Board of Public Safety

Approved by the Board of Public Safety November 1, 2023 MINUTES Vote: Unanimous Vol. 7, Page 596 BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY REGULAR MEETING CITY HALL AUDITORIUM / ZOOM October 4, 2023 A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, October 4, 2023. Attendance was in person and by Zoom. Present at the City Hall Auditorium were Mayor Elinor Carbone, Commissioners Molly Spino, Doug Benedetto, Glenn McLeod, and Darlene Battle, Fire Chief Eric Borden, Police Chief William Baldwin, Deputy Police Chief Bart Barown, Trinity Health EMS Manager Jeff Ganung, and Torringford Volunteer Fire Department Commissioner James Potter. Commissioner Joe McElroy joined via Zoom. Deputy Fire Chief Tripp and Commissioner Gregg Cogswell were absent. Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance. Mayor Carbone asked for a moment of silence for the passing of Attorney Victor Muschell after many years of service to the City as Corporation Counsel. PUBLIC COMMENT On a motion by Commissioner Spino, seconded by Commissioner Battle, the Board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. No one from the public wished to speak. MEETING MINUTES APPROVAL On a motion by Commissioner McLeod, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Regular Meeting Minutes from September 6, 2023. FIRE DEPARTMENT UNIFORMS On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to utilize State Contract #17PSX0024AB for the purchase of Fire Department Uniforms, from Fairfield Uniform Company of Bridgeport, CT to be paid from the Uniform Allowance line item, as further explained in the Purchasing Agent’s letter dated September 28, 2023, having been previously approved by the City Council. Mayor Carbone told the Board that the funds for this purchase will span two Fiscal Years. POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT: APPROVED On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to accept Police Chief Baldwin’s report for August 2023. FIRE CHIEF’S REPORT: APPROVED On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to accept Fire Chief Borden’s report for August 2023. EMS PROVIDER ACTIVITY REPORT: APPROVED On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Spino, the Board voted unanimously to accept the EMS provider activity report for August 2023. BUSINESS BY VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENTS On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Spino, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by the Volunteer Fire Departments. Torringford Volunteer Fire Department Commissioner James Potter provided the Board with an update on recruitment efforts and fundraising opportunities for the Department. BUSINESS BY DEPARTMENT HEADS On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads. Police Chief Baldwin, Fire Chief Borden, and EMS Manager Jeff Ganung gave the latest updates from their departments. BUSINESS BY THE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by the Mayor and members of the Board of Public Safety. Commissioner Battle congratulated the Officers who received the Medal of Honor and expressed her condolences on the loss of Corporation Counsel Atty. Victor Muschell. Commissioner McLeod asked Chief Baldwin to have the Officers who received the Medal of Honor come to a Board of Safety Meeting to be able to be recognized by the Board, Chief Baldwin told him that they are planning on an award Ceremony to honor a few different Officers, maybe even a joint Ceremony with the Fire Department. Commissioner McLeod asked Chief Borden why there is a need for three Fire Marshall Cars, since one was totaled does it need to be replaced? Chief Borden explained that there are not enough spare vehicles in the fleet to not replace this vehicle. He also said that all three Fire Marshalls have their separate duties during the day, and at night they must remain on call if there is a fire that they need to respond to. Commissioner McLeod suggested dividing the cars and putting the Fire Marshalls on a schedule of who will be on call in the evenings. Commissioner Benedetto asked Chief Borden why no one on the Board of Safety was notified of the Fire Marshall’s accident in Winsted, and the Battalion Chief’s accident in Torrington, Chief Borden explained that he MINUTES Vol. 7, Page 597 BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY REGULAR MEETING CITY HALL AUDITORIUM / ZOOM October 4, 2023 notified the Mayor and that there was no time to notify the Board as he was making sure his department was whole and the men were not hurt. Commissioner Benedetto told him that it was taxpayer vehicles, and the taxpayers were asking the Board members questions, to which they didn’t have answers. Commissioner Benedetto also asked Chief Borden why the Fire Department was unloading trucks at Friendly Hands, Chief Borden told him it was part of their Community Service. Commissioner Benedetto also asked why the Fire Department was tying up three vehicles for a 15-second EMS Call, Chief Borden told him that the Fire Department delivers services and resources when available. Chief Borden also told him that this is all part of the EMS Plan that was presented at the last meeting. Commissioner Benedetto also told the Board that Baroco held an event for donuts and coffee with the Torrington Police Department today. He said that they would be reaching out to the Fire Department to do the same. Mayor Carbone said that once the Election is over and knows who the new Board Members are, she will work on appointing Members to the Board of Safety Policy Committee, that way a lot of these issues will be resolved. ADJOURNMENT On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Spino, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:13 p.m. Respectfully submitted by ATTEST: Heather Abraham, Asst. City Clerk CAROL L. ANDERSON, CITY CLERK CAROL L. ANDERSON, CITY CLERK