Board of Public Safety

Approved by the Board of Public Safety MINUTES May 7, 2025 Vol. 7, Page 638 BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY Vote: Unanimous REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom April 2, 2025 A REGULAR MEETING of the Board of Public Safety was held on Wednesday, April 2, 2025. Attendance was in person and by Zoom. Present at the City Hall Auditorium were Mayor Elinor Carbone, Commissioners Tylar Young, Joe McElroy, Doug Benedetto, Gregg Cogswell, Glenn McLeod, and Darlene Battle, Police Chief William Baldwin, Deputy Police Chief Bart Barown, Fire Chief Eric Borden, Deputy Fire Chief David Tripp, and Trinity Health EMS Manager Jeff Ganung, Torringford Volunteer Fire Department (TVFD) Commissioners Jim Potter and Gary Delmonte, and Drakeville Volunteer Fire Department Lieutenant Chris Beyus. Drakeville Volunteer Fire Department Chief Tomasz Kalinowski and Drakeville Volunteer Fire Department President Mike Whittaker joined via Zoom. Mayor Carbone called the meeting to order at 6:29 p.m., beginning with the Pledge of Allegiance. Public Comment On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Young, the Board voted unanimously to open the meeting to the public. David Casper, Battalion Chief for the Torrington Fire Department, expressed gratitude to the Torringford Volunteer Fire Department (TVFD) for giving him the opportunity to begin his firefighting career at the age of 15. He said the closure of TVFD is not due to a lack of need but rather the increasing demands of both the fire service and the growing community. He informed the Board that when TVFD was established 68 years ago, it was in response to a recognized need for fire protection in that part of town, and that need is now greater than ever. Karen Thomas, an East Side resident, thanked Torringford for their years of dedicated service and voiced concern about response times for residents on the East Side. She emphasized that failing to staff the east end of town adequately would be a disservice to the community and stressed the importance of ensuring the safety of east-side residents. Mayor Carbone reminded everyone in attendance that no decisions had been made for the Torringford Volunteer Fire Department. Sharon Waagner, an east side resident, thanked Torringford, Drakeville, and the former Burrville Volunteer Fire Departments for their dedicated service over the years. She expressed concern over the closure of TVFD without an increase in career department staffing. Noting the rising number of calls, she stressed the urgent need to improve staffing levels and ensure adequate fire coverage on the east side. Tim Schapp, voiced his concerns about fire and EMS response times on the east side of town, emphasizing the importance of having personnel stationed closer to improve response efficiency. He informed the Board that the Fire Union is fully supportive of staffing the east side and urged them to prioritize the community's needs by making the right decision for the area. Tim O’Donnell, President of the Torrington Fire Fighters Association IAFF Local 1567, stated that the union has been advocating for increased staffing for years and stressed the need for a fire department presence on the east side. He emphasized the department's willingness to do whatever it can to support the community but acknowledged that, for now, they must trust the process. Jim Potter, TVFD Commissioner, stated that he has met with their legal counsel and is prepared to open their doors to the Torrington Fire Department. Operations may begin with 12-hour shifts, rather than 24/7 coverage, as the City works through logistical details. Commissioner Battle arrived at 6:48 p.m. Fire Chief Borden stated that a facility study is necessary to determine what, if any, modifications are required to ensure firefighter safety. He added that discussions will be held with Torringford regarding their current assets and with Drakeville regarding their needs. Mayor Carbone expressed her sadness over the loss of the TVFD, recognizing its longstanding role in shaping the community and supporting volunteerism. She emphasized that no employees will be placed in the building until a licensed environmental professional (LEP) is brought in and a study is completed to confirm that the building is environmentally safe. She acknowledged that significant work is needed and that the process will take time. She also noted that the Fire Department has been responding to all calls in the East End under the assumption that no volunteers are available. She reminded the Board that while this situation presents a valuable opportunity, no final decisions have been made. Accept Minutes On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cogswell, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Regular Meeting Minutes of March 5, 2025. On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to accept the Special Meeting Minutes of March 13, 2025. MINUTES Vol. 7, Page 639 BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom April 2, 2025 TPD Mammoth Security On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Toung, the Board voted unanimously to approve the purchase and installation of the new booking/cell cameras and wiring for the Police Department from Mammoth Security, Inc., of New Britain, CT, in the amount of $35,771.66, utilizing the Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium (MHEC) contract, pending City Council approval. The funding for this project will be through the Police Department Capital Account, as further explained in the Police Chief's memo dated March 26, 2025. Commissioner McLeod asked if there were any other bids, and Chief Baldwin said this Company is the current provider for this system. Commissioner Benedetto asked if it was just the cell block area being done, Chief Baldwin said yes, everything else had already been upgraded. 