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2000-03-28JOINT POLICE FIRE PUBLIC SAFETY FACILITY ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES FROM MEETING MARCH 28, 2000 Members Present: John Bianchi, Richard Cotraro, Timothy Hegarty, Mark Ray, Kevin Weafer. Minutes from the previous meeting were reviewed. Motion by Co-chair Bianchi to accept the minutes. Second by Co-chair Ray. Unanimous vote in favor. Mrs. Virginia McGlynn, Councilor of Ward Four also in attendance. R. Cotraro opened the meeting by stating that Public Safety Commissioner Pelonzi had agreed to conduct test runs from the proposed Elliott Street site to various areas in the City. Cotraro stated that these runs were crucial to the Centerville and Cove sections of the city, as well as to Endicott College, Landmark School and the Cove Elementary School. R. Cotraro stated that there have been dormitory fires in the past and increased response times to the above colleges/schools would be a major problem. R. Cotraro stated that Beverly Fire Personnel have responded to mutual aid to other cities in the area, and to other stations within the City. This presents a problem when another call comes for the Farms area and engines and/or ladder trucks have to respond from outside the downtown area. Only three firefighters are scheduled to work at the Farms station daily. R. Cotraro felt that the City has dropped personnel and will increase response times with the location of the new facilities (Elliott St. and Brimhal Ave.) Cotraro feels that Chief Pelonzi is "sugar coating" his statement of enhanced" response times. Chief Pelonzi was not in attendance to respond. R. Cotraro expressed concern about the pending bay for the ambulance that is proposed for the new facility. He feels that there are union issues from the Firefighter' s Union concerning the eight men slated to work as paramedics on the ambulance. He does not know why the ambulance personnel have to be segregated from the remainder of the fire department. Co-chair Bianchi expressed concerns about the lack of security measures mentioned in the drafts presented by the architect. There is a concern about the public areas of the proposed facility and the security measures that are needed, that do not appear to be in the drafts. Co-chair Ray expressed concern about the communications l~ing on the third floor of the facility and the Officer-in-Charge being on the first floor. Co-Chair Ray stated that the OIC's would be unable to monitor any emergency calls. T. Hegarty stated that the minor calls could be a problem also, as well as the answering of telephone calls. Co-Chair Ray has contacted several departments regarding this issue. He stated that several departments with combined dispatch have the OIC directly adjacent to the communications. Co-Chair stated also that the International Association of Chiefs of police (IACP) and the Police Executive Research Forum erg;lerlkregkpv (PERF) have architects on staff that are available to answer any questions that this advisory committee may have. Co-Chair Bianchi also expressed concerns to Councilor McGlynn. He stated that there are questions about the security of the building, the security of personal vehicles that may be parked at the facility, the size of the proposed lot, the location of the communications center and the privacy of the witnesses/victims entering the station. He further stated that the Salem Police Department has approximately 1.7 acres on their site that is strictly a police facility. T. Hegarty asked Councilor McGlynn what the City Council was expecting from this advisory committee. Mrs. McGlyrm felt that the committee shoulid submit the information that they have gathered rather than making recommendations. She felt that the committee should list the "pro' s and con's" that it has discovered. T. Hegarty asked Mrs. McGlynn if she knew of a "deadline" for the final draft to be submitted to the City Council. She stated that she did not know of any deadline, but will attempt to find out for Mrs McGlynn asked if the personnel that were consulted before the first draft was made were re- interviewed prior to the second draft being finished. Co-Chair Bianchi stated that this did not happen as he was one of the parties interviewed before the first draft. Co-Chair Bianchi suggested that this advisory committee should meet with the Building Commission of the City. Co-Chair Ray stated that he would contact Ray Bouchard of the Building Commission to set up such a meeting. Mrs. McGlynn asked how she could help this committee. Co-Chair Bianchi stated that the committee needs to know about any deadlines that were given to the architect. Motion to adjourn was made by T. Hegarty. Second by Co-Chair Ray. Unanimous vote in favor. Meeting adjourned at 9:00 P.M. NEXT MEETING: WEDNESDAY, APRIl, 5, 2000 BEVERLY PUBLIC LIBRARY 32 ESSEX ST., BARNETT GALLERY 7:00 P.M.