Southern Police Commission
Monthly Meeting
January 7, 2009
A public meeting of the Southern
Police Commission was held on Wednesday, January 7, 2009 at the New Freedom Borough
Council Chambers, 49 East
High Street, New Freedom PA 17349.
Those present: Richard Buchanan Chairman, John
Peters Commissioner, Jeff Joy Commissioner, Edward Molinsky Commissioner, Ronald McCullough
Commissioner, James Reedy Commissioner, Edward Tinder Commissioner,
Larry Flemmens Vice Chairman, John LaMartina Commissioner and Solicitor
Chuck Patterson.
Those absent:
James Childs Chief of Police.
Chairman Richard Buchanan called the meeting to
order at 7:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Lucy Cadwallader and Jane Glatfelter were present
but did not have any comments at this time.
APPROVAL OR AMENDMENT TO MINUTES OF DECEMBER 3, 2008
Commissioner John Peters pointed out that Jane Marcio was present
for this meeting but her last name is actually Glatfelter not Marcio.
Chairman Richard Buchanan asked for a motion to
approve the minutes of December 3, 2008.
Commissioner Edward Molinsky
made a motion to approve the minutes after the above-mentioned change is
made. Commissioner Edward
Tinder seconded the motion, motion carried.
REVIEW OF EXPENDITURES FOR DECEMBER 2008
After members reviewed the expenditures from
December, Chairman Richard Buchanan pointed out that vehicle fuel for
the month of December is about half of what we were paying in previous
months. He also pointed out
that the overtime for officers is slightly over budget.
Commissioner Edward Tinder made a motion to approve checks 6350
through 6394 and expenditures totaling $181,526.41 and Commissioner
James Reedy seconded that motion, motion carried.
CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Chairman Richard Buchanan reminded everyone that
this year is the year that contract negotiations will start for the
contract for 2010 through 2012. Gretchen Love represented the Commission
during the last negotiations and he will try to schedule her for
February’s meeting to brief the entire Commission on contract
negotiations. The Commission
should receive a letter from the Union
probably in March or April outlining the officers’ expectations.
The Commission is required to respond to this letter within ten
days.
Chairman Richard Buchanan received a compliant from
a citizen regarding police personnel so this will be discussed during an
executive session at the end of this meeting.
Chairman Richard Buchanan asked for volunteers for
the Negotiating Committee.
Those members are Commissioner Edward Molinsky, Commissioner John
Peters, Commissioner John LaMartina and Chairman Richard Buchanan.
Lucy Caldwallader asked if Commissioner John Peters
could share what was discussed during the Executive Session with the
Safety Committee. Chairman
Richard Buchanan told her that anything discussed during an executive
session cannot be shared with the public.
POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT:
Chairman Richard Buchanan reported that citations
were high in Shrewsbury
because the officers have been citing individuals for making improper
turns at the exit at the
Giant
Shopping Center.
The School District
hours are lower than normal and Glen Rock’s hours are higher because of
the attempted homicide in Glen Rock.
He also pointed out that there were only four calls to Shrewsbury Township
which is also below normal.
Officers handled a total of 263 calls during the month of November.
Officers responded to 97 calls in Shrewsbury, 82 calls in
New Freedom, 12 calls at the school district, 54 calls in Glen Rock, 12
calls in Railroad and 6 calls outside our jurisdiction.
396.39 hours were spent in Shrewsbury, 275.02 were
spent in New Freedom, 28.55 were spent in the school district, 221.09
hours were spent in Glen Rock, 11.34 hours were spent in Railroad and
2.57 hours were spent outside our jurisdiction.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
No committee reports.
FINANCE AND BUDGET
Chairman R. Buchanan reported that there is
$175,071.89 left in the budget.
Overtime for the officers is high for this month.
We are 1.6% over budget for 2008.
This is probably due to officers’ overtime.
Detective Goodfellow purchased a camera which was
budgeted for in 2009. This
is why Investigative Supplies is over budget.
Uniform Maintenance and Repair is 75.5% over budget and Vehicle
Maintenance and Repair is 12.7% over budget.
Commission Pension Contribution is 48.8% over
budget because when the Attorney General’s Office came in and did an
audit they determined that the money which was put aside for Patricia A.
Miller’s pension should be taken out of the CD and put into the pension
fund. The auditors called
PMRS and PMRS decided that the money should be sent to PMRS.
This was done in December after the audit was complete.
Unemployment Compensation is 71.4% over budget
because of the state assessment.
The health insurance rebates for 2008 totaled
$33,912.00.
We still have not received any notification of
whether or not we are getting the D.A.R.E. Grant.
After some discussion it was determined that Lieutenant
Boddington will finish the fifth grade classes.
Commission members were asked to go back to their council members
to see if they want to continue with the D.A.R.E. Program if there is no
grant money.
Administrator Miller will draft a letter to the school district to see
if they would want to budget for the D.A.R.E. Program for the 2009 –
2010 school year. The school
district is made up of Shrewsbury Borough,
Shrewsbury
Township, New Freedom
Borough, Glen Rock Borough, Railroad Borough and part of Codorus Township.
The Police Commission felt that it was unfair for the Police
Department to fund the entire program when students from Shrewsbury and Codorus Townships benefit from the program and
the citizens from those townships are not helping to fund the program.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT
No report given.
OLD BUSINESS
Commissioner Jeff Joy reported that Tanya Crawford
and Brady Terrell decided that the New Freedom Borough employees will
not install the emergency phone.
They would like to get a quote from someone else to install the
phone. Chairman Richard
Buchanan will call the vendor and Brockmeyer Electrical to get quotes to
install the phone.
NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner Jeff Joy reported that the New Freedom
Borough Council would like the “other” time in the time analysis to be
broken down more. They are
not clear what this means.
Administrative Assistant Patricia A. Miller explained that “other” time
includes sick, vacation, personal time, training and most of Detective
Goodfellow’s time while he is in the office.
This includes time that he spends on his duties which cannot be
charged to a particular case (i.e. evidence, computer problems and
reviewing Criminal Complaints).
Commissioner Edward Molinsky talked about replacing
the glass door and window to the entrance to the Police Department.
Chief Childs will get prices on replacing the window and door and
moving the glass door to one of the inside doors.
Commissioner Edward Molinsky asked whether a
request for the DCED to do the study on the police department and
Chairman Richard Buchanan said that Chief Childs has requested a study
but he does not know when that will be scheduled.
Chairman Richard Buchanan presented Resolution
2009-1 where the Southern Police Commission waives the member
contribution for the calendar year 2008 for the police pension.
The resolution also included the year 2009 but Chairman Richard
Buchanan crossed out that year.
He will send a letter to the General Auditor’s Office asking why
the Police Commission must waive the employee contribution because for
the last several years the State Aid did not cover the entire amount of
the Pension Contribution. He
wants the officers to be responsible for any amount not covered by the
State Aid.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
An executive session began at 8:10 p.m. and ended at 8:55 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Edward Tinder,
seconded by Commissioner James Reedy to adjourn at 8:55 p.m., motion carried.
Respectfully submitted and recorded by
Patricia Ann Miller
Administrative Assistant
