05/16/12 Board of Public Safety Meeting

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REGULAR MEETING MAY 16, 2012 34 Report for Specialized Training was accepted and filed as submitted. UPDATE ON TOWING RESOLUTION Ms. Beachkofsky stated at the last Board of Safety meeting she promised she would have an update on the Towing Resolution. She said she looked over the numbers and concluded that the limit of 1,200 tows per towing company is an arbitrary number and there is no reason to set that as the limit. She stated that allegations that the Police Department used other towing companies not on the list were found to be exaggerated. She found the Police Department used other companies during an emergency snow storm, and otherwise only when requested by the vehicle owner. She noted it is perfectly legal for the owner to request a specific towing company. Ms. Beachkofsky stated that upon reviewing the statistics she has concluded that she would like to propose a suspension of the current towing list number regulation for three months and allow the companies on the waiting list to be added to the current towing list. After that period of time, an evaluation will be done of all of the companies on performance and response, and the numbers will be re- evaluated. The companies will be placed in order of their performance, based on the re- evaluation. Ms. Beachkofsky stated she will schedule a meeting with all of the towing companies to lay out the rules and changes in policies and discuss fees being charged. The Board of Safety will meet on May 25, 2012 at 8:00 a.m. for a Special Meeting, at which time they will suspend the current towing list. She noted she will advise at that time on how to proceed. Mr. Cottrell stated no action was necessary by the Board until May 25, 2012 at the Special Meeting. FIRE DEPARTMENT BOARD OF SAFETY REPRESENTATION AT 2012 -2013 SOUTH BEND FIREFIGHTERS LOCAL 362 UNION NEGOTIATIONS Mr. Cottrell stated the Board of Safety received a letter from the Local 362 of the International Association of Firefighters requesting the opening of negotiations and representation by the Board of Safety. Mr. Cottrell stated the Board has decided to table this request until their next meeting. Therefore, upon a motion by Mr. Miller, seconded by Mr. Taylor and carried, the Board tabled the request until their next meeting. FILING OF MONTHLY STATISTICAL ANALYSIS REPORT — APRIL 2012 Fire Chief Steve Cox submitted to the Board the monthly report for the month of April, 2012 compiled by the Prevention/Inspection Bureau of the Fire Department. Chief Cox stated that arsons are up for the month of April by three (3) but he noted that the trend is for the department to be busier in warm months. He stated the property damage in 2011 was substantially higher due to a large commercial fire, but the number of fires is actually higher this month due to more small fires. He stated the statistics show that the department is doing a good j ob of knocking down fires quickly. Mr. Cottrell stated if there were no objections, the Board would accept the report for fling as presented. A summary is as follows: April April 2011 2012 STRUCTURE FIRES Property Damage -- Buildings & Contents (Estimates) $1,067,800.00 J $100,535.00 INSPECTIONS (Fire Prevention/Inspection Bureau) 440 Inspections 326 Inspections 392 Re-Inspections (100 Re-Inspections) INVESTIGATIONS (Police /Fire Arson Bureau) 20 21 Investigations Investi ations 4 7 Arsons Arsons PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR Police Chief Charles Hurley stated he would like to make note that Donald Pinckert, Director of Financial Services, is retiring on June 1, 2012 after forty -four (44) years on the department. The Chief stated that Mr. Pinckert has done an outstanding job and asked the Board members to thank him for his outstanding service if they run into him. 1 1 C