Public Safety (Subcommittee of the City Council)

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE MINUTES Wednesday May 8th, 2019 Central Fire Department 10 North Thames Street, Norwich, CT 7:00 PM Committee Members Present: Alderman William Nash, Alderman Joseph A. DeLucia and Alderwoman Joanne Philbrick. Committee Members Absent: None. Administration and Staff Present: John Salomone, City Manager, City of Norwich; Captain Jim Veiga, Norwich Police Department; and Barry Ellison, Norwich Public Utilities. Volunteer/Central Fire Departments and Others: Taftville Chief Timothy Jencks; Norwich Chief Tracy Montoya and Lieutenant Jake Manke; East Great Plain None; Occum Chief Carroll Spaulding; Laurel Hill Captain Pete Clark; and Yantic Assistant Chief Paul O’Connell. Citizens Present: Tucker Braddock, 868 Scotland Road, Norwich. I. Call to Order and Quorum: Alderman Nash called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. There was a quorum present. II. Approval of Minutes: Minutes of Wednesday March 13, 2019. Alderman Nash motioned, seconded by Alderman DeLucia, to approve the Wednesday March 13, 2019 meeting minutes. The motion passed unanimously. III. Correspondence: Alderman Nash received East Great Plain’s update via email from Chief Milton. IV. Citizen Comment: Tucker Braddock of 868 Scotland Road wished to thank the Taftville Fire Department for putting out buoys in Thames River so that boats have ample time to slow down and prevent damages. Tucker Braddock also thanked the Committee members for their votes of support in favor of new docks. V. Old Business: a) Apparatus/ Equipment Financing: – City Manager John Salomone reported there have been two meetings over the last month along with him and the Chief’s meeting regularly every 2-3 weeks. Mr. Salomone stated currently in the process of ranking equipment from good to poor in order to develop a replacement schedule. Alderman DeLucia asked what the status is on all five of the trucks to which the City Manager responded they are all on order and that the next phase will be the Chiefs  meeting with the manufactures when building begins. Alderwoman Philbrick asked City Manager John Salomone to please get estimate delivery dates on the trucks and to relay the information to Alderman Nash. VI. New Business: a) Norwich Public Utilities Update – Barry Ellison reminded the departments to please email Tom Cutler regarding April hydrant usage. Barry Ellison reported the reservoirs are at 100% capacity with recent rain and that NPU is currently replacing the pipe on Hamilton Avenue, paving in Greenville and plan to begin the Sprague water main expansion in the upcoming future. b) Emergency Management: Lieutenant Jake Manke reported Norwich’s LEOP plan was completely reviewed and updated for 2019 and that he recently attended the National Radiological Emergency Preparedness Conference in Florida where he also presented, the Region 4 Annual EMD Meeting in Montville and the CT EMD Conference in Cromwell. Lieutenant Manke reminded everyone that hurricane season is upon us with the East Coast at an estimate 32% chance of being hit by a major storm. Lieutenant Manke stated Emergency Management has recently applied for the Emergency Management Performance Grant and the Nuclear Emergency Safety Fund. Lieutenant Manke said along with some technology upgrade suggestions provided by NPU Emergency Management has currently been working on various building modifications including lighting motion detection, LED light replacement, miscellaneous wiring, winterizing the louver system in the eaves, utilizing natural gas through the water heater and updating punch code access locks. Lieutenant Manke reported capital needs include the replacement of the Mason Pump and Pick-Up with an F- 350 or equivalent pick-up with stake body and a secondary EOC establishment. Lieutenant Jake Manke also wished a fond farewell as this would be the last Public Safety Meeting he would be attending as a city employee due to his new position. c) American Ambulance: None. d) Norwich Police Department: Captain Jim Veiga reported NPD had an average month average month and that the new police cruisers were coming alone with three complete and one waiting for graphics. Captain Veiga added the WatchGuard cameras were received the day before with installations beginning May 20th and plan to have all 24 cruisers and the Chief’s car equipped by mid-June. Captain Jim Veiga stated the new radio system kick-off was held on April 29th and that he will be provided regular updates until the anticipated completion date early next year. Alderman Nash asked with the recent school shootings is NPD updating active shooter trainings. Captain Veiga responded that NPD constantly conducts active shooter trainings but starting in 2018 the department started a Key FOB system for public places and schools to bolster safety alongside the trainings. e) Firehouse