Police Commission

POLICE COMMISSION 
REGULAR MEETING
MARCH 11, 2013

1. CALL TO ORDER

The Regular Meeting of the Police Commission was called to order at 7:01 P.M. in the Police Department Training Room of the Simsbury Town Offices.  Present were Chairman Brendan Walsh, Commissioner Harvey Goodfriend, Commissioner Carl Eisenmann, Commissioner Edward Cosgrove, Chief Peter Ingvertsen and Captain Nicholas Boulter.  Commissioner Michael Long was not in attendance.   

2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

3. CORRESPONDENCE

Commissioner Goodfriend read the Summary of Letters received since the last Regular Meeting of the Commission on February 11, 2013. (Addendum 1)

4. APPROVAL OF MINUTES

Chairman Walsh made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Goodfriend and passed unanimously to approve the minutes of the January 14, 2013 Regular Meeting.  (Addendum 2)

Chairman Walsh made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Goodfriend and passed unanimously to approve the minutes of the February 11, 2013 Regular Meeting.  (Addendum 3)

5. PUBLIC AUDIENCE

Scott Davis of 32 Terry’s Plain Road was present and spoke very highly of the Department, all of the members of the department and what the Department stands for and is accomplishing in Simsbury.  Mr. Davis went on to voice his concerns regarding what he feels is a need for additional traffic enforcement on the road where he resides.  He would like to see stronger enforcement of speeding, cell phone usage while driving, traffic sign compliance and tailgating.  He finds motorists who do not obey the traffic laws very frustrating.  

6. OLD BUSINESS

The Chief provided the Commission with an update on the process to hire a replacement for the officer who left in January. 

The Commission was updated on the current challenges of traffic enforcement.

Commissioner Goodfriend asked for an update of the overtime recovery from the March 2012 motor vehicle accident.  The Chief indicated that the Director of Administrative Services felt there was still a possibility of some recovery.

The Commission discussed the process for electing Police Commission Officers.  Commissioner Goodfriend asked to read an e-mail communication that he sent in January into the minutes of the meeting.  Commissioner Goodfriend read the following
e-mail verbatim:

Police Commission
Regular Meeting
March 11, 2013
Page 2

Mike,
Not to create dissention nor politicize what has been an excellent, productive & cooperative commission, but to surface what has been our history with regard to elections to the Chair; I offer the following:
Having the unaffiliated representative fill in at any appropriate time is appropriate. However, it appears that you have determined that now is the time, rather than fit the normal sequence that we have followed, which has been:

Cosgrove
Eisenmann
Long
Goodfriend
Unaffiliated
Cosgrove

Since the unaffiliated might be chair anytime after appointment, as long as it is once in any ten year period within which there has been an Unaffiliated Commissioner;  (five periods of two years each) -  under your suggestion, the unaffiliated could have been anywhere since Cosgrove was chair;  that is, in between Cosgrove and Eisenmann; or Eisenmann and Long;  as well as between Long and Goodfriend – which is your present recommendation.  To follow the sequence that we have observed at least since I have been on the Commission, would place the Unaffiliated between Goodfriend and Cosgrove.

I recommend that we follow our historic practice, -  after the Unaffiliated representative, in this case, served more than six years prior to his term as Chair.  To have the unaffiliated chair out of our historic sequence, which has worked well for the Commission is not recommended by this Commissioner.  Harv

7. REPORTS

a. Chairman’s Report

none

b. Chief’s Report
none

c.  Consolidated Monthly Report for January 2013 (Addendum 4)

Commissioner Goodfriend inquired about the number of intrusion alarms and how owners are charged when the Department is called to the same location numerous times.  Residents and business owners are allowed four alarm responses.  Annually any responses that exceed four incur a charge.

Police Commission
Regular Meeting
March 11, 2013
Page 3

8. NEW BUSINESS

The Chief reported to the Commission that due to the recent violence in schools that the Department in partnership with the Board of Education would be pursuing a second School Resource Officer (SRO) position for the elementary and middle schools.  This would allow the Department to fill the previously authorized 36th sworn position.  The Board of Education will be responsible for 50% of the total cost of the SRO position. 

9. EXECUTIVE SESSION

Commissioner Goodfriend made motion to go into Executive Session at 7:52 P.M. Commissioner Eisenmann seconded the motion. All were in favor and the motion passed.

Commissioner Goodfriend made motion to leave Executive Session at 7:59 P.M. Commissioner Eisenmann seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

10. AJOURNMENT

Commissioner Goodfriend made motion to adjourn at 8:00 P.M. Chairman Walsh seconded the motion.  All were in favor and the motion passed.

Respectfully submitted,

____________________________________________
Brendan Walsh, Chairman

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Addenda 4