HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB-2013-02-28CITY OF ITHACA
COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MINUTES
Regular Meeting 3:30 p.m. February 28, 2013
Present:
Commissioners (8) Kane, Rogers, Brower, DaGrossa, Levine, Baker, Levine, LaPadula
OTHERS PRESENT:
Council Liaison — Kerslick
Acting Chief Barber
Information Management Specialist Day
EXCUSED:
Commissioner Bush
CALL TO ORDER 3:30 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF THE JANUARY 24. 2013 MEETING
By Commissioner Brower; Seconded by Commissioner LaPadula
RESOLVED, that the minutes of the January 24, 2013 Community Police Board
meeting be approved as published.
Carried Unanimously
REPORT FROM COMMON COUNCIL:
Alderperson Kerslick had no new information to report from Common Council.
REPORT FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
Acting Chief Barber reported on the following matters:
• Police Officer Harmon was promoted to Sergeant.
• Arbitration was granted for the termination of a Police Officer & the
department will get authorization to fill the position.
• The department has staff shortages and hopes for more funding.
• Community Service Officers back -fill school crossing guards when
necessary and police officers also fill in when needed.
• It has been determined that there will be no Police Resource Officer at
Ithaca High School this year.
• The "Gun Buy Back Program" was given a $5,000.00 donation which paid
for guns being turned in and for overtime for the Officers participating in
the program. IPD hopes to host another gun buy back event in the future.
OLD BUSINESS —
Social Media Policy — Commissioner Levine addressed the Board regarding the need
for a Community Police Board Facebook account. Information Management Specialist
Day provided the Board with a copy of the City of Ithaca's Social Media Policy. She also
provided the following update from the Government Performance & Accountability
Committee (GPA).
"At the January 16, 2013 (GPA) Government Performance & Accountability meeting
Alderperson Murtagh reported that the Communications Sub - Committee is
recommending revisions to the City's Social Media Policy to address the issue of the
use of social media by City boards and committees, how it impacts Open Meetings Law,
and City Liability issues, etc."
Commissioner Levine suggested having a "read only" page and Alderperson Kerslick
responded he would update the GPA Committee with that suggestion.
Commissioner Levine reported that she has been working on the brochure for the
Community Police Board. Once it has been updated it will be posted to the City's
website on the "Community Police Board" page. It was also suggested that it could be
posted on the City's website under the Police Department. The Board suggested also
contacting the Ithaca Police Department Public Information Officer, Jamie Williamson to
see if the brochure could be posted on the IPD Facebook page.
The Board would like to see a logo on the brochure and suggested the idea of having it
created by local high school students. Commissioner DaGrossa will contact the New
Roots School to see if any student would be interested in working with the Board to
create a logo.
Commissioner Baker reported that he spoke with Bruce Estes from the Ithaca Journal.
Mr. Estes is willing to sit down and discuss possibilities to disseminate information about
the Community Police Board at a future meeting of the Board.
Commissioner Baker also suggested creating business cards for commissioners.
Further discussion followed on the floor regarding the design and format of the business
cards.
Commissioner Levine volunteered to deliver some Community Police Board
complaint/compliment forms to the Offender Aide Restoration Office. Information
Management Specialist Day will confirm that the Ithaca Police Department has the
updated version as well.
A question arose on the CPB complaint form process. It was suggested a protocol be
developed in order to resolve the complaint. Sample protocols developed by past
commissioners should be reviewed as well.
Commissioners were reminded that ride -a -longs with the Ithaca Police Department are
required each year, and to let Information Management Specialist Day know the date
they participated for the record.
Report from Police Chief Search Committee: Commissioners: Brower, Levine and
DaGrossa will be serving on the search Committee. Dates have been set up for the
interviews.
NEW BUSINESS:
A discussion was held regarding a possible change in the regular meeting date of the
Board. The Board decided to table this item and revisit it in 2 months.
Commissioner Roger distributed an outline of the 2012 Annual Community Police Board
Report. The statistics of complaints and compliments will be inserted and the final report
placed on the March agenda for approval.
The Board discussed the need to have information tables at upcoming events and
festivals to provide info about the Board specifically at GIAC Festival, and the
Juneteenth Event/Festival. They also discussed distribution of the updated brochures to
neighborhood groups.
Commissioner Rogers passed out copies of a compliment that was received from T -S -T
BOCES Adult English Program. The compliment indicated the need for an outreach
initiative between the Ithaca Police Department and the Burmese Community to discuss
cultural interpretations of law enforcement practices. Commissioners Rogers,
DaGrossa, Brower, Acting Chief Barber, along with an officer in uniform, and Council
Liaison, Kerslick, all volunteered to participate in a meeting with representatives from
theT -S -T BOCES Adult English Program and the Burmese Community.
MOTION TO ENTER INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION TO DISCUSS ACTIVE
INVESTIGATIONS:
There were no items to discuss or to finalize this month.
ADJOURNMENT:
On a motion the meeting adjourned at 4:55 p. m.
Respectfully submitted by:
Cindie L. Day
Information Management Specialist