Public Safety Sub Committee Meeting July 18, 2013

PUBLIC SAFETY SUBCOMMITTEE - DRAFT MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - JULY 18, 2013

CALL TO ORDER
Sean Askham called the regular meeting of the Public Safety Subcommittee to order on Thursday, July 18, at 7:02 a.m., in the Main Meeting Room at the Town Offices. The following members were also present: Chief Ingvertsen, Simsbury Police Department; Chief James Baldis; Simsbury Volunteer Fire Department; Lucille Bowman, Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association; Mickey Lecours-Beck; Social Services;  and Michael Delehanty, Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association.  Nicholas Boulter; Simsbury Police Department, Lisa Heavner; Board of Selectmen; Ed LaMontagne, Housing Authority; CT State Senator Kevin Witkos; Jennifer Kertanis, Farmington Valley Health District; and Jeff Cochran; CL&P were also in attendance.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance.

PUBLIC AUDIENCE
There was none.

1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
This item was tabled, as the subcommittee members had not had the chance to view the minutes from the previous meeting.

2. UPDATES AND REPORTS
Michael Delehanty Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance Association - Mr. Delehanty announced dates and times of upcoming EMT classes. Mr. Delehanty said he has been gathering information regarding public gatherings and he will have something to look at this fall about procedures for gathering of a certain size/nature.

Kevin Kowalski, Civil Preparedness- Mr. Kowalski was not at the meeting to present.

Chief James Baldis, Simsbury Volunteer Fire Department - Chief said it has been pretty quiet, but gave an update on recent river rescues. He said the heat is a concern for the fire fighters and overtaxing the electric loads. He said they also go through a maintenance and servicing of the fire hydrants and they have been discovering planting around the hydrants which can make them inaccessible.

Jennifer Kertanis, Farmington Valley Health District - Ms. Kertaniz said FVHD is working with Canton on training regarding emergency care for those with special needs, which will be available to all communities. She said it will start in September in Canton.

Chief Ingvertsen, Police Department - Chief provided an employee update of his staff.  He then provided updates regarding the concert series, training and other staff related issues.

Mickey Lecours-Beck, Social Services - Mickey provided an update on the cooling centers (senior centers and library) and an alternate shelter for after-hours at the Virginia Connelly residence.

Kevin Witkos, CL&P - Mr. Witkos provided an update regarding the paying of a deposit when restoring power for delinquent customers. This was discussed.

3. NEW BUSINESS
Revised Emergency Preparedness Plan
Mr. Witkos said there was no update regarding this topic.

Chief said there were two (2) ambulances stationed at the most recent concert which worked fine and then the members discussed estimating the attendance at these larger functions.

Sever Weather Exercise
This exercise was discussed and it was noted that no large holes come up.

Summer Concert Series
It was reported there have been no incidents to date. The concert series was discussed.

Chief Baldis spoke about Route 315 and the closures associated with flooding.

Pursuant to comments from a resident, Chief Baldis spoke about the intersection at Great Pond and Owens Brook and asked if there should be a traffic light there. Chief Ingvertsen said the traffic incidents at that spot do not warrant a light. This was discussed further.

Kevin Witkos said CRCOG is discussing natural disasters and asking communities what capital improvements could be made to address these natural disasters. He noted CRCOG will have five (5) meetings, come back and make a draft plan which will come back to municipality leaders and then make its way to FEMA.

Senator Kevin Witkos received a request for a pedestrian sign with a blinking light along Hopmeadow Street at the current crosswalk at Ensign-Bickford. He said he would not move on this issues unless it was something that the subcommittee thinks is appropriate. This was discussed.

ADJOURNMENT
Ms. Lecours-Beck made a motion to adjourn the July 18, 2013 regular meeting of the Public Safety Subcommittee at 7:35AM. The motion was seconded by Chief Ingvertsen and passed unanimously.

Respectfully submitted,

____________________________________  ______________________________
Mr. Sean Askham, Chairman    Leslie U. Faraci, Clerk