PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE

SEPTEMBER 17, 2001

COUNCIL CHAMBER

6:00 PM

Convened: 6:04 p.m.

Adjoined: 7:20 p.m.

 

Present were:      Chairman Councilor Joseph M. Petty

Councillor Stephen G. Abraham

Councillor Paul P. Clancy, Jr.

 

Also                      Police Chief, James Gallagher

Fire Chief, Gerard A. Dio

Assistant City Manager, Paul LaCava

Local 1009 President, Frank Raffa

Local 1007 Vice-President Donald Courtney

Collette Johnson, Director of Communications

Assistant City Clerk, Michael Dolan

 

 

         

          POLICE DEPARTMENT

 

          Communications of the City Manager

 

1.       Relative to assaults involving handguns and knives over the past five years in the City of Worcester.

          #20B CM  April 25, 2000

          In Committee - September 20, 2000 – Held

Recommend: File

 

2.       Relative to FY 00 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant.

          #8AA  CM  September 26, 2000

Recommend: File

 

3.       Relative to the City's award of $60,136.00 for the continuation of the FY 2001 Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant (JAIBG) program.

          #8DD  CM  October 3, 2000

Recommend: File

                            

4.       Relative to the City's award of $13,000.00 for the FY 2001 Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Program.

          #8BB CM  October 31, 2000

Recommend: File

 

5.       Relative to the award of $787,000.00 in FY 2001 Community Policing funds from the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety.

          #8FF CM  November 21, 2000

Recommend: File

         

6.       Recommending that $215,011.00 be raised and appropriated into Account #270-93000 Communications Capital Account.  Funds for this recommendation will be derived from using $215,011.00 in unclaimed Drug Seizure Funds.  This appropriation will be used to fund the overall upgrade of the two microwave dishes on top of the Police Department Headquarters and Skyline Dr.

In City Council November 21, 2000 #13 CC - Order Adopted

In Committee for Informational Purposes Only

Recommend: File

 

7.       Recommending that $150,000.00 be transferred when and as received from Account #91C780, Capital Equipment and appropriated to Account #25C701, Police Department Capital Equipment.  This recommendation coupled with a portion of the anticipated $57,000.00 in Federal Reimbursement funds for Police Vests will be used to fund the enclosed items. The repair or replacement of these items are described as in the attached report from Police Chief Gallagher.   Furthermore, Chief Gallagher indicates that once Federal and State monies for the vests are received, a funding plan to proceed with Phase 1 of the cell room rehabilitation and repair project will be forwarded to the Council for approval.

In City Council November 21, 2000 #28D CM - Order Adopted

In Committee for Informational Purposes Only

Recommend: File

 

8.       Relative to developing a Challenge Grant Program with Law Enforcement Block Grant Funds.

          #8EE CM  December 19, 2000

Recommend: File

 

9.       Relative to LLEBG to fund traffic control around schools.

          #8FF CM  December 19, 2000

Recommend: File

 

10.     Relative to Community Development Block Grant Funds, evaluation process of CDBG and LLEBG Funds, and Goals and Objectives of organizations receiving Community Development Block Grant Funds.

#18B CM  May 15, 2001

Recommend: File

 

11.     Relative to FY 01 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant Round VI Award and process timeline.

          #18D CM  August 21, 2001

Recommend: File

 

12.     Relative to landlord training/CMHA.

          #18C CM April 24, 2001

Recommend: File

 

13.             Relative to Park & Walk frequency.

#20A CM  December 5, 2000

Recommend: File

 

14.     Relative to implementing a Park & Walk Program.

          #20A CM  January 2, 2001

Recommend: File

 

15.         Relative to new police class in February of 2001.

          #14A CM  October 17, 2000

Recommend: File

 

16.     Relative to staffing levels in the Police Department.

          #20A CM March 20, 2001

Recommend: File

 

17.     Relative to ideal period for manning a police class and the cost.

          #20B CM  June 19, 2001

Recommend: File

 

18.     Relative to the number of uniformed police officers versus plain clothes police officers over the past year.

#20A CM  July 17, 2001

Recommend: File

 

19.     Relative to hiring additional officers for Traffic Division.

#20G CM  July 17, 2001

Recommend: File

 

20.     Relative to number of assigned personnel on sick leave, I.O.D., military or other leave during the past year.

          #20H CM  August 21, 2001

Recommend: File

 

 Chairman’s Order: Request the Worcester Fire Department and Worcester Police Department to provide a report relative the number of vacant personnel positions and personnel in the military reserves.

