HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB-2000-04-27ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MEETING
MINUTES: Ithaca Community Police Board
PLACE: First Floor Conference Room, Human Services Building
TIME /DATE: April 27, 2000, 3:30 p.m.
PRESENT Commissioners Laskowitz, Nelson, Jones, Graham, Killeen
Police Chief Basile, Deputy Chief Barnes
Alderperson Pryor,
Nancy Falconer, CPB Staff
Commissioner Graham called the meeting to order at 3:30 p.m.
1. Approve Minutes of Meeting of March 30, 2000
A correction was made to the reference on page 2 of the minutes noting that the
terms of Commissioners Killeen and Laskowitz have been extended to December
31st, 2002 by Mayor Cohen, rather than 2001. The minutes were unanimously
approved as amended
2. Comments from the Public
No visitors were present.
a)Alderperson Pryor reported that she expects the city charter for the CPB will be
changed to include a member who is a youth of 16 to 18, and one additional Board
member. This will bring the Board to a total of nine. Alderperson Pryor has
written up the legal aspect of this and will submit it to the May 3 meeting of
Common Council for approval. Commissioner Graham will attend this meeting and
will speak to the issue as Chair.
b) Common Council is also in the process of considering a proposed local hate crime
law. There will be an open meeting at GIAC on May 4 to discuss the issues.
4. Report from Police Chief
a)Chief Basile reported that he has just returned from an FBI seminar and
conference of state Chiefs of Police. Discussion of the findings, and comparisons of
other departments to the Ithaca experience, followed.
b)The Chief has looked into the cost of replacing the video equipment at the lockup
facility and has received a preliminary estimate of $7990. At the suggestion of a
Board member, he agreed to comparing this to the cost of renting the equipment
and to report back.
c)The Chief reported that Felicia Lockhart will be conducting a series of sessions
between May 8, 2000 and June 12, 200 on the nature and identification of hate
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April 27, 2000
crimes. The Chief has received a video on hate crimes that will be used in the
training.
d)Chief Basile reported that he has been trying to keep overtime costs down in the
department. Community Police Teams start next week on their new duties, except
that Officer Cornell will be delayed in starting because of a broken arm.
e) R. Hamilton, Executive Director of the National Black Law Enforcement Officers,
spoke at Southside last week on the death penalty. Chief Basile attended and spent
time with him after the meeting and found him an extremely helpful resource.
4. Old Business
a)Commissioner Graham reported that the needle exchange program has been held
up because AIDSwork is still waiting to hear from the State Department of Health
as to its waiver for this program.
b)Staff Administrator Nancy Falconer reported that the tabling event at GIAC for
the craft fair, and Earth Day on April 22 went well, and that multicolored large
balloons have been printed up with ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD.
They are filled with helium at the sites, and other information and pictures about
the Board and the community are displayed. The ballons are popular with children,
and some adults, and about 50 get handed out at each event.
Board members have helped greatly by sharing the tabling coverage in shifts.
Several other tabling events are scheduled for the future: The Latino festival on
the Commons on April 29, and GIAC's fair on the 20th May. Southside's
Juneteenth ( June 17) and Common Ground's Jazz Festival June 11 will be pursued.
c)The Diversity Training Report submitted by Felicia Lockhart was discussed at
length. The format appeared to be superior to the initial training sessions, and it
has clearly opened Police Department members to talking about the issues. This is
the first time that everyone in the department has taken the training. Chief Basile
plans to hold such sessions every 12 to 14 months.
d)Quorum requirements were discussed, since there had been confusion about this
topic in a previous meeting. With only five of the seven spots filled at this time, a
simple majority or three votes will constitute a quorum. It is also possible for the
Chair to declare a quorum for one time voting purposes if it is an important subject
to be decided. Discussion followed about encouraging people to apply for the vacant
Board positions.
5.New Business
a) Commissioner Nelson brought up a discussion of past Board member
involvement in outreach in the community. He pointed out that there is value in
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April 27, 2000
having members assigned to community groups as representatives of the Board, so
that they can attend and listen to concerns that arise among these groups. Board
members discussed this proposal, and agreed on the merit. The Board members
decided to discuss this next month and to decide on the method of providing this
kind of outreach. Commissioner Nelson also raised the subject of how to help Board
members feel they have some effect on the behavior of police offlLers who are found
to have treated citizens poorly or unprofessionally.
On a motion of Commissioner Jones, the Board adjourned to Executive Session.
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