Southern Police Commission
Monthly Meeting
May 5, 2010
A public meeting of the Southern Police Commission
was held on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at the New Freedom Borough Council
Chambers, 49 East High Street, New Freedom PA 17349.
Those present: Richard Buchanan
Chairman, John Peters Commissioner, John LaMartina Commissioner, Jeff
Joy Commissioner, Jeff Halapin Commissioner, James C. Childs, III Chief
of Police, Edward Tinder Commissioner Peter Schnabel Commissioner,
Ronald McCullough Commissioner, Richard Zambito Commissioner and
Solicitor Clarence Allen.
Those absent: James C. Childs, III
Chairman Richard Buchanan called the
meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Pledge of Allegiance
PUBLIC COMMENTS:
Edward Molinsky thanked the Police
Commission for the plaque for his years of service on the Police
Commission.
Council member Douglas Young from Glen
Rock Borough gave a copy of a letter from Glen Rock Borough Council to
each commission member regarding a personnel issue.
After the commission members reviewed the letter they decided
that they would further discuss this issue during an executive session.
APPROVAL
OF THE MINUTES OF APRIL 21, 2010
Chairman Richard Buchanan asked for a motion to
approve the minutes of April 21, 2010. After
reviewing the minutes Chairman Buchanan asked that the last sentence in
the first paragraph of the Chairman’s Announcements be deleted.
Commissioner Edward Tinder made a motion to approve the minutes
after the above mentioned sentence is deleted, seconded by Commissioner
John LaMartina.
Commissioners Peter Schnabel and Richard Zambito abstained from voting
because they were not present for April’s meeting.
Motion carried.
REVIEW OF EXPENDITURES FOR APRIL 2010
Commissioner Jeff Joy asked about check number 7115
and Administrative Assistant Patricia Miller explained that it was for
the purchase of “No Parking” signs for a total of $265.37.
After members reviewed the expenditures from April,
Commissioner John LaMartina made a motion to approve checks 7100 through
7164 and expenditures totaling $129,401.13.
Commissioner Jeff Joy seconded that motion, motion carried.
CHAIRMAN’S ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Chairman Richard Buchanan announced that there will
be an executive session at the end of the meeting.
Chairman Richard Buchanan talked to Ron Stern about
the Peer to Peer study and he agreed to attend the June 2nd
meeting so he can get a better understanding what the Commission is
looking for when the study is conducted.
Commissioner Jeff Halapin distributed copies of
Peer to Peer studies which were conducted for Southwestern Regional
Police Department and Gettysburg Borough Police Department.
Chairman Richard Buchanan gave an overview of the
reserve funds and what they are earmarked for.
He also explained that approximately $29,000 is still needed to
put in the Paid Time Off funds which includes vacation, holidays,
personal days, sick leave and comp time which is owed to officers when
they retire. Half of this
$29,000 will be put in this account during the second quarter of this
year and the remaining half will be deposited during the third quarter.
He went on to explain that on line 222.000 of the Balance Sheet
the Compensated Absences Liability in the amount of $52,185.13 is a
figure the auditors came up with to reimburse officers for their sick
leave based on 2008’s statistics.
POLICE CHIEF’S REPORT:
Chairman Richard Buchanan reviewed the Chief’s
report and pointed out that Glen Rock’s calls are down and that the
arrests made during a certain month do not necessarily show up on the
same month’s report. He also
pointed out that there were 29 citations and 30 written warnings given
out in Shrewsbury during the month of March.
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
No Committee reports.
FINANCE AND BUDGET
Chairman Richard Buchanan explained that Glen Rock,
Railroad and the School District are below the budget figure because the
checks have not been deposited to those accounts.
Overtime is over budget along with supplies, dues and
subscriptions, capital equipment, unemployment compensation and worker’s
compensation. Some of these
are over budget because the payments are made at the beginning of the
year and by the end of the year they will be within the budgeted
allowance.
Chairman Richard Buchanan reminded everyone that
July’s meeting will be held on the 21st and that during the
months of August and September there will be additional budget meetings
on the third Wednesday of each of these months.
FACILITIES
AND EQUIPMENT
No facilities and equipment report.
SOLICITOR’S REPORT
No solicitor’s report.
OLD BUSINESS
No old business.
NEW BUSINESS
After reviewing the cell phone bills, Commissioner
Jeff Halapin explained that the costs of Detective Goodfellow’s and
Chief Childs’ phones are substantially higher than everyone else’s phone
bill. He also pointed out
that the Chief and Detective Goodfellow both have iPhones.
After a lengthy discussion it was decided that the Chief give the
Commission a copy of the cell phone policy and the Commission will
review it to get a better understanding of how the cell phones are used.
Solicitor Allen suggested that the commission examine misuse
versus costs and then develop a policy.
The Commission will review this at when all the information is
received. Lucy Cadwallader
expressed concern that when they make any decisions to keep the
taxpayers in mind.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
An executive session was called to order at 8:45
p.m. and ended at 10:40 p.m.
Following the executive session Commissioner
Richard Zambito made a motion to place Chief James C. Childs, III on
administrative leave pending an investigation conducted by the Southern
Police Commission. The
motion was seconded by Commissioner Jeff Halapin, motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Jeff Joy,
seconded by Commissioner Jeff Halapin to adjourn at 10:45 p.m., motion
carried.
Respectfully submitted and recorded by
Patricia Ann Miller
Administrative Assistant
