09/19/12 Board of Public Safety Minutes

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AGENDA REVIEW SESSION SEPTEMBER 1.9, 2012 65 The Board of Public Safety met in the Public Agenda Session at 8:10 a.m. on Wednesday, September 19, 2012, with Board President Patnek D. Cottrell and Board Members Laura Vasquez, Eddie Miller, John Collins, and Luther Taylor present. Also present were Police Chief Charles Hurley, Fire Chief Steve Cox, and Board Attorney Andrea Beachkofsky. The meeting was held in the Board of Public Works Conference Room, 13th Floor County City Building, South Bend, Indiana. ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA Ms. Beachkofsky noted the addition to the agenda, under the Police Department, of a letter from the Common Council to the Board of Safety. She stated the letter is regarding ongoing litigation and will therefore be discussed in the Executive Session. Also added to the agenda under the Fire Department was the acceptance of, and request for, continuance of a grievance. Board members discussed the following items from the agenda: - Monthly Statistical Analysis — Fire Department Chief Cox noted that the actual number of fires this year hasn't decreased; the numbers are pretty normal, but there is a significant dec.-case in property damage this year. He stated the Fire Department is monitoring these numbers to see if it is an anomaly due to a large number of commercial fires last year, or if the changes made recently to the Department's response districts have had an impact on lowering property damage. The Chief noted it is probably too soon for that change to show an impact, but they are monitoring the statistics closely. - Monthly Statistical Analysis — Police Department Chief Charles Hurley stated that all crime is down except murder, which, unfortunately, is up slightly. He noted the bad news this last month is the number of young people included in the murder statistics. Acceptance of and Request for Continuance of Grievance — Fire Department Ms. Beachkofsky stated Attorney Tom Dixon had filed a grievance on August 15, 2012, on behalf of Firefighter Shawn Kuminecz. Since the grievance was received, Mr. Dixon contacted her and on behalf of the Firefighter's Association Local No. 362 Union, requested that the grievance be continued until the Board of Safety's next meeting to allow time to provide supplemental paperwork to aid the Board in its review of this matter. Ms. Beachkofsky stated the City has no problem with continuing it and the Board will need to make a determination. Change to Duty Manual — Police Department Chief Hurley questioned Ms. Beachkofsky if the Duty Manual changes would go into effect immediately. Ms. Beachkofsky stated the Duty Manual changes would be effective immediately, and the General Orders would be enacted twenty (20) days after. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the Board, Mr. Cottrell declared the meeting adjourned at 8:20 a.m. BOARD OF PUBLIC SAFETY Patrick D A. Vasquez, Member Eddie Miller, Member J ollins, Member Luther Taylor, Member / T- EST: Linda M .Martin, Clerk