HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB-1999-07-22 ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MEETING
MINUTES: Ithaca Community Police Board
PLACE: Second floor Conference Room, City Hall
TIME & DATE: July 22, 1999, at 3:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Commissioners Pryor, Laskowitz, Nelson, Jones and Killeen
Chief Basile, and Nancy Falconer, CPB Staff
Absent: Commissioners Skibinski, Graham , Alderperson Shenk
Commissioner Pryor called the meeting to order at 3:37
1 Approve Minutes of Meeting June 24, 1999
Corrections were made as follows
The spelling of Ms. Fay Gougakis, guest, was corrected.
Moved by Commissioner Laskowitz; seconded by Commissioner Killeen.
Approved unanimously
2. Report from Common Council
No one was present from Common Council and no report was given.
3. Report from Police Chief
a.) Budget:
Chief Basile discussed the difficulty of his Department adhering to a 0 %
budget increase for year 2000. Factors were discussed that make it
impossible to keep to a 0% budget increase. Commissioner Jones asked if
it would be helpful to have the Board support the Police Department on its
budget request in August. Chief Basile acknowledged that it would be
helpful.
b.) Staffing at area High Schools.
Chief Basile announced that there would be one full time resource officer
shared among Ithaca High School and the Alternative Community School
and the two middle schools for the coming school year. Officer Phil Newby
will be given special training before he begins in the fall.
c.) Hirings:
A second Deputy Chief has started work recently, and there is a lieutenant
position open now. There will be internal promotions to lieutenant from
sergeant and then to sergeant from officer.
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MEETING MINUTES
July 22, 1999
d.) Diversity Training:
Chief Basile announced that his Department is looking at continued
diversity training (stage 2) for this fall. In developing this training, the
recommendations that came out of the initial diversity sessions will be
scrutinized, and it will also focus on raising awareness about 'hate
crimes'. Discussion followed about some of the difficulties involved in
arranging for the training. Commissioner Killeen asked for a copy of the
first Diversity Training report, as he was not part of the Board when it was
distributed.
e.) Community Board memberships:
Chief Basile said that the recent Deputy Chief hiring has allowed him time
to join some community boards and committees. He has been asked to
join the Mental Health Board, and is on the Board o0f Ithaca
Neighborhood Housing Services. He was asked to join the Boy Scout
Council, but refused, feeling it would be inappropriate. The Red Cross
Advisory Board has also requested his membership.
f.) Miscellaneous
One more officer will soon be assigned to the neighborhood traffic patrols
making the total three. The Department is looking at increasing the
K-9 Troops by two more. This will be covered by a $50,000 grant, and
some extra fundraising, and will not be a budget item.
Additional enforcement of parking meter violations may bring some extra
complaints to this Board.
In addition, the Department has assigned extra officers to cover GIAC
basketball game times at the request of GIAC.
h.) The PUD Run will be held Sunday morning, August 29th at Stewart
park from 9:30- 11:00 a.m. CPD members who will help staff the water
table should arrive at 9 a.m.
Commissioner Killeen asked about the handcuffing policy, in Tompkins
County, and whether policies are the same among various police
agencies, as there have been some questions about this from citizens_..
Chief Basile explained that it is the policy of IPD, no matter what the
person is being taken in for, to handcuff behind the back for safety
reasons. Commissioner Killeen asked if it might help to avoid
misunderstandings about this if some public education were done.
4. Old Business
a) Commissioner Jones draft of the Appeal Process after a Final
Determination was read and commented on. The draft was corrected
in the third paragraph to read:
"The Board may decide to review a complaint by a majority vote. The
member or members who conducted the original investigation shall not
vote on the request for review."
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MEETING MINUTES
July 22, 1999
The draft was approved with this correction, and it was requested that it
be rewritten and submitted to Patricia Dunn , City Attorney, for final
approval
b.) It was moved to table the discussion of whether to have this Board
take an official stand on supporting the AIDSWork Harm Reduction
program.
Commissioner Killeen asked if anyone knew whether Valerie Reines at
AIDSWork had contacted Northampton staff about their results with the
Harm Reduction program. No one was able to answer this.
The following proposed nondiscrimination statement was approved to be
added to the CPB complaint form and to the brochure.
" The City of Ithaca Community Police Board provides its services
without regard to race, color, sex, religion, creed, actual or perceived
sexual orientation/preference, national origin, age, disability, marital status
or arrest and conviction record."
No new Business was discussed, and the meeting adjourned to
Executive Session at 4:45 p.m.