Status Updates: Taftville: Chief Timothy Jencks reported between March and the current month Taftville had 119 calls along with providing mutual aid and that current maintenance items included the Rescue Truck which would be going to fleet the next day for DOT inspection but it has lights out, and the Squad and Dive truck were serviced as well as the boat trailer. Chief Jencks stated he met with the manufacturer for the new Rescue truck but haven’t been given a delivery date. Chief Jencks said the truck cab is in production; he met with Pierce last week to finalize drawings and should be getting an estimate date. Chief Jencks reported heating has been installed in the expansion but contractor does need to come back. Chief Jencks stated they have been updating their business keys and upcoming expenses include replacing a busted motor in the apparatus exhaust and their ice machine. East Great Plain: Chief Keith Milton emailed a report to Alderman Nash stating, “EGP had 62 calls last month and our normal weekly trainings. Routine maintenance on every apparatus except our Rescue Truck as PTO broke and was out of service for about 2 weeks. EGP has four new members that joined which put us at a total of about 18 new members. EGP has been having issues outfitting new members with full sets of gear but received help from Yantic FD who had extra gear for us to borrow, for which we thank them. Our second means of egress staircase got final approval from the building department and we received the letter last week. EGP’s Mother’s day flower sales are this coming Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.” Occum: Chief Carroll Spaulding reported Occum is at 30 members and just received five applications. Chief Spaulding stated he is in the process of moving money around and coming across issues from past years that need to be addressed. Chief Spaulding stated some current firehouse needs include refinishing the downstairs bathroom’s shower, lighting and exhaust but that project is currently on the backburner due to outstanding bills. Chief Spaulding stated Occum’s Chicken BBQ is coming up on June 1st. Yantic: Assistant Chief Paul O’Connell reported Yantic had 45 calls last month and their banquet is the upcoming weekend. Assistant Chief O’Connell stated the committee is moving on Engine 31 with plans to meet again the upcoming weekend and make a decision. Assistant Chief O’Connell added that Squad 36 is at least six weeks out for repairs and has already been out of service for two months due to a combusted part. Laurel Hill: Captain Pete Clark reported Laurel Hill has one member in Fire 1 and one almost complete. Captain Clark said their truck is ordered and they are waiting on the chasse to arrive. Captain Clark said they are currently at the exact four-month lead time they were given for the chasse delivery when the box was being built. Norwich: Chief Tracy Montoya reported the two new recruits are in their 12th week at the Fire Academy which Alderwoman Philbrick, Jill Smith and he had the chance to see at a training exercise they attended. Chief Montoya said the NFD is currently hiring with the goal to put 2-3 new members in the academy this fall. Chief Montoya reported the new marine  is in the water and had its first emergency response last weekend in regards to a missing person with reports back that its infrared system, among others, was extremely helpful. Chief Montoya stated critical needs include the Fire Marshal vehicle which is now off the road and needs funding to replace so Chief put in a request to financing for a lower amount in order to get a pick-up truck on the road instead. Chief Montoya reported he did investigate if there was a serviceable vehicle available for them from NPD but per fleet maintenance there was nothing that would work. VI. Other: a) IMC Bridge Update: See below. b) NPU IT Personnel Lent to City: City Manager John Salomone he had two meetings with NPU Manager Chris LaRose to see what personnel are available and their current responsibilities. City Manager Salomone said they have narrowed it down to two candidates and his next step is to speak with their union representative which should not arise any issues they just need to discuss details. City Manager Salomone stated he hoped during the budget process the personnel could be kept on to help make a dent in the backlogs and on the IMC. Alderwoman Philbrick asked if there would be a financial component to this which City Manager Salomone responded currently the plan is to utilize the personnel on an as-needed basis as to not usurp their current duties so they would not need to be reimbursed. VII. Future Agenda Items: a) IMC Bridge b) NPU IT Person Lent to City c) Cascade System for Laurel Hill VIII. Adjournment: Upon a motion by Alderman Nash, seconded by Alderman DeLucia, the meeting was unanimously adjourned at 7:34 pm Respectfully Submitted, Katherine Rose