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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCMeetingMinutes_03.08.16 TOWN OF NORTH ANDOVER FINANCE COMMITTEE Meeting Minutes Meeting Date March 8, 2016 Meeting Location: Police Station Community Meeting Room, CTO 6:45 Bill Callahan, BC Chairman Susan Almono, SA X Donald Elliot, DE Vice Chair Timothy Tschirhart, TT X Karin Blake, KB X Liz Gerron, LG X Thomas Ringler, TR X Angela Ciofolo, AC X Chris Nobile, CN X Jennifer Goldman, JG X Ray Santilli (Santilli). Assistant Town Manager Chief Paul J. Gallagher (Gallagher), Police Department Chief Andrew Melnikas (Melnikas), Fire Department Deputy Chief William McCarthy (McCarthy), Fire Department Jeffrey J. Coco (Coco), Director, Emergency Management Note: All FINCOM votes are subject to change upon receipt of new information. Note: Documents used in this meeting are listed in Document Table, herein. Call to order 6:46 Discussion starts on or about 6:46 pm/00:00:32 on video time TT: Stated that tonight we will be discussing the Police Department, Fire Department and Emergency Management Budgets, along with the Schedule of the upcoming Meetings and the Finance Committee Report. We do not have the Minutes to review tonight. I would like to introduce Paul Gallagher from the Police Department with his budget. Budget Public Safety Divisions Police Department Chief Paul J. Gallagher Discussion starts on or about 6:48/00:00:57 on video time (Pages 136-138 of the Budget Book) Gallagher: The last couple of years we have been understaffed, and having trouble getting people in the academy and getting recruits. So this past year they got together with the Methuen, Lawrence, Amesbury, and Haverhill and went to the State Municipal Planning Council and asked to have a Police Academy at Northern Essex Community College. 1 March 8, 2016 Gallagher: All the Police Chiefs are on the Board of Directors for this academy . Gallagher spoke of the graduates and the success of the program and how it has been very economical for all involved. We are fully staffed and that has not been done in numerous years. One of the graduates will be his replacement. Gallagher: Stated from last hased tasers. We also outfitted our officers with new weaponry. Gallagher: Spoke of the camera system at the High School, and we only use it if we have an incident, this way we have eyes at the school. Gallagher: Went on to say that all the doors are numbered in all the schools (officers have diagrams of all schools), so if we have an incident, officers will know where to go in case of any problems. Gallagher: spoke of the FBI Leadership Programs that are offered to Supervisors. It is a three part education program. Gallagher: We asked for 3 cruisers in our budget, they are all wheel drive. We are also planning on updating some of the cruisers with new lights, sirens, radio system and also will be outfitting the new cruisers with tablets. Gallagher: We buy about 3 cars every year and they last about 10 years. TT: Noticed the training Budget has gone down. Gallagher: We train our supervisors (they are certified) to train our officers, this is done in-house and is a savings. KB: Commented on page 219 of the Budget Book regarding the Police Department Statistical Graphs. Gallagher: discussed the graphs to the Finance Committee. TR: Commented that the numbers have gone down except for calls for service. Gallagher: Responded those calls can be anything, example; car accidents, someis locked with a child or animal in the vehicle, those calls are considered calls for service. TT: When is your last day? th Gallagher: June 30. All Finance Committee Members thanked Gallagher and wished him well Fire Department Chief Andrew Melnikas Deputy Chief William McCarthy Discussion starts on or about 7:13/00:26:48 on video time (Pages 148-150) TT: Welcome both McCarthy: Commented that the major improvements are the fire apparatus, they are now classified as an ambulance; since they carry medical drugs and supplies that an ambulance would carry. They now have the ability to give various medical needs . Gallagher: Spoke of the 4 new firefighters and 3 retirements. McCarthy: We have full staffing for the first time in a long time. McCarthy: Stated that for next fiscal year they are looking for Mobile Data Units (laptops) to eventually go on Fire Apparatus. McCarthy: Then commented that ambulances are currently equipped with these laptops and how they do a patient care report (downloading patient care reports to hospitals such as Lawrence General and Holy Family), while the patient is in transit or when ambulances arrive back at the Fire Station. Because of this the ambulances are back much quicker at the station. Putting these laptops on the Fire Apparatus will be a great improvement. McCarthy: Most of our training is done in-house. Also, we sometimes will use a house as demo for part of the training too. TT: Thank you for your service, I wish you both the best 2 March 8, 2016 Emergency Management Jeffrey J. Coco, Director Discussion starts on or about 7:39/00:53:00 on video time (Pages 153-154) TT: The Emergency Management has an important role, and you do it on a shoe string. Coco: We are federally mandated to be in existence. Our main goal is to support police and fire at their request. If there is a State of Emergency we become the lead agency and the police and fire come under us. We actually bring in resources, such as The National Guards, plows, any manpower, trucks or anything necessary. We also bring the Federal money to reimburse the community for expenditures. We are all volunteers and are trained. Coco: spoke of how they handle emergencies, locations they work out of and where some of their equipment is stored. Coco: stated that they are going to purchase portable radios. Communication has always been the weakest link and that they are working to improve it. KB: How many people work in Emergency Management all together? Coco: Responded about 20 Schedule of Upcoming Meetings Discussion starts on or about 7:56/01:10:00 on video time th TT: Asked the Finance Committee Members to look over the Draft agenda for March 15 and if they would like to see anyone in addition to attend the meeting. They requested from Santilli that Jennifer Hughes from Conservation and Joanna Ouellette from Stevens Estate as well as Eric Kfoury Director of Community and Economic Development attend the March 15th meeting. Page 28 item # 2 , a, b, and c of Budget Book was Discussed Discussion starts on or about 8:03/01:17:00 on video time Finance Committee Members requested from Santilly SPED numbers through the end of February from Jim Mealy and also to have Lynn Savage provide them with the last year Budget transfers as part of the FY15 Adjustment (AKA in house shuffling) Finance Committee Report Discussion starts on or about 8:05/01:18:45 on video time TC: Stated that he did not receive anything from BC when this should all be coming together. th Santilly: stated that the report is due around April 6 Adjourn 8:08 SA: Made a motion to adjourn JG: Second the motion All in favor 3 March 8, 2016 Document Table SUBJECT FROM TO * 1. Book Maylor Fincom th ** 2. Draft of finance Committee March 15 agenda AC Fincom * Budget Book is located in the DropBox th ** Finance Committee March 8 Packets Note all videos of meetings can be reviewed on the Home page of the North Andover Website Directions: 1. 2. Click on Check Schedule 3. Click on the appropriate date of meeting on the calendar 4. Click on Finance Committee ( in middle under calendar) 5. Click on Streaming Video (on right) 6. Video should appear 4 March 8, 2016