Public Safety Sub-Committee Regular Meeting September 18,2014
BOARD OF SELECTMEN
PUBLIC SAFETY SUB COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING – 7:00 A.M.
SEPTEMBER 18, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Lisa Heavner, Chair, Board of Selectmen, called the Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Subcommittee to order at 7:00 A.M. on Thursday, September 18, 2014 in the Main Meeting Room of the Simsbury Town Offices located at 933 Hopmeadow Street, Simsbury, CT. The following members were also present: Chief James Baldis, Simsbury Volunteer Fire Department, Nicholas Boulter, Captain, Simsbury Police Department, Lucille Bowman, Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance, Thomas Cooke, Director of Administrative Services, Michael Delehanty, Simsbury Volunteer Ambulance, Geoffrey Giddings, Civil Defense, Chief Peter Ingvertsen, Simsbury Police Department, Jennifer Kertanis, Farmington Valley Health District, Kevin Kowalski, Simsbury Volunteer Fire Department, Burke LaClair, Board of Education Business Manager, Mickey Lecours-Beck, Director, Social Services , Mark Massaro, Connecticut Light Power, Thomas Roy, Director, Public Works and
Tony Uanino, Chamber of Commerce.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Everyone stood for the Pledge of Allegiance
PUBLIC AUDIENCE
There was no one to speak at Public Audience
1. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
Ms. Lecours-Beck made a motion to approve the minutes from the Public Safety Subcommittee Regular Meeting on July 17, 2014 as amended. The motion was seconded by Chief Ingvertsen and was unanimously passed. Mr. Thomas Roy and Ms. Jennifer Kertanis abstained.
2. UPDATES AND REPORTS
• Ambulance – Mr. Delehanty noted that he has received approval from his Board to staff a second ambulance with 9:00 to 5:00 being the target hours. He stated that the second ambulance has already been running and will increase the hours as the staff increases. Mr. Delehanty noted that there is not enough revenue generated from the calls to cover the cost of staffing the second ambulance, however, part of the program is to reduce the cost of replacing the current second ambulance and use the savings to fund this program for at least a year.
• Board of Education - Mr. LaClair noted that Ms. Homrok-Lemke has been able to spear head the updates of the seven schools security plans. He noted that they have been submitted to the state of Connecticut. Mr. LaClair stated that they have had their annual opening of schools with the Fire Marshall’s office. He also noted that they have submitted a second school security grant with the State with support from the Police department.
• Civil Preparedness – Mr. Kowalski noted that the emergency operations plans for the schools have been processed and were sent in a timely manner as required. He noted that it will be tied into the town wide plan and will be submitted again for review.
Mr. Kowalski noted that the radio system is still under construction and that they may be putting an antenna up on a tower in Bloomfield to bounce the signal off of.
• Fire (including intersection safety at Iron Horse and the entrance to the PAC) – Chief Baldis noted that the Simsbury Fly-In this past week was a success and was supported by the fire department. He was happy to announce that last month they have taken delivery of a new car training prop, which they are getting ready for training. Chief Baldis explained that this will allow them to use a repeated, ongoing car that is designed to burn propane fuel.
Chief Baldis reminded everyone of their Open House on October 5th from 11:00 to 2:00. He also reminded the committee members that on October 18th they will be at the Dewey farm for the evolution drills in a live fire environment and then the building will be burnt down. Mr. Roy and Mr. Kowalski noted that all safety precautions have been taken for this event.
Chief Baldis discussed a program he was invited to by Mr. Kowalski called Operation Save a Life that received 5,000 donated smoke and CO detectors for area towns to use for people who did not have these in their homes. He noted that these detectors have a 10-year battery life on them. Mr. Kowalski noted that the Town of Simsbury has received 180 of these detectors for residents who will need them.
Chief Baldis discussed his concern for the intersection at Iron Horse and the entrance to the PAC and that it gets very dark at night. He noted that there are a lot of people that cross in this area and that it is a safety concern. Chief Baldis stated that there is a light at this intersection, however, it is over the property near the woods. He is looking into getting the light swung out over the road or adding additional lighting that can be controlled when needed in the intersection. He also questioned if a crosswalk can be put in at the intersection. Mr. Roy stated that the stripping can be completed next Spring as it is a Town owned road. There was a consensus that this is public safety issue by committee members.