5-Year EMS Plan On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cogswell, the Board voted unanimously to open the discussion on the 5-Year EMS Plan submitted to the State in 2023. Mayor Carbone stated that one change has been made to the contract since its 2023 submission: the city is now funding a third ambulance for 12 hours daily, seven days a week. Commissioner McLeod noted the Trinity contract expires in May and asked about the City's next steps. Mayor Carbone replied that an extension is being drafted for execution next month. Commissioner McLeod then questioned whether the City intends to become the Primary Service Area Responder (PSAR), and if so, why Trinity would still be involved. Mayor Carbone clarified that Trinity is the designated PSAR and has collaborated with the City to transfer that designation, but the Department of Public Health has denied the application twice. Chief Borden explained that this is because a PSAR must be a full-service EMS provider. Mayor Carbone added that if the PSAR fails, responsibility falls on the CEO, emphasizing the need to maintain adequate EMS coverage until the City can fully establish its own EMS services. She also noted the City is paying an additional $200,000 annually for a Basic Life Support ambulance to operate 12 hours per day, seven days per week. Police Department Reports On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Young, the Board voted unanimously to accept Police Chief Baldwin’s reports for February 2025. Fire Department Reports On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Young, the Board voted unanimously to accept Fire Chief Borden’s reports for February 2025. Commissioner Benedetto asked whether the increase in EMS calls is causing any issues. Chief Borden responded that everything has been running smoothly and that responding to more calls is beneficial, especially since their timing is unpredictable. Commissioner McElroy asked whether there are no mutual aid ambulances available or if such requests are being denied. Chief Borden explained that the addition of another ambulance has significantly reduced the need for mutual aid. Mr. Ganung added that if mutual aid is unavailable, they call in an ambulance from Waterbury. Commissioner Benedetto requested statistics on the number of Fire/EMS calls on the East Side of town. Deputy Chief Tripp said for March, the total calls were 4483: 55% HQ, 16.5% NE, 17% East Side, 8% Burrville (Lakeridge) (North End covers), less than 5% Drakeville. For East Side, it was EMS 401, Fire 272, and Other 101. Mayor Carbone then mentioned her interest in relocating the North End Fire Station to Torringford and converting the North End station into a career/volunteer hybrid. She emphasized that the decline in volunteer availability is a national issue, not just a local one. She also noted that planning continues for a new Public Safety Complex. 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 February 2025. Commissioner Benedetto asked whether they were receiving EMS complaints, how Trinity was adjusting to the Fire Department also responding to calls, and if there was any communication between the two. Mr. Ganung responded that there is no direct radio communication between Trinity and the Fire Department; all communication must go through Litchfield County Dispatch (LCD). Commissioner Benedetto then asked if the average EMS response time to the East Side is under 8 minutes. Mr. Ganung confirmed that 8 minutes is the average. Commissioner Benedetto followed by saying that, in the past, an ambulance was stationed at the top of the hill and asked why that had stopped. Mr. Ganung explained that when ambulances were posted there, they were frequently pulled down East Main Street to handle calls downtown and on the west side, which increased overall response times. Commissioner Benedetto then raised concerns about the lack of communication between fire trucks and Trinity, asking if there were plans to implement a system to turn fire trucks around when needed. Chief Borden said that LCD handles fire call dispatching and that adding more radios would incur additional costs. Mr. Ganung noted that Trinity is not always aware of which calls the Fire Department is responding to. Deputy Chief Tripp added that LCD has a list of calls that the fire department responds to and said that communication through LCD is a two-way process. MINUTES Vol. 7, Page 640 BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom April 2, 2025 TABLED: Business by the Policy Subcommittee On a motion by Commissioner Cogswell, seconded by Commissioner McElroy, the Board voted unanimously to table business by the Board of Safety Policy Subcommittee. Policy Subcommittee: