Southern Police Commission
Monthly Meeting
February 4, 2009
A public meeting of the Southern
Police Commission was held on Wednesday, February 4,
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, John
LaMartina Commissioner James Childs Chief of Police and Solicitor Chuck
Patterson.
Those absent:
Larry Flemmens Vice Chairman.
Chairman Richard Buchanan called the
meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Lucy Cadwallader was present but did
not have any comments at this time.
APPROVAL OR AMENDMENT TO MINUTES OF JANUARY 7, 2009
Commissioner John Peters pointed out that Commissioner Ronald
McCullough was not present for this meeting but the minutes show him as
being present.
Chairman Richard Buchanan asked for a motion to approve
the minutes of January 7, 2009.
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 JANUARY 2009
After members reviewed the expenditures
from January, Chairman Richard Buchanan pointed out that Uniform
Maintenance and Repair is 78.2% over budget and this is because of the
purchase of new turtle neck shirts for most of the officers.
Commissioner Edward Tinder made a motion to approve checks 6395
through 6439 and expenditures totaling $77,073.41 and Commissioner
Ronald McCullough seconded that motion, motion carried.
CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Chairman Richard Buchanan received an e-mail from a
juvenile regarding Shrewsbury curfew ordinance.
He is a member of the National Juvenile Rights Association where
they believe curfews are unconstitutional.
Curfews are put in place to protect juveniles.
After some correspondence Chairman Buchanan advised the juvenile
to get a copy of Shrewsbury’s ordinance before he tries to challenge it.
The juvenile agreed to do this and did pick up a copy of the
ordinance.
Chairman Richard Buchanan will discuss
contract negotiations during an executive session at the end of this
meeting.
Chairman Richard Buchanan received a
call from Detective Goodfellow requesting $2,300.00 to update Microsoft
Office on some of the computers and he also requested purchasing a new
computer. Commissioner
Edward Molinsky made a motion for Detective Goodfellow to purchase the
update for Microsoft Office and a new computer not to exceed $3,000.00
and Commissioner Edward Tinder seconded the motion.
Motion carried.
POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT:
Chief James Childs announced that the
Annual Awards Ceremony is scheduled for March 4, 2009 at 7:00 p.m. and
the Commission Meeting will be held March 18th.
Chief James Childs reported that
Officer Daniel Teague will give a presentation at the March 18th
meeting about gang activity in the area.
Chief James Childs reported that the
FOP filed a lawsuit on behalf of law enforcement officers demanding to
return to the old 911 radio system until the new system can be fixed.
Chief Childs reported that the York County Chiefs of Police met
with the executive board of the County Commissioners to discuss whether
they should pay the remaining amount until the radio system can be
fixed. M/A-COM never worked
on a countywide project and has asked the police and fire departments to
give them more time to fix the problems.
Chief Childs spoke with the County Treasurer regarding
withholding the remaining amount owed for the radio system.
The Chief asked for the Boroughs to support withholding payments
until this situation can be addressed.
He also pointed out that the RMS is still not working and New
World was paid all the money upfront and the system is still not
working. The officers have
received new batteries for the radios which is an improvement over the
original batteries.
Commissioner Edward Tinder wanted Chief Childs to withhold payment
immediately but Chief Childs said he wanted to wait until all the Chiefs
meet and decide to withhold the payments altogether.
He did not want Southern Regional Police Department to be the
only department to withhold payment.
Chief Childs reported as of this date
the Police Department has not received any money for the D.A.R.E. Grant.
Chief Childs spoke with Wayne McCullough about the school
district funding the D.A.R.E. program but Wayne McCullough said that the
school district did not budget for it.
Chief Childs suggested that the members of the Police Commission
go back to their borough councils and advise them that there is no money
for the D.A.R.E. program.
Chief Childs will do a letter to the Middle School notifying them that
the Middle School D.A.R.E. program will be cancelled because the
Southern Regional Police Department did not receive any grant money.
Commissioner Edward Tinder made a motion that the Police
Commission send a letter to the School Board advising them that the
D.A.R.E. program will be suspended because the Police Department has not
received any funding. The
letter should also explain that the Southern Regional Police Department
will not finance this program without receiving grant money and the
Southern York County School District could then consider adding the
D.A.R.E. Program to their budget for the 2009 – 2010 school year.
