MINUTES

&nb= sp;

WATERTOWN POL= ICE COMMISSION

REGULAR MEETING<= /b>

WATERTOWN POLICE STATION

WEDNESDA= Y, APRIL 13, 2005, 7:30 P.M.

PRESENT:            =             &nb= sp;    Thomas Durso, Chairman

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Patricia Kropp

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Joseph Pawlak

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Judy Pilicy

ABSENT:           &nb= sp;            =        Gary Stewart, Secretary

OTHERS PRESENT:            Elaine Adams, Town Council (Chairman, Public Works Subcommittee)

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; John Carroll, Police Chief

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; Roy Cavanaugh, Director of Public Works

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; John Gavallas, Deputy Police Chief

        &= nbsp;           &nbs= p;            &= nbsp;           &nbs= p; MaryAnn Rosa, Chairman, Board of Education

A.&nb= sp;       Convene Regular Meeting - 7:30 P.M.

&n= bsp;

Mr. Durso, Chairman, Called the Meeting to Order at 7:35 p.m.

&n= bsp;

1.&nb= sp;        Roll Call

Mr. Durso, Chairman, executed the Roll Call.

2.&nb= sp;        Public Participation

&= nbsp;          Bill O'Donnell, 63 North Street, Watertown<= /st1:City>, CT&nbs= p; 06795

&= nbsp;          Mr. O'Donnell stated he was in favor of the North Street improvements.

&= nbsp;          Deborah Weinberger, 130 North Street, Watertown= , CT&nbs= p; 06795

&= nbsp;          Ms. Weinberger stated she was in favor of the North Street improvements.

&= nbsp;          Carol Gilbert, 190 Main Street, Watertown<= /st1:City>, CT&nbs= p; 06795

&= nbsp;          Ms. Gilbert stated she was in favor of the North Street improvements.

&= nbsp;          Lorraine LeBeck, = 226 North Street, Watertown= , CT&nbs= p; 06795

&= nbsp;          Ms. LeBeck stated she was in favor of the North Street improvements.

Watertown Police Commission

Regular Meeting

April 13, 2005

Page 2

&= nbsp;          Anne Fitzgerald, 36 North Street, Watertown<= /st1:City>, CT&nbs= p; 06795

&= nbsp;          Ms. Fitzgerald stated she was in favor of the North Street improvements.

&= nbsp;          Kevin Conroy, 48 North Street, Watertown<= /st1:City>, CT&nbs= p; 06795

&= nbsp;          Mr. Conroy stated he was representing Taft School and that he = was in favor of the North Street<= /st1:address> improvements.

&= nbsp;          David LeBlanc, Middlebury Road, Watertown<= /st1:City>, CT&nbs= p; 06795

&= nbsp;          Mr. LeBlanc asked why there is 72% less speeding infractions issued for the mon= ths of January/February/March of this year, as opposed to October/November/Dece= mber of 2004? There were 114 the l= ast quarter of 2004, and only 32 issued the first quarter of 2005. He discussed the Chief's explanati= on of the reduced citations due to court appearances by the officers, however at = no time was an officer ever required to attend court for any infraction issued= for the last quarter of 2004. Ove= rtime was $22,123 for December, and for January it was $10,625, yet speeding infractions are down 72%.

&= nbsp;          Chief Carroll replied the reasons are weather conditions, lack of personnel, (inaudible) not a priority at this point.

&= nbsp;          Mr. LeBlanc discussed the fact that the police officer who issued 51% of the infractions has retired.

&= nbsp;          Mr. LeBlanc also discussed the safety subcommittee that was appointed at the la= st meeting to review speeding problems, and asked if they met in the last mont= h?

&= nbsp;          Mr. Durso replied they have not yet met.

&= nbsp;          Pat Sharp, 82 North Street, Watertown<= /st1:City>, CT&nbs= p; 06795

&= nbsp;          Mr. Sharp asked if they were proposing 3 circles down <= st1:address w:st=3D"on">North Street, at Warren, at Holly, and at the downside?<= /p>

&= nbsp;          Mr. Durso replied that was correct.

&= nbsp;          Mark (?), North Street, Watertown, CT&nbs= p; 06795

&= nbsp;          Mr. ? stated he was not in favor of a rotary at the bottom of North Street.

Watertown Police Commission

Regular Meeting

April 13, 2005

Page 3

3.         = North Street Project

&= nbsp;          Elaine Adams, Chairman, Public Wor= ks Subcommittee (of the Town Council)

&= nbsp;          Ms. Adams gave a presentation on the North Street Project.

&= nbsp;          Steven Collette, North Street, Watertown, CT&nbs= p; 06795

&= nbsp;          Mr. Collette discussed the cooperation of the neighborhood working with the Tow= n to get these improvements accomplished.

&= nbsp;          Roy Cavanaugh, Director of Public = Works

&= nbsp;          Mr. Cavanaugh gave a presentation on the North Street improvements.

&= nbsp;          The residents of North Street<= /st1:address> joined the discussion.

            MOTION:       (Ms. = Kropp, sec. Mr. Pawlak) to approve the traffic calming measures as proposed for the North Street Improvement Project.

            Discussion:       None<= /p>

            MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

4.         = Stop Signs on School Property

&= nbsp;          MaryAnn Rosa, Chairman, Board of Education

&= nbsp;          Ms. Rosa discussed stop signs on school property and how those changes will be = made because they have no money to do the work.

