Public Safety Sub-Committee Special Meeting March 27, 2014-Approved
PUBLIC SAFETY SUB COMMITTEE
SPECIAL MEETING - 7:00 AM
MARCH 27, 2014
CALL TO ORDER
Lisa Heavner, Chair, Board of Selectmen, called the Special Meeting of the Public Safety Subcommittee to order at 7:00 A.M. on Thursday, March 27, 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, Jeffrey Cochran, CL&P Town Liaison, Chief Peter Ingvertsen, Town of Simsbury, Police Department, Kevin Kowalski, Simsbury Volunteer Fire Department, Burke LaClair, Business Manager, Board of Education, Mickey Lecours-Beck, Director, Town of Simsbury Social Services, Sarah Nielson, Executive Director, Simsbury Main Street Partnership, Gary Wilcox, Simsbury Volunteer Fire Department, Kevin Witkos, CL&P and State Senator, Nancy Haase, Deputy, Board of Selectmen, Ed LaMontagne, Executive Director, Simsbury Housing Authority 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.
MOMENT OF SILENCE
The Committee held a moment of silence for the two fallen firefighters in Boston.
1. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ms. Lecours-Beck made a motion to approve the minutes from the Public Safety Subcommittee Regular Meeting on January 16, 2014. The motion was seconded by Mr. Wilcox and was unanimously passed.
2. INTRODUCTION OF STATE REPRESENTATIVE
Mr. Hampton was unable to attend meeting.
3. UPDATES AND REPORTS
• Civil Preparedness – Mr. Kowalski thanked Ms. Lecours-Beck for her assistance with the senior breakfast. He stated that it was a very successful event and hoped they will be able to do it again next year. Mr. Kowalski was pleased to report that, as of March 13, 2014, the Town of Simsbury has officially been given a FCC license for a Low Power FM. He noted that the work on the antenna should be up in about a month and hopes to have everything up and running by this fall. Mr. Kowalski stated that they will be broadcasting about 16 hours a week.
Mr. Cooke stated that Mr. Jeff Huggebone was a big part of receiving this FCC license. Mr. Huggebone had identified all the right parties to be sure all the required applications were filed. Mr. Cooke suggested that the Town recognize Mr. Huggebone for his efforts.
• Fire – Chief James Baldis noted that the Fire District held its annual Service Award dinner in February. They also held an ice water rescue drill in Town Forest with approximately 30 members participating. He also reminded the sub-committee that when it was time to change the clocks, it was also time to change the smoke detector batteries. Chief Baldis stated that several of the fires this year have been from ash disposal and reminded the group that the public can go onto the SimsburyFD.com website and get public safety messages.
• Police – Chief Peter Ingvertsen noted that the Simsbury Police Department will be going through an on-site re-accreditation. The Chief of Police from Virginia and an assessor from Georgia will be in town for three days and will be here to talk to residents with open phone lines as well as stopping in on businesses in town.
Chief Ingvertsen was happy to report that one officer has just graduated from the academy and will now receive her field training. He also noted that there is another recruit still in the academy and will graduate sometime in June. The newest patrol officer will be sworn in on Friday. Chief Ingvertsen noted that there are several retirements coming up in the department.
• Social Services – Mickey Lecours-Beck thanked Chief Ingvertsen, Mr. Kowalski, Mr. Witkos and Mr. Wilcox as well as the Ladies Auxiliary for their help with the senior breakfast. Ms. Lecours-Beck discussed the suicide prevention training and that Social Services have already trained all the town department heads and supervisors as well as approximately 200 teachers. She stated that Social Services will also be training all the nurses in the school system soon. This training is being provided by a grant that was received by the state of Connecticut.
Mr. LeClair wanted to thank Ms. Lecours-Beck for her support on the suicide program as well as the printing of the student suicide manual.
• Board of Selectmen – Ms. Heavner noted that the Board of Selectmen formed a community care committee and that the schools also participate in. This group will look at issues of mental health and substance abuse as a community issue. Ms. Heavner stated that Social Services have a Community of Concern book for parents on the different types of drugs and how to talk to your children about these drugs.
Ms. Haase noted that Public Works is doing a sidewalk study from a safety and business perspective with financial implications. Ms. Haase also reviewed what the Economic Development Task Force is currently working on.
Mr. Witkos noted that the 24th Annual Winter Olympics was held on Hopmeadow Street and the International Skating Center in Simsbury with 700 volunteers. He also stated that Mr. John Hampton and he have put in a bill at a public hearing with the state of Connecticut for a $5,000,000 Senior Community Center.
Mr. Kowalski asked Mr. LeClair what the time table was for a new generator at the Tariffville School. Mr. LeClair stated that the firm that was hired will be working on getting bidding started this summer that will also include other buildings in town. Mr. LeClair noted that the engineering work will decide what the amount of load is needed for each location. Mr. Kowalski noted that a generator is needed in Tariffville because the residents of Tariffville cannot get to a shelter on the other side of the river when there is flooding.
Mr. Kowalski discussed whether the Town can put some pressure on the state DOT to facilitate some improvement on Rt. 315 to eliminate the annual closing when the river rises.
4. NEW BUSINESS
Ms. Heavner discussed two tier reports the Town of Simsbury has received.
Mr. LaMontagne raised the issue of the fire access road that is blocked by snow on one side and asked who would be responsible for removing the snow. Mr. Cooke stated that CHFA would be the one to contact.
Ms. Nielson wanted the sub-committee to remember about bike safety month and to be aware of walkers and bikers that will be out on the roads.
5. EMERGENCY RESPONSE EXERCISE
• Simulated Hazardous Chemical Incident
Mr. Kowalski did a table top Simulated Hazardous Chemical Incident with the sub-committee. It involved an accident with a car and truck at Latimer Lane and Route 10. Sub-committee members from the Police Department, Volunteer Fire Department and the Volunteer Ambulance Association discussed what their departments would be responsible for during the incident.
ADJOURNMENT
Burke LeClair made a motion to adjourn the March 27, 2014 Special Meeting of the Public Safety Subcommittee at 7:56 a.m. The motion was seconded by Nancy Haase and passed unanimously.
Respectfully submitted,
____________________________________ ______________________________
Lisa Heavner, Chairman Leslie Brigham, Commissions Clerk