Public Safety (Subcommittee of the City Council)

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE SPECIAL MEETING MINUTES Wednesday May 21, 2013 Yantic Volunteer Fire Department 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 Mayor Peter Nystrom Alan H. Bergren, City Manager Corporation Counsel, Michael Driscoll Barry Ellison, Public Works Director Chief Frank Blanchard, Yantic Fire Department Patrick Daley, Norwich Police Lieutenant / Chief East Great Plains Fire Department Donna Ralston, Norwich Assessor Deputy Chief Warren Mocek Damien Rickard, American Ambulance Volunteer/Central Fire Departments and Others Ray Henry, Yantic Fire Department Bill Moleski, Postal Service Joe Brule, Resident, 70 Sunnyside East Al Jonasch, Resident, 9 Sunnyside East Road Ext Dawn Muscarella, Resident, 61 Sunnyside East Mary Briones, Resident, 61 Sunnyside East Becky Cady, Resident, 67 Sunnyside East Rene Muckle, Resident, 68 Sunnyside East Pat Stolz, Resident, 42 Sunnyside West Road Mark Bialowans, Resident, 1 Sunnyside Street Lisa Slaga, Resident, 43 Sunnyside West Road Randy Slaga, Resident, 43 Sunnyside West Road Lisa Bouchard, Resident, 74 Sunnyside East Road Edna Gimbert, Resident, 78 Sunnyside Street Ronalyn Cordova, Resident, 101 Sunnyside Street Jill-Karen Redding, Resident, 87 Sunnyside Street Sue Small, Resident, 82 Sunnyside Street Bill Small, Resident, 82 Sunnyside Street Ron Stoltz, Resident, 42 Sunnyside West Road Pam Ultrian, Resident, 97 Sunnyside Street I. Call to Order – Quorum Alderman Mark Bettencourt called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. It was determined a quorum is present. Public Safety Special Meeting Minutes May 21, 2013 Page 2 II. Citizen Comment – The residents present are confused as to what is happening and why. Upon motion of H. Tucker Braddock Jr., seconded by Alderman Mark Bettencourt, it is unanimously voted to move the Citizen Comment period to be heard after the discussion under Old Business. III. Old Business a. Discuss addresses and streets to accommodate 911 safety and postal delivery in Sunnyside Area of Yantic City Manager Alan H. Bergren states that the Yantic Post Office is closed. Many of the residents of the Sunnyside area opted for street delivery. The City wants to change the numbering of this area to correct for sequencing problems that police/fire/ambulance experience as well as to become 911 Compliant. Bill Moleski of the Postal Service states he was matching post office addresses versus the Assessors addresses and found the numbers don’t match up. It’s necessary to make the street names and numbers match. Right now everyone is a PO box in the postal system. Alderman Mark Bettencourt asks how this affects the Assessor’s office. Norwich Assessor Donna Ralston replies that since 1981 911 has been in place. The Sunnyside area has been a problem for the 911 system for a long time. For safety, the street numbers have to be 911 compliant. It’s true that current people know how to find the residences, but as people retire and new people come in this will no longer be true. Director of Public Works Barry Ellison states that it’s not clear who will be in charge of doing the numbering. Public Works numbers new properties but has never had to work with existing properties like this. However, if police/fire/ambulance need to find them then we need to make this happen. Alderman Mark Bettencourt asks Deputy Chief Mocek if they’re being found now. Deputy Chief Mocek replies that from personal experience it was easy to get lost and confused. We prefer to arrive in a timely fashion rather than getting lost and searching. Anyone not familiar with the neighborhood will get lost. When responding to something that requires silent approach there is a tactical advantage that is lost when having to light up each house to determine the address of each residence. Damian Rickard of American Ambulance ditto’s this statement. If we can’t find an address response will be delayed. Public Safety Special Meeting Minutes May 21, 2013 Page 3 Chief Frank Blanchard states that for public safety we have new members who can’t find what they are looking for. We set up people ahead of the responders so we can point the way. We can’t always do that. It’s not always possible to get to the neighborhood first. II. Citizen Comment – agenda item brought forward from above. Joe Bruell, 70 Sunnyside – Thank you for getting us informed and here. Any effort that gets my mail delivered to my home please do it. The temporary measures helped. My experience has been disservice. I look forward to this being resolved. Even online ordering is tough without valid addresses. This is the foundation for progress. First question, my deed says 70 Sunnyside. Will that still be valid? Corporation Counsel replies that the physical description of his property will still point to the correct address. Joe Bruell - Second question, what about my mortgage company – who will be in charge of this? City Assessor Donna Ralston replies that it will be herself and the Tax Collector Joe Bruell - Third question, do I need to be proactive with my mortgage company? City Assessor Donna Ralston replies that they will give him a letter with the current and new addresses and that can be sent to the mortgage company. Al Jonasch, 9 Sunnyside East Road Ext – Built his house 40 years ago. The plans had to be site specific. Public Works assigned that number. They stated that it was in case the engineer wanted to change the addresses around. The house is not really on any street. It’s actually off the public way. Is my address going to be changed as well? Alderman Mark Bettencourt replies that his understanding is that it’s going to change for the 911 system. Public Works Director Barry Ellison states that he has Ext and we want them to turn onto the road you’re on. Al Jonasch – I’m still waiting for signs since 4 years ago. That spoils my faith in the City. There is a lack of common sense being used. Ron Stoltz, 42 Sunnyside West Road – Thank you Mayor Nystrom for getting this done. There are 4 houses on Sunnyside West. They’re all on the same side. Lisa Buchard, 74 Sunnyside East – What is the plan before we go further. Public Safety Special Meeting Minutes May 21, 2013 Page 4 Public Works Director Barry Ellison replies that this public comment is needed. In a perfect world there wouldn’t be all the Sunnyside’s together like this. Currently I don’t think there is a plan to change the street names. Joe Bruell – How can I still be Sunnyside East when it is a separate road off of Sunnyside East? (Not Signed In) Gifford, 78 Sunnyside Street – Is this going to create an issue with our mail. Can this be done timely so it doesn’t require multiple changes? Bill Moleski, Postal Service, states that everyone has been on active delivery since last Saturday. Sunnyside Street is not changing. The East, West, and Ext streets need to be updated. Al Jonasch – How long is this going to take? Mark Bialowans, 1 Sunnyside Street – What is the procedure for feet of frontage to house number? Public Works Director Barry Ellison replies 50’. Norwich Tax Assessor Donna Ralston replies that in some rural areas it is sometimes 100’ City Manager Alan Bergren states that there are signs coming soon. If everyone could please stay and meet with the Postal Representative and the Assessor so that maybe they can know their address tonight. Alderman Mark Bettencourt reminds everyone that if every other street is odd/even except here a new police/fire/ambulance person will have trouble finding the place. VIII. Adjournment Upon a motion by Alderman H. Tucker Braddock Jr, seconded by Alderman Mark Bettencourt, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:57 pm Respectfully submitted by Christine Averna