Public Safety (Subcommittee of the City Council)

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES Wednesday March 13, 2013 East Great Plain Fire Station 7:00 P.M. Committee Members Present Alderman Mark Bettencourt Alderman H. Tucker Braddock Jr. Committee Members Not Present Alderwoman Sofee Noblick Administration and Staff Present Alan H. Bergren, City Manager Chief Scandariato, Norwich Fire Department Chief Timothy Jencks, Taftville Fire Department Deputy Chief Bob LaChapelle, Occum Fire Department Patrick Daley, East Great Plains / Norwich Police Department Volunteer/Central Fire Departments and Others Jake Eyberse, Yantic Fire Department Bill Eyberse, Yantic Fire Department Chris LaRose, Norwich Public Utilities Jordan Brett, Norwich Christopher Gomez, Franklin I. Call to Order – Quorum Alderman Mark Bettencourt called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. It was determined a quorum was present. II. Approval of Minutes - Minutes of February 13, 2013. Alderman H. Tucker Braddock Jr. motioned to approve the February 13, 2013 minutes, seconded by Alderman Mark Bettencourt. All in favor the motion passed unanimously. III. Correspondence – None IV. Citizen Comment – None V. New Business a. City Manager Alan H. Bergren passed along a message from Gene Arters about a State Support Drill for either Thursday June 20th or Saturday June 22nd. This will be less of a drill that will simulate an ice storm. The City will need to show the ability to perform EOC activation and a shelter opening. Pat Daley asks how involved this is expected to be. Public Safety Meeting Minutes March 13, 2013 Page 2 City Manager Alan H. Bergren replies that this is to show the ability to activate communications and Web EOC and the ability to open a shelter. b. Chris LaRose with NPU mentions that there will be a pandemic flu exercise April 27th at the EOC by Uncas Health. c. Chris LaRose with NPU brings up the need to account for unexpected water usage. He requests all departments to reply to unaccounted for usage (drills, tests, fires, etc). He is asking the chiefs to assist in accountability and what form of contact is preferred. Alderman Mark Bettencourt asks City Manager Alan H. Bergren to communicate with the Chiefs. Chris LaRose says that he sent an email and the response has been sporatic. He really needs to know the usage estimates every time they use water. Alderman H. Tucker Braddock Jr. asks how much it fluctuates. Chris LaRose replies quite a bit. A small portion is leaks, some is usage, some is testing. Needs to know all usages (training, fires, etc.). Alderman Mark Bettencourt requests that Chris CC the City Manager on this. d. Chief Scandariato brings up Franklin Mill. The water calculations should work out OK. Right now it is being broken into. Gas was released today and the residual gas in the lines leaked due to vandalism (the gas is off). Pat Daley states that he had detectives there photographing the incidents and it was broken into while they were there. Alderman Mark Bettencourt asks how un-secured it is. Chief Scandariato replies that it is pretty well shored up but they’re finding ways in. Pat Daley mentions that putting a for sale sign up is almost an invitation to break in. They’ve even taken street drain covers. They’re taking anything metal. Even red stickered cars are being stolen. Larcenies are definitely up. Chris LaRose states that these thieves aren’t concerned with safety, not even their own safety. e. Chief Scandariato tells the committee that last month he requested all Chiefs get together and discuss issues concerning all the departments and that they did all get together for over 2 ½ hours. They’re working together, gaining a mutual respect and trust. Working on communications issues. All departments are represented. Alderman Mark Bettencourt replies that he is very glad to hear the departments are getting along and getting together. Public Safety Meeting Minutes March 13, 2013 Page 3 VI. Old Business a. Update on the Fiber Optic Changeover Chris LaRose states that tactical communications has all the needed equipment. They’re staging it now and estimate a 3/29 test. Installation will occur soon after. 4/1 is the expected scheduled change over at Norwich Police Department. Then 1 week notice to schedule each department. They still need site surveys at Backus and Occum. Pat Daley asks what the anticipated go live date is. Chris LaRose replies that it should be 5 – 6 weeks from 4/1/13. Alderman Mark Bettencourt took a moment to remind everyone what we were discussing. He mentioned how the City bonded funds for radio upgrades and NPU ran the fiber optic cable around the City. The hope is to increase communications. Right now the departments are communicating over old phone lines and repeaters. Sometimes the crews can’t communicate with someone across the street. VII. Other – None VIII. Adjournment Upon a motion by Alderman H. Tucker Braddock, Jr., seconded by Alderman Mark Bettencourt, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:21 pm Respectfully submitted by Christine Averna