Southern Police Commission
Monthly Meeting
July 15, 2009
A public meeting of the Southern Police
Commission was held on Wednesday, July 15, 2009 at the New Freedom
Borough Council Chambers, 49 East High Street, New Freedom PA 17349.
Those present: Richard Buchanan Chairman, John
Peters Commissioner, Edward Molinsky Commissioner, Jeff Joy
Commissioner, John LaMartina Commissioner, James Childs Chief of Police
and Solicitor Chuck Patterson.
Those absent:
Larry Flemmens Vice Chairman, Edward Tinder Commissioner James
Reedy Commissioner and Ronald McCullough Commissioner.
Chairman Richard Buchanan called the meeting to
order at 7:05 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Lucy Cadwallader from Glen Rock
reported that she spoke to State Representative Eugene DePasquale
regarding 2011 funding. She
requested a projected cost if Glen Rock decides to stay as a member of
the Southern Regional Police Department.
She also attended the United Way meeting where they discussed the
stimulus package and she would have to apply for that money by July 17th.
She researched applying for a Justice Assistance Grant but felt
that might be more suitable for the D.A.R.E. Grant.
Chief Childs met with Ron Stern from DCED and stated he would
like to meet with Glen Rock to discuss other funding options.
Lucy Cadwallader asked about NIMS
Certification and Jeff Joy explained that if Glen Rock Borough is not
compliant with NIMS Certification they would not be eligible for grant
money. He also told her that
there is money available to fund the classes.
She will look into scheduling a class.
Chairman Buchanan met with Ken Krebs
and Kathy Wells to discuss purchasing police services.
Lucy Cadwallader asked if it was possible that officers only respond to
emergency calls and not frivolous calls to help keep costs down.
Chief Childs reported that some of Glen
Rock’s council members were under the impression that the Police
Commission pays for the Chief to travel and other expenses when he
becomes President of the PA Chiefs of Police Association.
Chief Childs explained that the Association covers his expenses
and he will use his comp time when traveling.
Gene Monterella from Shrewsbury
Township commented on his concerns regarding gangs in the township.
He asked Chairman Buchanan for an estimate of how much it would
cost if Shrewsbury Township would decide to join the Southern Regional
Police Department. Chairman
Buchanan explained that right now the cost is about $138.00 per capita.
APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF JUNE 3, 2009
Chairman Richard Buchanan asked for a motion
to approve the minutes of June 3, 2009. Commissioner
Jeff Joy made a motion to approve the minutes and Commissioner John
Peters seconded the motion, motion carried.
REVIEW OF EXPENDITURES FOR JUNE 2009
After members reviewed the expenditures
from June, Commissioner Edward Molinsky made a motion to approve checks
6647 through 6690 and expenditures totaling $105,758.33.
Commissioner John Peters seconded that motion, motion carried.
CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Chairman Richard Buchanan advised if Glen Rock decides
to purchase services and they have a major incident that goes over 500
hours it would not be fair for the remaining boroughs to absorb the cost
because if one of the two boroughs would have a similar incident
Glen Rock would not be responsible to help absorb their costs.
There was also some discussion that if Glen Rock had a
catastrophic event that the State Police would handle that
investigation.
POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT:
During the month of May 2009 Officers
responded to 117 calls in Shrewsbury, 123 calls in New Freedom, 32 calls
at the Southern York County School District, 56 calls in Glen Rock, 9
calls in Railroad and 10 calls outside our jurisdiction.
During the month of May 512.28 hours
were spent in Shrewsbury, 371.25 were spent in New Freedom, 35.20 were
spent in the school district, 173.31 hours were spent in Glen Rock,
15.02 hours were spent in Railroad and 6.50 hours were spent outside our
jurisdiction.
Chief Childs received a letter from
Sergeant Geary informing him of his retirement.
His last working day is August 9th but will remain on
payroll until December 31st.
His retirement will officially start January 1, 2010.
