NEWNGTON POLICE COMMISSION

MINUTES

There was a meeting of the Newington Police Commissioners on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. at the police department.

PRESENT:  Commissioner Steve Prefontaine, Commissioner F. Jackson Hoyt, Commissioner Kenneth Latchaw, Chief Michael Bilodeau and Diana St. Laurent.

I

CALL TO ORDER

Chairman Prefontaine called the meeting to order at 4:10 p.m.

II

MINUTES OF MEETINGS

On a MOTION by Commissioner Prefontaine and seconded by Commissioner Hoyt, the Commissioners voted to accept the minutes from the August 1, 2017 meeting as written.

On a MOTION by Commissioner Prefontaine and seconded by Commissioner Hoyt, the Commissioners voted to seal the minutes indefinitely from the Non-Public Session on August 29, 2017.

III

POLICE COMMISSION INFORMATION

1. Staff Update –  1. Full-Time Candidate – The Commissioners were introduced to the new full-time candidate, Greg Cooper. Officer Cooper was interviewed by the Commissioners. Chief Bilodeau told the Commissioners that Officer Cooper worked for Wolfeboro PD and is currently a Sergeant with the Tamworth police department; he worked 11 years as the school resource officer and has approximately 13 years of police experience.  The Chief said he would like to have Cooper in uniform and doing field training by the beginning of October 2017.  On a MOTION by Commissioner Prefontaine and seconded by Commissioner Hoyt, the Commissioners voted unanimously to hire Greg Cooper as a full-time patrolman, pending his successful completion of the background investigation, polygraph, and psychological exam, and that Cooper would be started at Step 5 of the Patrolman’s pay scale and begin employment on October 3, 2017.
2. Sergeant’s Appointment – Officer Brandon D. Smart took the Oath of Office, administered by Chief Bilodeau, as the department’s new Patrol Supervisor.

On a MOTION by Commissioner Prefontaine and seconded by Commissioner Hoyt, the Commissioners voted unanimously to start Sergeant Smart at Step 1 of the Sergeant’s pay scale.

1. Other Police Commission Business –
2. The Commissioners reviewed and signed the purchase order file.
3. The Commissioners reviewed the 2017 budget print-out.

IV

OLD BUSINESS

Commissioner Latchaw expressed his thoughts on the warrant article for a revolving account according to RSA 31:95-h – Revolving Funds. There was discussion and a determination that the Chief and Mrs. St. Laurent will look into whether other departments in Newington have accounts set up according to the RSA.

V

NEW BUSINESS

The Chief told the Commissioners that the Selectmen want to meet on October 30, 2017 to review the proposed 2018 budget figures. The Chief and the Commissioners discussed the operating budget briefly for 2018 and some proposed additions the Chief will need to make, to include expenses for the CALEA accreditation. The Chief told the Commissioners that all the tasers need to be replaced due to age and the tasers are outdated and no longer available for purchase. It was pointed out that there has been no increase in the police department operating budget for several years.

The Commissioners were told that on September 15, 2017 the upstairs meeting room is going to be dedicated to Retired Chief Stimson and named “The John K. Stimson Emergency Operations Center and Training Room. The time has not been determined yet. We are waiting to see what time Chief Stimson will be able to attend the dedication.

The Chief told the Commissioners that the annual Sunset Road Race is this coming weekend.

No Non-Public Session.

VI

NEXT MEETING DATE/TIME/LOCATION

The next meeting of the Police Commissioners is scheduled for October 3, 2017 at 4:00 p.m. at the police department.

VII

ADJOURNMENT

On a MOTION by Commissioner Prefontaine and seconded by Commissioner Hoyt, the Commissioners voted unanimously to adjourn at 5:17 p.m.

For Kenneth Latchaw, Secretary

by Diana St. Laurent