The Brattleboro Citizen Police Communications Committee (CPCC) will meet on Monday, August 25, 2014 at 5:30pm in the Community Room at the Brooks Memorial Library.
Jan Anderson
Executive Secretary
Brattleboro Town Manager’s Office
(802) 251-8100
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CPCC Meeting
July 28, 2014
5:30 pm, Brooks Memorial Library, Main Street, Brattleboro
1. Call to Order & Quorum Check: Tristan Toleno called the meeting to order. Committee members James Banslaben, Robyn Flatley, Georgia Morgan, and Ann Wright were present. Terry Carter and Acting Captain Fitzgerald were also in attendance.
2. Agenda Review: Added – Clarification of the VT Supreme Court ruling on DNA collection and an update by Terry Carter on attempts to bring additional dog-handling training to the Brattleboro police department.
3. Approval of Previous Meeting Minutes: The June minutes were approved as written.
4. Review Open Meeting Law: Tristan Toleno reviewed the changes in the new law that most impact the CPCC. Ann Wright reminded it was suggested last month that in the bylaw update, section numbers of the new statute that define procedure be referred to; e.g., Executive Session.
5. New Business:
a. DNA collection: Acting Chief (AC) Fitzgerald clarified that under the new Vermont law, DNA cannot be collected unless a person has been convicted of a felony.
b. CPCC handbook:
i. AC Fitzgerald will let Ann know if the 10 to 12 policies/procedures officers encounter most often are available electronically. The need to ensure that police policies are replaced timely when they are updated was discussed.
ii. James Banslaben will ask Jan Anderson if she has access to the brief history and formation of the CPCC that former town manager Barbara Sondag wrote.
iii. A warned meeting will be scheduled to work on the bylaws and reviewing the mission statement for the handbook.
6. Unfinished business: None
7. Public Participation:
a. Dog-handling training: Terry Carter explained for new committee members that she’s been working to bring training in how to handle dogs to the Brattleboro police department as a result of the 2012 dog shooting on Green Street school’s playground. She thought she was close in accomplishing this, but her contacts both at the police academy and the humane society have not responded to her communications recently. Terry expressed frustration; she sees an important need for training, especially given the reduction of hours in the animal control officer’s position due to budget cuts and, for an unrelated matter, the animal control officer isn’t currently working. AC Fitzgerald said during this time officers respond to calls, as they always have when the animal control officer is not on duty, to which Terry expressed grave concern. It was acknowledged that more training is always a good thing, but as budgets shrink resources get stretched. It was suggested that Terry also talk to the Selectboard, as the CPCC has no budget authority. There will be an update next month about the animal control officer by AC Fitzgerald and from Terry about funding for training officers in dog handling.
8. James Banslaben reported that there were no complaints filed in the past month. AC Fitzgerald said to expect one or two by the August meeting.
CPCC Agenda
August 25, 2014
5:30 p.m., Brooks Memorial Library
1. Call to order & Quorum check
2. Agenda review
3. Approval of previous meeting notes
4. Complaints/Compliments Report
5. New business
6. Unfinished Business:
a. CPCC handbook work (bylaws, mission statement, etc.)
b. Animal control officer status
7. Public participation
a. Dog-handling training
