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CITY OF ITHACA
COMMUNITY POLICE BOARD
120 EAST CLINTON STREET (6071 272-9973
ITHACA, NEW YORK 14850-5689 EXTENSION 310
MINUTES: Ithaca Community Police Board
PLACE: Second Floor Conference Room,City Hall
TIME & DATE: January 28, 1994 at 2:30 p.m.
PRESENT: Commissioners Johnson, Lisbe, Nelson, Sarachan. Seligmann, Teasley;
Chief McEwen, Deputy Chief Barnes,Mayor Nichols,Alderperson Shenk.
1. Commissioner Seligmann called the meeting to order.
2. Approve Minutes of Meeting of December 17, 1993: The minutes of the December 17,
1993 meeting were approved with the addition of Chief McEwen under those present.
3. Report from Common Council: Alderperson Shenk updated the Community Police
Board on the Lay Advocate Program as it stands with Common Council. She noted that
Neighborhood Legal Services is still willing to do the training for the lay advocates but
that Common Council is waiting on a proposal from the Community Dispute Resolution
Center for their services.
4. Comments from the Public: There were no comments from members of the public.
5. Report of the Chief: Chief McEwen welcomed the new members of the Community
Police Board and updated them on a few on-going issues. He noted that the PBA
contract negotiations are still continuing. Chief McEwen also noted that the City has
not heard anything about the federal grant he applied for to fund 3 community police
officers. He noted that our current neighborhood oriented policing program is
underway as Officer Gillern has returned to work from an injury. Chief McEwen
hopes that with the federal funding he will be able to expand on this project, extending
the patrol hours and broadening the area that is currently patrolled.
6. Comments from PBA President: PBA President Drew Martin was not present.
7. Old Business: Discussion followed about the complaint form and revising it to exclude
the notarized requirement. Chief McEwen expressed his concerns if the form did not
require a notary's signature. Commissioner Sarachan expressed concern about this as
he felt many people did not have access to a notary. Alderperson Shenk noted that in
the past investigations have still been done even when the complaint was not notarized.
Commissioner Sarachan made a motion to amend the complaint form with the deletion
of the notary's signature and replace it with the addition of the revised statement, "The
above is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge." and also deletion of #2C
under the Informational Procedure that is attached to the Complaint form. Discussion
followed about trying this for a trial period of six months. The Community Police Board
decided to endorse Commissioner Sarachan's motion regarding the notarized statement.
Commissioner Seligmann noted that the brochure that the Community Police Board has
been working on is finally done and passed it around for the members to review.
Chief McEwen passed out a pamphlet that he has been working on entitled "A Guide To
A Better Understanding Between You and the Ithaca Police Dept."
8. New Business: Nominations for the Chair of the Community Police Board for 1994
were opened. Commissioner Sarachan nominated Commissioner Seligmann.
Commissioner Seligmann noted that she and Commissioner Edmonds have discussed
this and are willing to Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, that is, Commissioner
Seligmann would handle all the meetings, would attend Common Council meetings if
necessary,etc. and would assign complaints to commissioners. Commissioner Edmonds
would be the media spokesperson and will speak at various groups regarding the
Board's function. The Community Police Board unanimously voted Commissioner
Seligmann as Chair and Commissioner Edmonds as Vice Chair for 1994.
Meeting dates for 1994 were discussed. The Community Police Board designated the
fourth Friday of every month at 2:30 pm in the Second Floor Conference Room of City
Hall as the meeting time and place for 1994.
Commissioner Seligmann encouraged all members to take part in the Department's
Ride-Along Program to get a better idea of what the police officers do on patrol.
Commissioner Lisbe noted the upcoming panel meeting which will be taped on
February 2, 1994 with Commissioner Edmonds, Officers Marlon Byrd and Kathy
Gillern and Attorneys Jim Church and Paul Bennett.
9. Adjournment: The next meeting of the Community Police Board is scheduled to be held
on February 25, 1994 at 2:30 p.m in the second floor conference room of City Hall.
The Community Police Board adjourned into Executive Session at 4:20 p.m.
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