HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CPB-2000-10-26ITHACA COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD MEETING
MINUTES: Ithaca Community Police Board
PLACE: Common Council Chambers, City Hall, Third Floor
• DATE/TIME: October 26, 2000 at 3:30 P.M.
PRESENT: Commissioners Graham, Nelson, Laskowitz, Wigden, Jones, Killeen
Chief Basile, Deputy Chief Barnes, Alderperson Pat Pryor
Nancy Falconer, CPB Staff
Absent: Commissioners Rovelstadt, Robinson
Commissioner Graham called the meeting to order at 3:35 p.m.
1. Approve Minutes of September 28 2000 The minutes of September 28, 2000 were missing
the first page, and approval was postponed until the November meeting.
2. Comments from the Public
Jessie Lind, a store owner on the Commons, attended and raised questions for the Board
about the fluctuations in enforcement of rules for the Commons . She stated that the rules
do not appear to be clearly posted, and there is confusion about them among store managers
as well as other citizens. Police enforcement appears at times to vary widely, adding to the
confusion. Alderman Pryor replied that the Commons Committee is working on this issue
at the moment. Discussion followed on the subject.
• 3.. Report from Common Council
a)Common Council Liaison Pat Pryor reported that she is investigating the possibility of an
air conditioner to be installed in the GIAC CPB office, because the heat in the winter as well
as the summer is so extreme. The budget is being examined to see if it could be installed this
fiscal year.
b)Alderperson Pryor also reported that she has asked that Common Council also look at the
need for renovation of city buildings such as the police department.
4. Report from the Police Department
a) Chief Basile reported that he has presented the Department's budget to Common
Council, and it appears that it will not be cut for 2001.
b) The PBA has stated that contract negotiations are at an impasse at the moment, since it
has refused to accept the latest offer. Chief Basile reported that talks are amicable, and
there may be hope of obtaining a five year contract.
c) Three Dispatch openings are still open at the Department, however, they will soon hire
and train three from among the 12 or 13 applicants. Many of these are from protected
classes.
d) The Chief attended a leadership school session in North Carolina recently, and found it
to be excellent. For the first time, three law enforcement persons were included among the
usual business CEO s who attend.
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Ithaca City Community Police Board Meeting page 2
October 26, 2000
e) Sheriff Meskill will give a report and awards on November 1 in Common Council on the
recent situation where a citizen was barricaded in his house and was presumably armed.
• The Chief feels that the situation was handled extremely well and the SWAT team of 11
proved adequate to handle this along with the Sheriffs people.
f) A question was raised about how to notify citizens, and especially students, of the coming
change back to odd -even parking in order to decrease misunderstandings and complaints
about tickets. It was suggested that email would be helpful and more likely to be seen by
the students, especially.
5. Old Business
a)Board members asked staff to send summaries of the commendations and thanks written
to the Police Department to the Journal, Pennysaver, Ithaca Times and other surrounding
publications , asking that they publish these and also stating in closing that anyone who
wishes to write a letter of appreciation or a complaint may send it to us and we will pass it
on to the Department.
Commissioners Graham and Laskowitz attended Pud's Run and assisted the police in doing
their barbecue and other items., They felt that their attendance was appreciated by officers.
c) Alderperson Pryor asked if at all possible that Board members attend the memorial
service for Public Safety officers from this region to be held on November 17, 2000 at
Immaculate Conception Church at 11 a.m.
d) Commissioner Wigden reported that he has reviewed the current forms used by CPB for
complaints, and handed out a draft of possible changes that might increase their efficiency.
Discussion followed about the changes and the manner in which they might be used.
Commissioner Wigden will call a meeting of the subcommittee before the next meeting.
• e) Board members agreed to continue to submit lists of their community group contacts that
are useful in communicating about the Police Board. Commissioner Jones is pursuing
contacts at the High School and Commissioner Nelson was asked by the Board to take on
the task of arranging an open house for the public, to which he agreed.
f) Alderperson Pryor stated that the report to Common Council from the CPB is due in
December, and asked staff to begin to put together some of the facts and reports on activity.
6. New Business
a)Different meeting times were agreed to for the next two months because of the coming
holidays. November's meeting will be the 30th , or 5th Thursday instead of fourth, and will
be in the second floor conference room at City Hall. December's meeting will be held the
16th in the second floor conference room.
b) Commissioner Wigden asked that in the next meeting we discuss the length of time for
the meetings as we seem to run short so often.
c) Commissioner Wigden also wished to put forth at the next meeting an idea for a youth
advisory board rather than simply one youth member.
The meeting was moved to Executive session by Commissioner Laskowitz and seconded by
Commissioner Jones
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