Town of Bristol

Board of Selectmen

Minutes of 5-1-08 worksession

Members Present: Don Milbrand (DM), Paul Fraser (PF), Bruce Van Derven (BVD), Joe Denning (JD), Town Manager Elizabeth Corrow

Others present-Chief Clark, Lt. Lewis, Sergeant Dupris

Members of the police building committee present- Chris Dolloff, Monique Abear, Steve Favorite, and Architect-Paul Mirski

Vice-Chairman Paul Fraser called the Work session to order at 7:00pm.

Selectmen Fraser explained that the purpose of today’s work session is to discuss ways in which the town may temporally minimize liability concerns in the existing police building structure. He further explained that today’s work session is a discussion among the board members with members from the police department and police building committee. Lastly, he explained that the purpose of today’s work session is not to discuss a new facility.

Sergeant Dupris reviewed the results of a recent inspection conducted by Rich Neilson from the state in regards to how juveniles are processed. Mr. Neilson reviewed our record keeping procedures and found no issues. He did make some suggestions in regard to our log. He then reviewed our booking facility. By state statute adults have to be kept sound and site separated from juveniles. Juveniles who have not committed a crime are far less restricted but still require oversight at all times. A police officer must sit with them until a parent arrives, these juveniles cannot be put into a secured facility. Mr. Neilson toured the rest of our facility and Sergeant Dupris showed him the plans we had this past town meeting as our attempt to correct the problem.

Selectmen Fraser stated that today we are looking at ways to address the separation of juveniles and adults, address the question of booking space, and improve egress and access to the building for the police office, the public and detainees. Today’s discussion is a focused discussion on the modifications necessary to the existing space to address these three issues.

Chief Clark suggested a Marshall’s cage in the booking area, turning the staff room into an interview room, splitting this meeting room in half (larger meetings will need to be held at a different location), making a locker area with a shower in the bathroom on the PD side of the building, moving the prosecutor’s office into the welfare office, and look at doing something with the stair well-possibly a sally port that could later be turned into storage or vault space for the town office. Chief Clark reiterated that these are only temporary solutions.

Selectman Fraser stated that he wanted to get these ideas on the table and hear from members of the police building committee as well.

Chris Dolloff, chair of the police building committee, stated that he didn’t believe this discussion has anything to do with the committee. He stated that he felt it is up to the Selectboard, town manager and police department, to address.

Selectman Fraser asked Lt. Lewis to get the board some numbers to address these three issues by next Thursday.

Selectman Van Derven clarified that he was taking the Chiefs comments as a recommendation and asked if the chief had discussed them with our insurance carrier (LGC).

The Chief replied in the affirmative and stated they have indicated a willingness to work with us as long as we are attempting to address the issues.

Selectman Denning was concerned about cutting down on the effectiveness of operations if you cram people upstairs and mentioned that he had spoke with John Greenan about his building and felt we ought to consider town offices moving to that building.

Selectman Fraser clarified that the only movement of office staff was the welfare office.

Lt. Lewis stated that he will provide the numbers for the next meeting. He also stated that he realizes we are not here tonight to talk about a new building but a year from now we will be proposing a new plan. Lt. Lewis urged the public to get involved and stay involved and to not wait until March 10^th to ask questions of the police chief, the Lieutenant or the chair of the committee.

Selectman Van Derven stated that we are here to tonight to solve a very discreet problem. Selectman Van Derven moved approval of the recommendation for the cage, the locker space, the wall dividing the meeting room and to have the police dept come back with numbers on a sally port, Selectman Denning seconded the motion.

Chief Clark discussed the sally port would involve changing the stairway into a ramp and include the removal of a couple of trees.

Lt. Lewis discussed the sally port as more of a lean to, where we would grade it off, put in some drainage and provide for a better slope.

Selectman Van Derven moved the question.

Motion to approve the recommendation for the cage, the locker space, the wall dividing the meeting room and to have the police department come back with numbers for a sally port was approved; vote 4:0.

Mr. Van Derven made a motion to enter non-public session under RSA 91-A:3 II(c) seconded by Mr. Denning: roll call vote taken all members agreed to enter into non-public session.  At 7:50 PM the BOS entered a non-public session.

Motion to return to public session made by Mr. Milbrand, seconded by Mr. Fraser; vote was unanimous.

Motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Paul Fraser; seconded by Mr. Don Milbrand; vote was unanimous.

The meeting was adjourned at 8:45pm

Respectfully submitted,

Elizabeth Corrow

Town Manager

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Richard Alpers, Chairman                                   Paul Fraser, Vice Chairman

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Joe Denning                                                            Donald Milbrand

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Bruce Van Derven