Commissioner Edward Molinsky seconded this motion.
Motion carried.
Chief Childs received a email from
Dormont Police Department pointing out that because of the economy that
in 2010 the police pension will take a direct hit and municipalities
will have to fund the Police Pensions without getting state aid.
Detective Shafer was injured on
Saturday, January 31st and will be off work until Monday
February 9th.
Chief Childs reported that officers
responded to 114 calls in Shrewsbury, 116 calls in New Freedom, 15 calls
at the Southern York County School District, 53 calls in Glen Rock, 7
calls in Railroad and 12 calls outside our jurisdiction.
470.29 hours were spent in Shrewsbury,
297.17 were spent in New Freedom, 47.51 were spent in the school
district, 206.09 hours were spent in Glen Rock, 12.22 hours were spent
in Railroad and 7.43 hours were spent outside our jurisdiction.
Chief Childs reported that he received
the yearly report from the York County Drug Task Force where Southern
Regional Police Department arrested 16 females and 63 males.
Officers confiscated $135.00 in heroin, $620.00 in cocaine,
$5,073.00 in marijuana, 1 vehicle and 6 guns.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
No committee reports.
FINANCE AND BUDGET
Chairman R. Buchanan pointed out that on the Profit and
Loss sheet shows that New Freedom paid two payments for the first
quarter of 2009. This is a
mistake and will be corrected.
Also the salaries appear to be below budget and this is because
of the way the pay periods fall.
The auditor’s report was published in
the York Newspapers at a cost of $547.70.
Chairman Richard Buchanan suggested that Administrative Assistant
Patricia Miller check into advertising it in the Community Courier.
Commissioner Edward Tinder made a motion to have Administrative
Miller get prices from the Community Courier to advertise the auditor’s
report and Commissioner John Peters seconded that motion.
Motion carried.
Chairman Richard Buchanan reported that
Repair and Maintenance is over budget because most of the contracts
(i.e. copier) are paid at the beginning of the year.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Commissioner Edward Molinsky will
contact Brockmeyer Electrical to get a price to install the emergency
phone outside of the police station.
Commissioner Edward Tinder made a motion for Commissioner Edward
Molinsky to get a price for the installation of the emergency phone from
Brockmyer Electrical not to exceed $500.00 and Commissioner John
LaMartina seconded that motion.
Motion carried.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT
Solicitor Patterson did not have a report but commented
on the Curfew Ordinance. In
that a curfew ordinance is not in violation of a juvenile’s
constitutional rights.
OLD BUSINESS
Commissioner John Peters reported that
Glen Rock Borough is looking into another source rather than using the
Guardian Angels. He is
looking into a confidential website where citizens can report crimes and
remain anonymous. He is also
checking into starting some community watch blocks.
Lucy Cadwallader asked if the Police
Commission had given any thought to the question she asked at the last
meeting whether or not Glen Rock’s contribution for 2010’s budget would
not increase. Chairman
Richard Buchanan reported that there is no way of knowing at this time
how much of increase the budget will be.
Lucy Cadwallader reported that if Glen Rock’s contribution
increases significantly then Glen Rock would have to drop out.
Chairman Richard Buchanan reminded her that Glen Rock would have
to give the Commission a year’s notice in writing of their intentions
and that would mean they would only be eligible to drop out in 2011.
NEW BUSINESS
Commissioner John Peters reported that the
secretary of Glen Rock asked if the police officers contribute to their
pensions. Chairman Richard
Buchanan reported that as of now they do not contribute to the pension
but the Commission will be addressing that issue during contract
negotiations.
Commissioner Edward Molinsky asked what the
status was on replacing the glass door and window to the entrance to the
Police Department. Chief
Childs is waiting to get prices from two different people.
Chief Childs reported that the new truck will be here in about
10 to 12 weeks.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
After a five minute break an executive
session began at 8:30 p.m. and ended at 8:42 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner
Ronald McCullough, seconded by Commissioner John Peters to adjourn at
8:42 p.m., motion carried.
Respectfully submitted and recorded by
Patricia Ann Miller
Administrative Assistant