• Farmington Valley Health District – Ms. Kertanis noted they have hired a part-time emergency preparedness coordinator and Mr. LaClaire arranged a walk-through of the Simsbury High School so that Farmington Valley Health could get a feel for the mass dispensing facility that is proposed in their plans. She noted that they are currently tracking the Ebola virus and the Enterovirus D68. Ms. Kertanis stated that, prior to the school year, they had reached out to the private schools to get a better sense of their student body of international students. The public schools have also received guidance regarding these viruses. It was also suggested to notify the churches in Town.
Ms. Kertanis stated that September is National Preparedness month and they are promoting the Get Ready Campaign on their website.
• Police - Chief Ingvertsen stated that Ethel Walker made a request to replace their traffic control signal, additional flashing lights and establishment of a school zone. He noted that most of this has been granted by the State. Chief Ingvertsen stated that the cost of replacing the light has to be paid by Ethel Walker school, as it is a privately owned light, however, the Town has agreed to pay for the monthly electrical portion.
Chief Ingvertsen noted that he is still working on the No Right Turn on Red sign on Route 10 and 167 and that the State is doing an analysis. He also noted that a resident on Pinnacle Road has requested installation of no parking signs on their road and it is also being looked into. Ensign Bickford has a project to put a crosswalk in with flashing lights at the southerly parking area, which the State has granted. Chief Ingvertsen reminded the committee members that there will be a shred project in April shared by Social Services. He also noted that the fixed bicycle station is now at the entrance to Simsbury Meadows.
Captain Boulter noted that there was a joint training at Westminster school that involved police, fire and ambulance and Westminster school for active shooter training. He also discussed the Project Livesaver, which involves participants wearing a transmitter bracelet who have autism, dementia or Alzheimer’s, and if they are lost or wander, they can be quickly tracked down. He noted that they have received more funding for this program but will be looking for additional funds in the community. Captain Boulter stated that they will be training their officers within the next two weeks.
Captain Boulter discussed the recent arrest of a small meth lab in Simsbury and noted that they worked very closely with the State narcotics team as well as a chemist and the DEEP.
Capital Boulter stated that storing the Narcan Naloxone in the police cruisers with the extreme temperatures, both high and low, is an issue and is being looked into. He also noted that there is an increase in Heroin use from two years ago.
• Social Services - Ms. Lecours-Beck distributed the Community for Care booklet that came out of the Community for Care committee, which is from a national organization called Community for Concern, and was adapted for Simsbury. Ms. Lecours-Beck stated that this booklet is being distributed at Simsbury high school and Henry James middle school open houses this year.
Ms. Lecours-Beck reminded the committee that they are gearing up for the Energy Assistance program. She also thanked the Police department for the annual Police picnic that was held on September 3rd and noted that they had over 200 seniors attending. She also stated that they have received their new 2014 passenger dial-a-ride bus, which they paid for out of a very large donation and have also applied for another bus.
Ms. Lecours-Beck noted that the Senior Center is having a Veterans Appreciation luncheon on September 30th as well as a Wellness fair on September 23rd with approximately 29 vendors.
• Public Works – Mr. Roy discussed CL&P trimming the trees in Town and what residents can do before a tree is trimmed or removed from their property. He also discussed the generator project and that they conducted a live testing for Simsbury Library and Eno Hall. Ms. Heavner and Mr. Kowlaski discussed the secondary shelter at Tariffville and noted that it will open only when necessary, but reminded committee members that it will be available if needed.
Mr. Roy noted that funding is currently approved for adding a second generator at the high school, adding the generator at Tariffville and a re-circuiting of Town Hall for a portable generator. He stated that the portable generator has not yet been funded and he believes that this should be requested in future budgets. It was also suggested by Chief Baldis to look into securing a temporary portable generator from an outside agency if needed. Mr. Roy stated that the Sewer plant can fill this need, however, a significant amount of load shift would be required. It was stated that a monthly rental of a generator might also be an option for an upcoming storm.
• Other updates – Ms. Heavner reminded committee members that the Town is considering purchasing the Betty Hudson property, which is located by the Flower Bridge and is entirely in a flood zone. She noted that the Federal Government has a public policy encouragement of purchasing homes and taking properties off the floor zone.
Mr. Cooke noted that they are actively training people for emergency incidents and have also looked into training with Ensign Bickford, including on-line training.
3. NEW BUSINESS
No new business discussed at this meeting.
4. EMERGENCY RESPONSE EXERCISE
No exercise conducted at this meeting.
5. ADJOURNMENT
Mr. Kowalski made a motion to adjourn the September 17, 2014 Regular Meeting of the Public Safety Subcommittee at 8:13 A.M. The motion was seconded by Mr. Roy and was unanimously passed.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________________ ______________________________
Lisa Heavner, Chairman Leslie Brigham, Commissions Clerk