the web address. City Manager Alan Bergren states these are State Statutes. Alderwoman Jackie Caron states that Senator Andrea Stillman is the co-chair of their Public Safety Committee and she can be reached at 1-800-842-1420 ext 0589. Her legislative aide is Sue Driscoll. Also, you can Google Connecticut General Assembly and look to see if there is any Cell Phone legislation pending or on hold and try to revive it through your local senator. VIII. Adjournment Alderwoman Jackie Caron motions to adjourn at 7:43 p.m. Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. seconds the motion and it passes unanimously. Meeting adjourned.