TOWN OF MANSFIELD/DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTION

PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY, January 18, 2006

Audrey P. Beck Municipal Building

Council Chambers

Minutes

Members Present: A. Barberet, G. Cole, R. Gergler, C. Lary, C. Paulhus, W. Solenski,

W. Stauder

Members Absent: R. Blicher, E. Higgins, R. Pellegrine, S. Thomas

Staff:   Assistant Town Manager M. Hart, Police Officer J. Marchon, Counselor J. Roache,

Deputy Warden K. Smayda

I. CALL TO ORDER

Ms. Stauder called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m. and welcomed everyone present.

1. Mr. Hart volunteered to serve as the recorder/secretary for the meeting.

2. Minutes of July 20, 2005 – Ms. Barberet made a motion, seconded by Mr. Paulhus, to approve the minutes of July 20, 2005.  The motion passed unanimously.

3. Minutes of August 24, 2005 – Mr. Cole made a motion, seconded by Mr. Solenski, to approve the minutes of August 24, 2005.  The motion passed unanimously.

4. Minutes of October 19, 2005 – Mr. Paulhus made a motion, seconded by Mr. Gergler, to approve the minutes of October 19, 2005.  The motion passed unanimously.

5. Meeting Schedule for 2006 – Mr. Paulhus made a motion, seconded by Mr. Cole, to accept the meeting schedule for 2006.  The motion passed unanimously.

The committee asked Mr. Hart to add a “members absent” section to the minutes.

II. COMMUNICATIONS

1. List of Offenses – Ms. Stauder stated that she likes the addition of the underlying charge to the list of offenses.

2. Letter from T. Lantz re: Security Measures – Mr. Cole clarified that the razor wire is to be laid along the ground.  Mr. Marchon asked about the possibility of alarming the fence?  The committee explained that it had not contemplated alarming the fence as of yet.

III. WARDEN’S REPORT AND DISCUSSION

1. Population Status Report – Ms. Smayda reported that the current population is 954 inmates, and the maximum capacity remains 962.

2. List of Offenses – Ms. Smayda reviewed the list of offenses with the committee.   The list is similar to that of previous months.

IV. CHAIRMAN’S REPORT – None

V. OPPORTUNITY FOR PUBLIC TO SPEAK – None

VI. OLD BUSINESS

1. Security Measures – Mr. Gergler made a motion that the committee recommend to the Town Council that the town accept the installation of the razor wire at Bergin CI.  Mr. Solenski seconded. 

After some discussion, the committee recommended that the motion be amended as follows:

Move, effective January 18, 2006, to recommend to the Mansfield Town Council that the Council accept the Connecticut Department of Correction’s proposal to install at Bergin Correctional Institute two rolls of razor ribbon on the ground along the interior perimeter of the existing fence, specifically a double row of wire consisting of two 30” rolls with 24” rolls inside the 30” rolls.

Mr. Gergler and Mr. Solenski accepted the friendly amendments to the motion.

Ms. Stauder posed what she described as the “moral question” regarding the possibility that inmates could be physically hurt by the wire.  The committee discussed this issue at some length.  Ms. Smayda stated that inmates are accustomed to the wire at other facilities, and staff will make sure to educate the inmates during orientation.

Ms. Stauder called the question.  The motion, as amended, was approved 5-2-0, with Cole, Gergler, Lary, Paulhus and Solenski in favor, and Barberet and Stauder opposed.

2. Annual Report – Mr. Paulhus made a motion, seconded by Mr. Gergler, to accept the Annual Report for 2005 as presented by staff.  Mr. Cole suggested some editorial revisions to the draft, which were endorsed the committee.  The motion passed unanimously, with the understanding that Mr. Cole’s comments would be incorporated within the report.  Mr. Hart agreed to make the corrections to the report for Ms. Stauder’s signature, and to send the report to the state legislature as required by law.

VI. NEW BUSINESS - None

VII. ADJOURNMENT

Ms. Stauder adjourned the meeting at 4:00 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Matthew W. Hart

Assistant Town Manager