&= nbsp;          Deputy Chief Gavallas stated the Highway Department has the proper signs.

&= nbsp;          Ms. Rosa stated the Board of Education's personnel will install them. She will have Mr. Beliveau and Mr. LoFrese get in touch with Deputy Chief Gavallas to accomplish these changes= .

&= nbsp;          Mr. Durso apologized to the Board of Education if the Commission seemed harsh in proposing these changes.

&= nbsp;          Deputy Chief Gavallas stated the Police Department will act as a liaison to the Bo= ard of Education's personnel regarding the location of the stop signs.

&= nbsp;          Ms. Rosa stated the current signs will be kept up until the new signs are installed, to ensure some type of traffic pattern for the time being.

Watertown Police Commission

Regular Meeting

April 13, 2005

Page 4

=             M= OTION:       (Mr. Pawlak, sec. Ms. Kropp) to allow the School Department to install stop sign= s as long as they conform with the uniform standards of stop signs.

=             D= iscussion:       None<= /p>

=             M= OTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

Mr. Pawlak stated there was nothing on = the Agenda regarding the March 9, 2005 Meeting Minutes.

MOTION:=        (Mr. Pawlak, sec. ) to add Agenda Item 7A, Minutes.

Discussion:       None

MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

5.         = Discussion on Traffic Issues Regarding New Dunkin Donuts on Straits Turnpike

&= nbsp;          Deputy Chief Gavallas reported that Mary Barton, the Zoning Enforcement Officer, a= nd the Traffic Engineer could not be here tonight, and asked that this item be Tabled.

6.         = Discussion on Motorcycle Acquisition

  &= nbsp;         Deputy Chief Gavallas discussed the two memos that were given to the Police Commis= sion from Sergeant Bromley and himself regarding the costs and anticipated expenses. The Town Council wa= s very concerned about the costs, so he added $2,000 in overtime costs, anticipati= ng the rider would be in school for 3 weeks in training and his absence may in= cur some overtime. One expense th= ey didn't anticipate would be the radio, at almost $4,700 because it's a weath= er proof, water proof, shock proof radio.&nbs= p; Some towns rely on the handset, the mobile radio the officer carries, but they only have one repeater and one receiver, so there are some areas in town where the handset might not work adequately. The other option is a Motorola CDM= radio for $1,200, but it's not waterproof. That brings the total cost to $10,000, plus the overtime, equals abo= ut $12,100.

  &= nbsp;         A lengthy discussion ensued regarding the Town Council's concerns over costs. Mr. Pawlak discussed h= is concerns regarding the perception of favoritism when accepting monetary donations. Ms. Pilicy discuss= ed the Code of Ethics and whether they could accept a monetary donation. Mr. Durso suggested donating the motorcycle funds through the Police Benevolent Society. He will ask the Town Manager to ob= tain a legal opinion regarding this issue.

7.         = Chief/Deputy Chief Report (if any)

  &= nbsp;         None

Watertown Police Commission

Regular Meeting

April 13, 2005

Page 5

7A.<= span style=3D'mso-tab-count:1'>      Minutes

=             M= OTION:       (Mr. Pawlak, sec. Ms. Pilicy) to approve the March 9, 2005 Meeting Minutes as Amended.

=             D= iscussion:       Mr. Pawlak: March 9th meeting minutes, Page 3, Section - Safety Subcommittee - it mentions a discussion about the subcommi= ttee but nothing to the effect that none was appointed or formed, or no names.

=             &nb= sp;            =            Also on Page 2, under Agenda Item 5A, Mr. Durso stated they would mail out the Minutes of the Meeting within 7 days with copies of the infractions, recognizing that the infractions are not available until the end of the month. Why don't we insist th= at they have the meeting minutes be sent out.= I would be willing to accept the infractions delivered when we have = the meeting, but I'd like to get the meeting minutes something sooner than almo= st 1 month later, within 7 days. T= hey're only 3 pages.

=             = ;            &n= bsp;          Mr. Durso: Somebody, I forgot= who, definitely told me that it was a matter of postage, they wanted to mail everything out together.

=             &nb= sp;            =            Mr. Pawlak: I just gave them the out, send the meeting minutes out when they're supposed to be sent out; we can get the infractions the day of the meeting.

=             &nb= sp;            =            Mr. Durso: They don't want to send the minutes= out separately, they want to send everything out together, with the meeting notice. I can ask her again i= f you want.

=             &nb= sp;            =            Deputy Chief Gavallas: I don't see why that should be a pr= oblem, we're only talking a stamp.

=             &nb= sp;            =            Mr. Durso: Okay, within 7 days of today. Somebody did say that, I forgot wh= o it was, but I did mention that after the last meeting.

=             In Favor:      &= nbsp;   Mr. Durso, Mr. Pawlak, Ms. Pilicy

=             O= pposed:         = None

=             A= bstained:        Ms. Kropp

=             M= OTION CARRIED (3-0-1)

Watertown Police Commission

Regular Meeting

April 13, 2005

Page 6

8.         = Adjournment

=            MOTION:=        (Ms. = Kropp, sec. Mr. Pawlak) to Adjourn the Regular Meeting at 8:59 p.m.

=             D= iscussion:       None<= /p>

=             M= OTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY

=             R= egular Meeting Adjourned at 8:59 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Thomas Durso, Chairman

Watertown Police Commission

=

= Approved:     _________________= ______________

         = Lynn M. LaForme, Clerk