Chief Childs requested to give a
Sergeant’s exam sometime in September.
The position must be posted a month prior and those wishing to
take the test must purchase their own books along with submitting either
a resume or a letter of intent to the Chief.
The Civil Service Commission will proctor the test which the
Chief will get through the PA Chiefs of Police Testing and Consulting
Firm. The written exam
counts for 70% of the total score and the oral boards are 30%.
The oral boards will be conducted by a panel from the PA Chiefs
of Police Testing and Consulting Firm consisting of members outside York
County. The person with the
highest score will then be appointed Sergeant beginning January 1, 2010.
Chief Childs explained that after
Sergeant Geary retires he will have 3 officers per shift.
One officer will work 6:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m., the second
officer will work 12:00 noon until 12:00 midnight and the third officer
will work 6:00 p.m. until 6:00 a.m.
There was some discussion regarding hiring another officer and
the Commission will make that decision after Glen Rock gives their final
decision.
Chief Childs met with Ron Stern
regarding the Peer-to-Peer study that New Freedom requested.
They should be able to do the study late this summer or the
beginning of fall. The Chief
will submit the letter of intent outlining what he wants studied because
Mr. Stern said that they have minimum time and dollars to do this study
so they cannot do everything.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
At 8:27 p.m. Chief Childs requested an executive session
to discuss personnel matters.
The executive session ended at 8:43 p.m.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
No committee reports.
FINANCE AND BUDGET
Chairman Richard Buchanan reported that the
department has received another insurance rebate check for the fourth
quarter of 2008 in the amount of $6,449.00.
FACILITIES AND EQUIPMENT
Chief Childs reported that the truck is
being picked up on Friday and he will post bids for the Expedition,
light bar and lap top computer.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT
Commissioner Molinsky distributed a copy of a letter
from Stock and Leader addressed to Tanya Crawford regarding the Southern
Regional Police Department Joint Municipal Agreement.
Solicitor Patterson explained that the municipalities must
mutually agree to allow Glen Rock to purchase services and that the
existing contract is good until Glen Rock pulls out and a new contract
is approved.
EXECUTIVE SESSION:
Solicitor Patterson requested an
executive session to discuss legal matters which started at 9:04 p.m.
The executive session ended at 9:15 p.m.
OLD BUSINESS
Commissioner Edward Molinsky wanted it
noted in the minutes that Administrative Assistant Patricia Miller
reported via email that all of February’s reports and minutes were
missing from the binder. She
did replace the reports but they will have June’s date on them.
NEW BUSINESS
Administrative Assistant Patricia Miller reported that
when calculating Sergeant Geary’s time, she discovered that in
compliance with the contract that the officers can carry over vacation
time with the approval of the Commission after submitting a letter
explaining why they did not use that time.
Sergeant Geary carried over 36 hours.
Commissioner Edward Molinsky made a motion to allow Sergeant
Geary to carry over his 36 hours and Commissioner John LaMartina
seconded that motion, motion carried.
Commissioner Jeff Joy asked if there are other officers that have
unused vacation.
Administrative Assistant Miller reported that when she reviewed this she
did look at the three other officers that will be able to retire in the
near future. Chief Childs
has a total of 4530 hours and when calculated at his current rate the
Commission would be responsible for $168, 606.60.
If the Commission pays him for only 40 hours of comp time they
would still owe him $127,813.48.
Detective Goodfellow has a total of 2728 hours and when
calculated at his current rate the Commission would owe him $81,840.00.
After some discussion it was determined that the Commission is
responsible for reviewing and approving the unused hours and only
allowing the officers to have 40 hours of comp time.
The contract also states that the Commission may pay an officer
for his unused vacation leave at the officer’s rate of pay in the
calendar year that the vacation is earned.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner John
Peters, seconded by Commissioner Jeff Joy to adjourn at 9:45 p.m.,
motion carried.
Respectfully submitted and recorded by
Patricia Ann Miller
Administrative Assistant
