Minutes
Present: Pemberton, Karvelis, Thompson
Also present: one member of the public, Police Chief Doug Fuchs and Capt. Mark O’Donnell, a representative of the Redding Pilot and videographers.
First Selectman Pemberton called the August 18, 2014 meeting to order at 7:30 pm.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Motion: move to approve the minutes of the July 21, 2014 meeting as submitted. Karvelis, Thompson. Approved. Unanimous.
DISCUSSION AND ACTION ON MARK TWAIN LIBRARY STEAP GRANT RESOLUTION
The Resolution for the STEAP Grant for the Mark Twain Library parking lot expansion was reviewed.
The following Resolution was approved by a motion by Mr. Karvelis, seconded by Mr. Thompson, and unanimously approved.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Selectmen:
1. That it is cognizant of the conditions and prerequisites for the state financial assistance imposed by C.G.S. 4-66 g;
2. That the filing of application for State financial assistance by the Town of Redding in an amount not to exceed $342,000 is hereby approved; and that Julia C. Pemberton, First Selectwoman, is directed to execute and file an application on behalf of the Board of Selectmen with the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development, to provide such additional information, to execute such other documents as may be required, to execute an Assistance Agreement with the State of Connecticut for State financial assistance if such an agreement is offered, to execute any amendments, decisions, and revisions thereto, and to act as the authorized representative of the Town of Redding;
3. That it adopts or has adopted as its policy to support the following nondiscrimination agreements and warranties provided in subsection (a)(1) of the Connecticut General Statutes sections 4a-60 and 4a-60a respectively, as amended by Public Acts 07-142 and 07-245, and for which purposes the “contractor” is Town of Redding and “contract” is said Assistance Agreement:
The contractor agrees and warrants that in the performance of the contract such contractor will not discriminate or permit discrimination against any person or group of persons on the grounds of race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, mental retardation or physical disability, including, but not limited to , blindness, unless it is shown by the such contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work involved, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the United States of the state of Connecticut. The contractor further agrees to take affirmative action to insure that applicants with job-related qualifications are employed and that employees are treated when employed without regard to their race, color, religious creed, age, marital status, national origin, ancestry, sex, mental retardation, or physical disability, including, but not limited to, blindness, unless it is shown by such contractor that such disability prevents performance of the work involved.
The contractor agrees and warrants that in the performance of the contract such contractor will not discriminate or permit discrimination against any person or group of persons on the grounds of sexual orientation, in any manner prohibited by the laws of the United States or the state of Connecticut, and that employees are treated when employed without regard to their sexual orientation.
Dated at Redding, Connecticut, this 18th day of August, 2014.
DISCUSSION OF THE IMPACT OF 4-2 SCHEDULING ON STAFFING FOR POLICE DEPARTMENT
Chief Fuchs presented an overview of the scheduling using a 4 days on and 2 days off schedule. He presented a 5-year analysis of Police Department calls for service/patrol. The total for the 5-year period was 98,198, with motor vehicle stops leading the way with 15,121.
The current department staffing consists of five sergeants and nine officers, in addition to Chief Fuchs and Capt. O’Donnell. Chief Fuchs explained the staffing and the impact that vacations, sick time, training, etc. has on the scheduling and the “overtime” budget. The Department is currently down two positions, with the departure of Sgt. Signore and Officer Salafia. Filling the two vacant positions will bring the department to the full 17 officer workforce. Applications for two vacant positions have been received and the screening and interview process will begin shortly.
Chief Fuchs worked with the principals of the Redding Elementary School and John Read Middle School on the staffing for each building. There was agreement that the School Resource Officer, Chris Vadas, will be assigned to JRMS. RES will be staffed with an officer on a rotation basis. Both schools will be staffed during school hours.
The Board of Selectmen will review the material presented and will schedule a special meeting for further discussion and action on the issue.
Chief Fuchs also suggested the Board of Selectmen reconsider a decision made a few years ago on the color of the police vehicles. At that time, a decision was made to retain the blue color for police vehicles. Chief Fuchs noted that blue vehicles are more time consuming to obtain, and in some cases costly repairs to existing vehicles are required while waiting for a new vehicle. Most police vehicles are being produced in the black & white configuration. Mrs. Pemberton suggested that this was a topic to be considered and discussed at a future time.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion: move to adjourn the meeting. Karvelis, Thompson. Approved. Unanimous.
The meeting adjourned at 8:21 pm.
Submitted by Mary Maday, Recording Secretary