 

21.     Relative to estimate of overtime budget. (Police Dept.)

#20B CM July 17, 2001

Recommend: File

 

22.     Relative to crime statistics in the Green Island/Vernon Hill Crime Watch Area.

          #20A CM May 1, 2001

Recommend: File

 

23.     Relative to New England Outlaw Motorcycle Gang Task Force (NEOMGTF).

          #20A CM  May 29, 2001

Recommend: File

 

24.     Relative to brochures of “The Human Rights Commission” and “Your Rights If Stopped By The Police”.

          #15A CM February 27, 2001

Recommend: File

 

25.     Relative to the posting of johns and prostitutes pictures.

          #6 CC  October 17, 2000

Recommend: File

 

26.     Relative to comprehensive report on prostitution.

          #20E CM  October 17, 2000

Recommend: File

 

27.     Relative to enforcing laws on prostitution from Webster Square to Madison St.

          #20 CC CM  October 17, 2000

Recommend: File

 

Orders

 

28.     Mayor Mariano – Request Public Safety Committee work with the City Administration to find community based strategies to respond and additionally to look at ways to publicize the name, photos, and addresses of those individuals convicted of crimes involving prostitution.

          #20a CC October 17, 2000

Recommend: Hold

 

29.     Councillor Luster – Request that when Policy & Procedure Manual for the Internal Affairs Division of the Worcester Police Department comes back, after consideration by Administration to delete from and including the fourth paragraph, second sentence up to and including the seventh paragraph, first sentence of the section “Who may complain and how” that the Administration also consider incorporating the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission.

#8ii CC February 29, 2000

          In Committee – September 20, 2000 – Held

Recommend: File

 

Chairman’s Order: Request the Worcester Police Department to provide an updated report on the Policy and Procedure Manual for the Internal Affairs Division, and to provide copies of the Manual upon its completion.

 

30.     Councillor Luster – If the deletion of the fourth paragraph, second sentence up to and including the seventh paragraph, first sentence of the section “Who may complain and how” of the Policy and Procedure Manual for the Internal Affairs Division of the Worcester Police Department and inclusion of the recommendations of the Human Rights Commission are not incorporated in the final recommended policy, that City Council receive a report from Administration explaining why they choose not to take those recommendations.

#8jj CC  February 29, 2000

          In Committee – September 20, 2000 – Held

Recommend: File

 

31.     Councillor  Murray Request Administration or the Public Safety Committee to come up with criteria for the remainder of the year and set a process in place where Crime Watch groups are notified of money available through the Challenge Grant Program with Law Enforcement Block Grant funds.

          #7r CC December 19, 2000

Recommend: File

 

Communications

 

32.     James DelSignore, City Auditor transmitting report prepared by KPMG concerning certain activities of the office that oversees Police off-duty details.

           #134 CC  August 22, 2000

          In Committee – September 20, 2000 – Held

Recommend: Hold

 

 

          FIRE DEPARTMENT

 

          Communications of the City Manager

 

33.     Relative to a report on abandoned/vacant properties.

          #4E CM  November 14, 2000

Recommend: File

 

Chairman’s Order: Request the City Administration to provide a comprehensive quarterly report on number of abandoned properties versus vacant properties, including property owned by the City of Worcester and the City Council District in which they are located. 

 

34.     Relative to the implementation status of the recommendations made by the Community Task Force on vacant and abandoned buildings.

          #30A CM  February 27, 2001

Recommend: File

 

35.     Relative to insurance requirements of the Abandoned Building Ordinance.

          #16B CM  May 15, 2001

Recommend: File

 

          MISCELLANEOUS

 

36.         Chairman's Order from Finance Committee - That the Committees on Public Works, Traffic & Parking, Education, Youth, Parks & Recreation, Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization and Public Safety bring back to City Council, in increments of $100,000, not to exceed $250,000, recommendations for capital projects.

          In City Council  June 19, 2001

Recommend: Hold

 

37.     Mayor Mariano - Request Standing Committees on Public Works, Traffic & Parking, Education, Youth, Parks & Recreation, Housing & Neighborhood Revitalization and Public Safety to submit to City Council by October 1st their recommendations for capital projects in increments of $100,000 not to exceed $250,000 as voted by City Council at the June 19, 2001 City Council meeting.

          In City Council August 21, 2001

Recommend: Hold