Town Council
Work Session
February 4, 2010

The February 4, 2010 Town Council work session was called to order at 4:04 p.m. by Frank Ogens, President, in the first floor meeting room of the Goodwill Fire Company. The following members and staff were present: Frank Ogens, President; Norman P. Pinder, Vice President; Timothy McCluskey, Member; Bob McGrory, Town Manager; Chief Charlie Rhodes; and Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide.

Citizens Forum - None

Centreville Police Department – Long Range Planning

Chief Rhodes provided print-outs to Council members and staff illustrating the current roster of employees and noted that there is one position vacancy which he is hoping to fill in May and June, banking the salary savings until that time. He indicated there have been quite a few applicants, some trained.

Mr. Ogens asked the cost of training an applicant. Chief Rhodes reported the cost is approximately $8,000. She said that the increase in general population as well as school population warrants the hiring of another officer. He asked the Council to consider these factors when doing the budget.

Chief Rhodes described the impact on the department of investigations that take staff away from general policing, traffic control, etc. The schedule of Court dates is submitted six months in advance. When an officer has a case being heard, he reports to court at 8:30 and may have to wait for several hours until his case is heard, taking him from other assignments.

Chief Rhodes explained the staggering of the standard twelve hour shifts and advised that there is no overtime.

Mr. McCluskey advised he is opposed to sworn officers emptying money from parking meters. Chief Rhodes said that the Department's secretary is very interested in doing some of the parking meter tasks, primarily writing tickets. Chief Rhodes suggested she could work and hour and a half doing meter work and be paid overtime. He suggested a good time to try this arrangement would be March or April.

Mr. Pinder asked Chief Rhodes to submit this recommendation in writing.

Computer Upgrade for Police Department

Mr. McGrory reported that he met with the Town’s IT person, Karen Harper regarding the Police Department’s computers. Chief Rhodes said there is approximately $7000 in grant money available. He would like to upgrade three desk-top work stations. When the justification is written, they will be ready to move forward with the upgrades.

Vehicle Replacement Schedule

Chief Rhodes reported that his department currently has eight vehicles, some with high mileage, and that he would like to add a ninth. He said that the equipment currently required for a police vehicle costs $ 12,000 to $13,000 and that it is better to put the equipment in a new vehicle rather than an old one. It was his suggestion to replace the oldest car every year, the oldest now being one with 106,000 miles. His recommendation for a new car is a Dodge Charger.

Mr. Pinder suggested holding another work session concerning these items prior to
Council’s next regular meeting and then to discuss them under Chief’s report in the
regular meeting.

State Highway Administration meeting

Chief Rhodes reported that the need for more speed control was voiced at the meeting with SHA. He advised he wants to do research on doing speed enforcement near North Brook and Symphony Way.  He noted that another occurrence that takes an officer away from regular patrol is when a depressed person is threatening suicide. In such cases, under State Law, an officer must
transport the person to a treatment facility.

Citizens Forum - None

Adjournment

Mr. McCluskey made a motion to go into closed session. Mr. Pinder seconded the motion which passed unanimously. The February 4, 2010 work session of the Town Council adjourned to closed session at 4:55 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,
Jane Saulsbury, Administrative Aide