Absence of police at meetings irks council

Police officers have not attended the meetings in a number of years.

By JOHN W. GOODWIN JR.

VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF

HUBBARD — City council members want a police officer to serve as sergeant at arms during council meetings, but some city officials say police department numbers make that a little difficult.

Council has stressed the fact that city ordinances say there is to be security at all council meetings — something that has not been provided in several years. In the last several weeks, council asked Safety Service Director John Battisti to look into the matter.

At a recent meeting with council, Battisti offered council several suggestions to getting security at the meetings. He said council could either pay an officer overtime to sit in on the meetings, which are held twice a month, hire a part-time officer to sit in on the meetings or hire private security.

The suggestions did not sit well with some members of council.

Councilman William Williams said those working for the city take far too lightly ordinances passed by council.

“This is in the ordinances; it is law. It is not a suggestion,” said Williams. “I get the feeling anymore that when we pass an ordinance or say something, it’s a joke. If people are not going to listen to us or pay attention, we will get your attention.”

Williams suggested to council that the total overtime cost for an officer to sit in on council meetings for one year be deducted from funds given to the safety service director and used to supply an officer for the meetings.

Pay, however, may not be the only problem in supplying an officer for the meetings.

Police Chief Marty Kanetsky has supplied a police department schedule to Battisti showing that the department is down two officers after two retirements in 2007, and has only two officers patrolling city streets during the times council meets. He also said the city, by contract, must have two officers on patrol.

“I just don’t see pulling one of the officers and leaving an officer on the road by himself,” he said.

Kanetsky did say he will look at trying to get a part-time officer to attend the meetings but said that is not guaranteed. He also said he could have a full-time officer attend the meetings, but that officer would have to leave the meeting if any call for service were to come in.

Both Kanetsky and Battisti said they are not sure when officers stopped serving as security for the meetings or why.

“It was never really enforced,” said Kanetsky. “When they had a problem with certain people, we would have a guy up there. We haven’t done it in a number of years.”

There are currently 13 full-time police officers and eight part time.

Battisti said many people do not know the full extent of duties placed on the police department, especially when the department is two officers down. He said council will have to decide how it wants to handle the situation.

“I gave them the options, and I guess it’s kind of up to them what they want to do,” he said.

jgoodwin@vindy.com