Board of Public Safety

Approve by the Board of Public Safety MINUTES October 2, 2024 Vol. 7, Page 618 BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY Vote: Unanimous REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom September 4, 2024 A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, September 4, 2024. Attendance was in person and by Zoom. Present at the City Hall Auditorium were Mayor Elinor Carbone, Commissioners Joe McElroy, Doug Benedetto, Glenn McLeod, and Darlene Battle, Police Chief William Baldwin, Deputy Police Chief Bart Barown, Deputy Fire Chief David Tripp, Trinity Health EMS Manager Jeff Ganung, Drakeville VFD Lieutenant Chris Beyus. Drakeville VFD Fire Chief Tomasz Kalinowski participated via Zoom. Commissioners Tylar Young and Gregg Cogswell were absent. Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance. Police Department Award Ceremony Officer Christopher Abeling received the Lifesaving Medal. Officer Daniel Cyr received the Lifesaving Medal. Lieutenant Kenneth Brouillard received the Chief’s Citation. Lieutenant Michael D’Autorio received the Chief’s Citation. Sargeant Matthew Gonska received two Chief’s Citations. Sargeant Kyle Johnson received the Chief’s Citation. Detective Todd Fador received the Chief's Citation. Officer Daniel Cyr received the Exceptional Duty Award. Public Comment On a motion by Commissioner McLeod, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. No one from the public wished to speak. Accept Minutes On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted to accept the Regular Meeting Minutes from August 7, 2024. Commissioner Battle abstained. Fire Department Extractor On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to utilize State Contract #15PSX0112 for the purchase of a Fire Department Washer/Extractor, from Daniels Equipment Company of Auburn, NH to be paid from the Fire Department Capital Reserve Account in the amount of $23,632.00, having been previously approved by the City Council. Police Department Trek Police Electric Bicycles with Bike Racks On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McElroy, the Board voted unanimously to award the purchase of the two (2) TREK Electric bikes to Benidorm Bikes of Canton, CT in the amount of $11,799.90, having been previously approved by the City Council. Funding for this purchase will be from the Police Department Capital Reserve account. Commissioner Benedetto asked if the bikes came with safety gear, Deputy Chief Barown said the bikes go out in the spring for service, and new gear is purchased then. Police Department University Drive Tower On a motion by Commissioner McElroy, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to authorize the replace the radio repeater located on University Drive, to Marcus Communications of Manchester, CT in the amount of $24,065.50, having been previously approved by the City Council. This purchase will be funded from the Police Department's Capital Reserve, as further explained in the Police Chief's letter dated August 28, 2024. Police Department Reports On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to accept Police Chief Baldwin’s reports for July 2024. Commissioner Benedetto asked how the parking ticket collections were going, Chief Baldwin said they were booting more cars, and regularly collecting money. He noted Sargeant Baldis is working hard collecting monies. Deputy Chief Barown added that past due tickets are linked to the DMV. Fire Department Reports On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McElroy, the Board voted unanimously to accept Fire Chief Borden’s reports for July 2024. Commissioner Benedetto asked why there were empty spaces on the incident report, Deputy Chief Tripp said the Officer hadn’t filled out the report and had already spoken to the Lieutenant. Commissioner Benedetto asked if the Fire Marshall Office was fully staffed, Deputy Chief Tripp said it was, and that Justin starts training on Monday with the State. Commissioner Benedetto asked if Cadets were in the academy, and Deputy Chief Tripp said they wouldn’t have any until the spring. MINUTES Vol. 7, Page 619 BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom September 4, 2024 EMS Provider Reports On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to accept the EMS Provider Activity reports for July 2024. Tabled: Business by the Policy Subcommittee On a motion by Commissioner McLeod, seconded by Commissioner McElroy, the Board voted unanimously to table business by the Board of Safety Policy Subcommittee. Business by Volunteer Fire Departments On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by the Volunteer Fire Departments. Lieutenant Beyus said that Drakeville had been dispatched to 13 calls, and was able to make all 13 calls. He also said that on September 28, 2024, there will be a Firefighters Ball at the Elks in Torrington to celebrate 75 years of service to the community. Business by Department Heads On a motion by Commissioner McLeod, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by Department Heads. Police Chief Baldwin, Deputy Fire Chief Tripp, and EMS Manager Jeff Ganung gave the latest updates from their departments. Commissioner Benedetto asked what the Fire Department's gas leak protocol is, Deputy Chief Tripp said they call back for coverage, and at that time the Volunteers are dispatched. He said for the incident today Drakeville responded to Headquarters to provide City coverage. He said it is the incident command who will control the scene. Business by Mayor & Members 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 thanked the Police and Fire for their service to the community. Commissioner McLeod congratulated the Officers presented with awards. He asked why other organizations set policies and then the City must adapt to them, for example, if you are in the emergency room parking lot and cannot get into the building you call 911 to have the ambulance or Fire Department come, instead of the Emergency staff coming out. Mr. Ganung said that if someone calls 911 EMS is obligated to respond. He explained that some of the outer buildings at the hospital are far from the emergency room, and depending on where they were it would be a maze to go through the offices to the emergency room. Commissioner Benedetto suggested requesting a representative from Hartford Healthcare to a meeting to help the Board understand why the staff cannot respond to calls outside of the emergency room. Commissioner Benedetto congratulated the Officers, and the PAL program for the backpack drive. He said the Torringford VFD did a good job with the car show. He also thanked Chief Baldwin, Deputy Chief Barown, and Sargeant Baldis for help with the day of the ribbon cutting for the Rainbow Bridge. Commissioner McElroy commended the Police Chief and Deputy Chief for the leadership skills that they have passed down to their Officers. He also thanked Deputy Chief Tripp for how the Fire Department has been handling the gas leaks, including the personnel and resources to contain them. Mayor Carbone told the Board that she had spoken with the liaison from Eversource, who wasn’t aware of how many gas leaks there have been. She said they would reach out to their contractor to see why it keeps happening. Adjournment On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 7:36 p.m. Respectfully submitted by ATTEST: Heather Abraham, Asst. City Clerk CAROL L. ANDERSON, CITY CLERK CAROL L. ANDERSON, CITY CLERK