Lockout Policy On a motion by Commissioner Cogswell, seconded by Commissioner Benedetto, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Fire Department’s Lockout Policy, approved by the Policy Subcommittee on March 26, 2025. Commissioner Cogswell explained that the existing policy, which had been in place for some time, was outdated. The recent updates were meant to clean up outdated references—not to change or limit how lockouts are handled or how operations currently function. Chief Borden clarified that each lockout is evaluated on a case-by-case basis. LCD contacts the Battalion Chief, who then determines whether the situation is an emergency. Commissioner Cogswell added that the intent is to allow the Department to use its professional judgment in handling these calls. Table: Policy Subcommittee: Promotion Policy On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McLeod, the Board voted unanimously to open the discussion on the Board of Public Safety Promotion Policy, approved by the Policy Subcommittee on March 26, 2025. Commissioner Cogswell requested that the matter be tabled for further discussion. Commissioner McLeod agreed that tabling it was acceptable but emphasized the importance of discussing it; considering the letter he received from the Firefighter’s Union, he was very disappointed. He noted that the policy in question reflects how the Board has been managing promotions for the past two to three years. Commissioner McLeod explained that the policy is intended to prevent situations where families attend promotional announcements expecting their relatives to be selected, only for that not to happen, resulting in unnecessary disappointment and public embarrassment. On a motion by Commissioner Battle, seconded by Commissioner Cogswell, the Board voted unanimously to table the vote on the Board of Public Safety Promotion Policy, approved by the Policy Subcommittee on March 26, 2025. Policy Subcommittee: Torrington Police Department Goals On a motion by Commissioner Cogswell, seconded by Commissioner McElroy, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Board of Public Safety Police Department Goals for 2025, approved by the Policy Subcommittee on March 26, 2025. Commissioner Cogswell said this has been one of the items the Policy Subcommittee has been working on; it is good practice to have goals set. Commissioner Cogswell explained the goals set for the Police Department. Commissioner Benedetto asked when their last plan was submitted, Chief Baldwin told him last month. Policy Subcommittee: Torrington Fire Department Goals On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cogswell, the Board voted unanimously to approve the Board of Public Safety Fire Department Goals for 2025, approved by the Policy Subcommittee on March 26, 2025. Commissioner Cogswell stated that while each department shares similar overall goals with the Police Department, the Fire Department’s objectives differ slightly based on its unique responsibilities. They will have quarterly reporting to the Board. Commissioner Benedetto asked if they have a five-year plan in place. Chief Borden said they are actively working on developing a new plan. 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. TVFD Commissioner Jim Potter is looking forward to opening the doors of Torringford to the Fire Department for East Side coverage. He looks forward to working with the Mayor and Chiefs. Drakeville Lieutenant Chris Beyus thanked Torringford for their service to the community and stated that Drakeville remains committed to serving the City safely. He outlined several major capital projects and noted that onboarding new volunteers has caused a financial strain on the Department. He asked that Drakeville be considered during the upcoming budget discussions. Commissioner Cogswell asked how many members were within the district area. Lieutenant Beyus said most volunteers are in the district, adding that he would be one of the furthest members. Business by Department Heads On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Young, 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. MINUTES Vol. 7, Page 641 BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY REGULAR MEETING City Hall Auditorium / Zoom April 2, 2025 Business by Mayor & Members On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner McElroy, the Board voted unanimously to consider business by the Mayor and Members of the Board of Public Safety. Commissioner McElroy thanked TVFD for their many years of service. Commissioner Benedetto thanked TVFD for their service and congratulated Sergeant Delay on his retirement. He said the cops and kids’ basketball game had a good turnout. Commissioner Cogswell thanked TVFD and commended their willingness to work with the City to ensure support moving forward. Commissioner McLeod is going to miss the TVFD. He also said they were hosting Empty Bowls on April 3, 2025, for the Torrington Soup Kitchen. Commissioner Battle thanked the TVFD for their service and dedication to the City. Adjournment On a motion by Commissioner Benedetto, seconded by Commissioner Cogswell, the Board voted unanimously to adjourn at 8:09 p.m. Respectfully submitted by ATTEST: Heather Abraham, Asst. City Clerk CAROL L. ANDERSON, CITY CLERK CAROL L. ANDERSON, CITY CLERK