10-07-83 Safety Comm MinutesThe Safety Committee met on Friday, October 7, 1983 at 11:00 A.M. In attendance were
Chairman Howard Grainger, Councilmen Gayle Vidal and Paul Palmer, Police Chief Martin
Stefanic, Fire Chief Gene Doty, Assistant Fire Chief Duane Larson, Officer Dan Bourne
and two representatives from Roy Stanley Chevrolet.
Chairman Grainger reported that bids for two 1984 police cars have been received.
Alternatives included trade ins of none, one and two cars. Options considered were
based on trade in of one 1978 and one 1980 Plymouth Volare. The Roy Stanley bid of
$17,979.98 with this trade in option was the lowest. Tannehill Auto bid was $20,914.00
for both. The Roy Stanley salesmen assured the committee of their interest in govern-
ment bids.
Chief Stefanic stated that specs were given with bids and in his estimation, it did
not make much difference which vehicles were selected but stated that if model and
make are different than present police vehicles, adjustments may be needed for fitting
prisoner cage, etc. He stated that uniformity in the interior of police cars is im-
portant. It is too distracting for officers to change from one car to another when
radio, siren, etc. are located differently in each. He recommended purchase of the
cars from Roy Stanley.
Councilman Palmer moved to recommend to Council the purchase of the two cars, with
trade in of the 1978 and 1980 Volares, for a total of $17,979.98 from Roy Stanley.
Seconded by Councilman Vidal.
Chairman Grainger will instruct the Clerk -Treasurer to return the bank money order to
Tannehill Auto Center and instructed Chief Stefanic to proceed with the purchase.
Chief Stefanic stated that his department has a budgetary overtime problem. The bulk
of that budget has been cut from the original request of $16,000 to $14,000 and finally
to $10,000. He states that the department has already expended 65% of the budget and
at this point, three months into the fiscal year, it should be around 24%. He antici-
pated that the entire budget for overtime will be exhausted in the next 2 to 3 months
and wants to address the problem now. He suggested that the $6,000 needed be taken
from the unfilled DPW position salary or that other monies be transferred into the
budget.
Chairman Grainger asked what the cause of the problem was and was told that the Gover-
nor's Convention required 66 overtime hours and that was taken from this year's rather
than last year's budget. The reason for this was that it occured after the monthly
cut off dat of the 20th. Also, an unusual amount of sick leave was used. Two offi-
cers were injured in August. 117 hours were used in special investigations or court
proceedings, such as the Paisley trial, with more to come. Both officers and dis-
patchers have been involved with overtime due to sick leave. Current schedules of
workdays also effect overtime. The Chief has met with his staff in two meetings re-
garding overtime problems.
Councilman Palmer stated his appreciation of the Chief's calling this to Council
attention at this time.
The budget problem has been discussed with the Finance Committee Chairman and he
advises that M&O funds cannot be transferred to augment salaries.
Chief Stefanic said that the union contract requires 24 hours notice for shift changes
but his men have been allowing adjustment without such notice if there is not a con-
flict :in plans. He anticipates that uncontrollables and injuries will not require so
much overtime for the rest of the year.
Chairman Grainger asked if there were particular offenders of using sick leave and
was told that two officers used more than others--10 to 13 days this calendar year --
neither has a disability. One complains of being "too stressed out".
Officer Bourne stated that the Association is aware of the problem; officers have
met with the Chief in an effort to help in any way possible. It is impossible to
verify called in sick leave days; manpower is at bottom as is.
Councilman Vidal asked if there was not a way to informally address the problem.
Councilman Palmer said that one of his biggest concerns is to leave the Police Dept.
as full as possible. If sick leave is a chronic problem, options such as considera-
tion of referring felonies to the county should be explored.
Chief Stefanie suggested the possibility of using the $3,000 not needed for the car
bids, stated that adjustments could be made on the Assistant Chief's vehicle, and
again, the salary of DPW not being expended.
Councilman Grainger will take the request for $6,000 additional overtime funding to
the Council for consideration and will check back with the Chief.
Fire Department:
Chief Doty stated that vehicle discussion for his department has gone on for some
time now, one vehicle is totally shot. A vehicle replacement fund, established 6-7
years ago, has never been used. The fund now totals around $18,000.00.
Chief Doty has been pricing new vehicles at the request of Mayor McDowell and Council-
man Grainger. GMC has the lowest prices with tradein of the Fire Department pickups,
two vehicles cost would be $14,393.00. Roy Stanley's price is $14,433.00, both
Tannehil and DePratu: $16,000.+. He stated that Rygg Ford -after all this time is not
interested.
$10,000 is budget for buying vehicles but feels that new vehicles would be less worry
than buying used ones. Chief Doty requests an additional $4,000-$5,000.
Councilman Vidal moved to recommend as committee to the Council the purchase of two
new vehicles. Seconded by Councilman Palmer. Advertisement for bids set for October
17th Council meeting.
Meeting adjourned at 12:00.