Public Safety (Subcommittee of the City Council)

Public Safety Committee Meeting Yantic Fire Department December 8, 2010 Committee Members Present Alderman William Nash Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. Committee Members Not Present Alderwoman Jackie Caron Administration and Staff Present Alan H. Bergren, City Manager Chief Tim Jencks, Taftville Vol. Fire Department Chief Frank Blanchard, Yantic Fire Department Emergency Mgmt Dept Director, Roland Frechette Chief Aaron Westervelt, Laurel Hill Fire Dept. Patrick Daley, Norwich Police Lieutenant / East Great Plains Fire Department Ken Scandariato, Fire Chief Assistant Chief Tom Jencks, Taftville Vol. Fire Department Captain Timothy Menard, Norwich Police Department Gene Arters, Director OEM Volunteer/Central Fire Departments and Others Ron Stoltz, Yantic Fire Department Bill Eyberse, Yantic Fire Department Ray O’Connell, Yantic Fire Department Roland Lambert, Occum Fire Department Rob Ladd, Yantic Fire Department Karen Mankowski, Occum Fire Department Frank Mankowski, Occum Fire Department Don Leary, East Great Plains Fire Department Frank Manfredi, Yantic Fire Department Richard Benoit, Taftville Fire Department I. Call to Order – Quorum Alderman William Nash called the meeting to order at 7:02 p.m. It was determined a quorum is present. II. Approval of Minutes Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. motions to approve the June 9, 2010 Public Safety Meeting Minutes with one correction. 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 Alderman William Nash asks if there is any citizen comment. There is none. Public Safety Meeting December 8, 2010 Page 2 V. New Business a. An ordinance amending the Volunteer Firefighters’ Relief Fund of the City of Norwich. Rich Benoit, Taftville Fire Department as well as Chairman of the Firefighters’ Relief Fund, asks the board to approve the amendments to this ordinance and send it to the Council for approval. The relief plan is a very beneficial tool for attracting new volunteers as well as keeping them long term. Chief Scandariato asks if the document is in draft form. Alderman William Nash believes it shows the proposed changes, with some terminology slated for removal and new language for insertion. Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. states that currently the City is currently in a tough situation with its budget and believes that perhaps this can be postponed until after the State budget is received. Rich Benoit states that since it is basically funded by the firefighters and by the people of the town he really would like this to go to the Council as planned. Frank Blanchard states that the fire departments have worked on this plan and voted on and approved these changes and would really like to see this go before the Council for approval. He wasn’t sure why this was being brought before the Public Safety committee since so much work had already been put in by all the departments on this. Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. states this document came before the Public Safety committee because it must be vetted by the committee before it can go before the Council. Tim Menard asks if the payouts from this come from the budget. Rich Benoit states that it is like a retirement plan. Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. states that a small portion comes from the taxes. Rich Benoit states that the tax rate is approximately .3 mils and this covers the pension plan as well as the tax abatement plan. Tim Menard asks what the increase would be. Rich Benoit states that the increase in the city’s contribution is approx $30,000. The increase to the mil rate is less than 2 hundredths of a mil. Ray O’Connell states that he was on the committee when this started about 20 years ago. The terminology was worked on by the chief’s of the departments and it was worked on with the City so that there would not be a major tax burden on the taxpayers. He would really like to see this move to the Council for approval. Volunteer retention is greatly increased with this plan. It would be an increase of about $15 - $20 a year in taxes. Public Safety Meeting December 8, 2010 Page 3  Alderman William Nash reiterates that this increase to taxes may be too much when added to the other items that are increasing the taxes. The city is facing layoffs and the closing of whole departments. $20,000 could mean saving some departments. He is not saying he is unwilling to put this before the Council but the tax increases could be much more than $20 a year when adding in all the other needs of the City. He is wondering if waiting another couple of months or a year would be more beneficial. Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. asks if this can be put off until such time that it can be brought before the council after the Governors information is released. Pat Daley states that putting this off a few months could delay this for another year because of time constraints on getting this passed. The mil rate has to be passed at a certain time and this item needs to be factored in to that rate change. If putting this off is what the committee decides he wants them to understand the ramifications and make an informed decision about whether to put this to the Council floor now or later. Ray O’Connell tells the board that this may not even increase the town general tax rates since there is a separate Fire Mil rate on the tax bill. It would most likely not generate an overly noticeable increase to the Fire mil rate. Also, this was all done through an actuary. Alderman Bill Nash is hopeful that the Fire Chiefs will be present at the Council meeting when this is presented so they can answer any questions that may arise. Pat Daley would like the committee to know that the ordinance language can only be addressed every 5 years and we are currently in that window. Putting this off could mean having to wait another 5 years as a delay could cause this to miss the window. Alderman William Nash lets all present know that his intention was not to table this and forget it. However, he understands that this has to proceed before the mil rate is set so it is factored in and within the time frame necessary. This opportunity should not be missed out on. It is going to proceed. It is on the agenda for the Council for the December 20th meeting. Alderman William Nash is going to get some numbers from Joe Ruffo and make a recommendation that this goes before the Council. b. Chief Frank Blanchard requests the Committee sponsor a 7-26 Tax Abatement Ordinance modification. The modification would allow interlocal agreements for the purpose of providing property tax relief to such volunteers who live in one municipality but volunteer their services in another municipality. This would mean those who volunteer in Norwich Fire Departments but live in nearby neighborhoods that fall outside of Norwich would be eligible for a tax abatement or exemption in their home town at no cost to Norwich. Norwich would also reciprocate and recognize any Firefighters that live in Norwich that volunteer outside of Norwich. This would greatly benefit Norwich volunteers as there are several that are currently in this situation of not being able to receive tax abatement or relief on their taxes because they live in a neighboring municipality and volunteer in Norwich. Bozrah modified their books in 2006 so Norwich would have to modify their books so it can share in the inter- municipality relief. Once Norwich does this modification Bozrah would reciprocate. He is going to receive a copy of the modification as it was done in Bozrah to use as an example. Corporation Council would have to draft the ordinance for the proper wording. He would like City Manager Alan Bergren to introduce it to the Council. Public Safety Meeting December 8, 2010 Page 4 Chief Tim Jencks agrees that this is necessary. It would be a great benefit to Norwich.  Frank Blanchard explains that this would allow City Manager Alan Bergren to enter into an agreement with neighboring towns as the need arises. Chief Scandariato believes this is a very beneficial suggestion. This would be helpful to our volunteers. Pat Daley agrees that this is a great idea. It would be such a benefit to the departments and volunteers. c. Alderman William Nash wants to thank everyone who helped with the parade. He wants to thank all the volunteers, H Tucker Braddock Jr., Davey Ridgefield, Pat Daley, and Gene Arters because without them this event wouldn’t have been such a success. d. Chief Scandariato would like the committee to know that new Government mandates require that they must go to narrow band for all communications. They have approximately 753 days to get this accomplished. This project must be funded because failure to meet the deadline would result in penalties and fees on a daily basis. He is compiling tactical information and will find out about pricing. This must be completed by January 1, 2013. Frank Blanchard states that compliance would include all communications, including the controllers that change the lights on the roadways. It would also require the addition of some remote sirens. VI. Old Business a. Chief Scandariato would like to know if their has been any progress on the fiber optic change over. This needs to move forward to correct many communication and coverage problems that are continuing to impede on the safety of the public. Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. asks if this is tied up in licensing. City Manager Alan Bergren states that there are still final steps that need to be completed and they are trying to get a handle on the initial costs that will be involved. Alderman William Nash asks City Manager Alan Bergren to bring an updated report to the next Public Safety meeting. VII. Other a. Alderman William Nash asks for a report on the Occum fire house. Deputy Chief Frank Mankowski states that it has been a good year, everything looks favorable. Recruitment has been tough though. Has had several recruitment drives, ads in the paper, signs around the area, and direct mailers. They picked up a few new recruits but had hoped for a larger turnout. He is hopeful that the ordinance modifications will increase recruit applications. The department has decided to continue with neighboring departments. Hasn’t missed a call all year. Alderman William Nash asks what his numbers are right now. Public Safety Meeting December 8, 2010 Page 5 Chief Mankowski doesn’t have the exact numbers with him at this time. Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. asks if the Mayor has those numbers.  Chief Mankowski says yes. b. Alderman William Nash thanks Tim Menard for all his years of service and wishes him a long and happy retirement. VIII. Adjournment Alderman H Tucker Braddock Jr. motions to adjourn at 7:43 pm. Alderman William Nash seconds the motion. Meeting adjourned. Respectfully Submitted By, Christine E Averna