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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB-1999-06-24 ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MEETING MINUTES: Ithaca Community Police Board PLACE: Second floor Conference Room, City Hall TIME & DATE: June 24, 1999, at 3:30 p.m. PRESENT: Commissioners Pryor, Graham, Laskowitz, Nelson, and Killeen Deputy Chief Barnes, Nancy Falconer, CPB Staff ,2h icensetl: Commissioners Skibinski, Jones, Chief Basile, Alderperson Shenk Guests: Valerie Reines, AIDS Work Program Director, Visitors: Fay Goukakis Commissioner Pryor called the meeting to order 1 Approve Minutes of Meeting, May 27, 1999 Corrections were made as follows a) Under Approve Minutes of Meeting, May 27th, 1999: Delete statement "Corrections were made to the minutes as follows" b) Under Report from Common Council: 'Steven There' is corrected to Steven Thayer . Moved by Commissioner Killeen ; seconded by Commissioner Nelson Approved unanimously 2. Comments from Guest Ms. Goukakis spoke to the issue of the Harm Reduction program being sponsored by AIDS Work. She wished to know if there were to be a public hearing on the adoption of the program and wanted to hear the pros and cons of the program. Discussion followed. 3. Report from Common Council No one was present from Common Council and no report was given. THACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD 2 MEETING MINUTES June 24,1999 4. Report from Police Chief's Office a) Deputy Chief Barnes said that two officers have been hired recently:: Greg Furman on June 14, and Jon Loudermilk who is to arrive June 29`". There are still two vacancies remaining. Some applicants have been interviewed and applications are still being taken. b) Two budgets are to be presented to the city in August; one with 0% growth and one with 3% growth. The growth figure for 1998 was 3% and for 1999 it was 2%. c) Three officers took part in the training for bicycle patrol this month. d) Dan Slattery left the position of drug patrol duty this month, and is now back on street patrol. This leaves two positions vacant on the drug patrol. Don Barker has been offered one spot. The other position is not yet filled, but it will be filled by hiring from within the department. 5. Old Business a) Commissioner Pryor asked whether the Board wished to postpone consideration of the corrected draft of the appeals process, since Commissioner Jones was not present. Members decided to wait until he is present. b) Commissioner Pryor showed members the summary of the letters of recognition for officers. Members were asked whether they felt that this would be an acceptable method of keeping them informed, rather than the old method of giving full copies of each letter to each member. Members concurred that the summaries would be adequate, with the stipulation that the originals be kept in the files and available for members if they wish to read them. 6. New Business Valerie Reines, Program Director at AIDS Work, was introduced and spoke about the importance of the new program to be introduced known as "Harm Reduction'. This is a program that includes needle exchanges for participants, as well as other methods of encouragement and support that will hopefully result in less harm and possibly for some, eventual abstinence from drug use. THACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD 3 MEETING MINUTES June 24,1999 Some of the figures associated with the decision to apply for a waiver from the N. Y.S.Health Department for this program include the following a) In Tompkins County there has been an increase in HIV infections that is related to injected drugs. b) There is an estimated 90% infection rate by the dangerous Hepatitis C virus, among drug users who inject. c) 50% of drug users who inject are HIV infected, and it is not uncommon for them to have both HIV and Hepatitis C. d) A study in Scotland showed a real decrease in both diseases after a needle exchange program was started and drug users who inject participated in it. e) In Tompkins County, the number of drug users ages 14 to 20 who inject, has increased recently. f) Bleach kits help, but do not lessen the chance of infection with Hepatitis C g) Access to treatment for HIV is accessible to all but the quality of treatment is better for those with private insurance. Hepatitis C often goes untreated. Discussion followed about the beginning of the Harm Reduction program within Tompkins County, and the way in which the program will operate. Although a public hearing is not planned, AIDS Work will hold one if it is requested. The waiver for syringe exchange is expected soon from the NYS Department of Health. Commissioner Laskowitz asked if the Board should consider taking an official stand on the program, and it was decided to put this on the agenda for next month. The meeting was adjourned to Executive Session at 4:45 p.m.