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Health Welfare and Public
Safety Committee Actions
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CITY OF NORWALK
HEALTH, WELFARE & PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
JUNE 28, 2007
ATTENDANCE: Rev. Phyllis Bolden, Chair; Doug Sutton; Joanne Romano; Kevin Poruban.
STAFF: Tim Callahan, Health Department Director; Chief McCarthy, Fire Department.
OTHERS: Diane Lauricella; Jaime Cahill, Reverse 911; Jennifer Lord, Norwalk Hospital.
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by the Chair.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF FEBRUARY 22, 2007
** MR. SUTTON MOVED TO APPROVE THE MINUTES AS DISTRIBUTED.
** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE ABSTENTION (MR. PORUBAN).
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
GRANTS
Mr. Callahan explained the Champions for Healthy Kids Grant from General Mills.
** MS. ROMANO MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, RICHARD A. MOCCIA, TO EXECUTE ANY
AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS FROM GENERAL
MILLS FOR THE CHAMPIONS FOR HEALTHY KIDS, HAPPY KIDS PROGRAM AND TO AUTHORIZE
THE MAYOR, RICHARD A. MOCCIA, TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL AGREEMENTS, DOCUMENTS,
INSTRUMENTS OR AMENDMENTS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE CHAMPIONS FOR
HEALTHY KIDS, HAPPY KIDS PROGRAM.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Mr. Callahan reviewed the Preventive Health Block Grant 2007/08 for $14,3459, a partnership with Stew Leonards.
** MR. PORUBAN MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, RICHARD A. MOCCIA, TO EXECUTE
ANY AND ALL DOCUMENTS NECESSARY TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT GRANT FUNDS FROM THE
CONNECTICUT DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH FOR THE PREVENTATIVE HEALTH BLOCK GRANT
FOR THE PERIOD JULY 1, 2007 TO JUNE 30, 2008 AND TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, RICHARD
A. MOCCIA TO EXECUTE ANY AND ALL AGREEMENTS, DOCUMENTS, INSTRUMENTS OR AMENDMENTS
AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO IMPLEMENT THE PREVENTATIVE HEALTH BLOCK GRANT FOR THE
PERIOD JULY 1, 2007 TO JUNE 30, 2008.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
FIRE DEPARTMENT
REVERSE 911
Chief McCarthy said that the City, through the Department of Homeland Security grant program, would like to acquire this program. They had planned to do this regionally and developed an RFP, but the state decided to make it a state-wide project. Unfortunately, that added two years to the project. The state went out to bid and selected Reverse 911. The state signed the contracts and made it available to each community. Funding will come through Homeland Security funds. The system will allow them to generate phone calls giving detailed information to each resident in the community. Residents can add on other devices so that they can be notified. Eventually, the data base will be available to the city. When the system is put in place, Karen DelVecchio will manage it. This is part of a system of emergency notification, but not the only way. They will maintain the ability to make sure that information will very quickly go to all of the media outlets and other methods to disseminate information (police and fire). They are very happy with the product. IT will manage the infrastructure. Because of the delay, the cost is 25% or more lower than what they had anticipated as regional. The only charges yet to be determined are some of the phone line charges.
Ms. Cahill said this is another tool in the toolbox; not the only solution. They don’t go into cable boxes. They will help educate the public. Media can be used to heighten panic.
Ms. Cahill and Chief McCarthy reviewed model options. Ms. Cahill noted that they are the only vendor approved by the state.
Ms. Romano asked about the hearing impaired, and Ms. Cahill said they are TTY compatible. Chief McCarthy said they will also be able to send messages in different languages.
Chief McCarthy reviewed the mobilization process.
Mr. Poruban said he was opposed to this under Alex Knopp’s administration. He thinks the way to go is alert sirens. Ms. Cahill said their company is geared toward public safety, not politics. Mr. Poruban asked what they get for $77,000. Chief McCarthy said it gets the software, installation, training, mobilization, plus, as needed, 5 years of staff support. Mr. Poruban asked the capacity of the computer for outgoing phone calls. Ms. Cahill said mass call is optional. It can make 100,000 calls in 10 minutes. The City has not chosen this. It costs 20 cents per call. This can be reimbursed by FEMA.
Mr. Poruban said there are six different exchanges in Norwalk. There are 640,000 phone calls. Ms. Cahill said Telcom said you can take the population, cut it in half and that is the number of residential phones. In businesses, they would get the key numbers and notify them, not each person. You can also choose to notify just residential or just businesses.
Mr. Poruban asked how they identify a business or a residence. Ms. Cahill said they provide a commercial data base and they encourage educating the public to submit their phone numbers. Ms. Cahill said she would provide Mr. Poruban with a call volume sheet.
Mr. Poruban asked if why they were not getting mass call. Chief McCarthy said that was Ms. DelVecchio’s decision, and Ms. Cahill noted that was optional and can be added. The cost would be approximately $8,000.
Discussion took place on what would happen in the event of a twister. Mr. Poruban said he would prefer an alert call rather than the mass call. Ms. Cahill said there is no solution that is 100% effective.
Jennifer Lord, Norwalk Hospital, asked if there was a disaster in the town where Reverse 911’s headquarters are, what would happen? Ms. Cahill said they have multiple call centers and they are based geographically.
Diane Lauricella, speaking for the League of Women Voters, said this is a very good tool. She asked if the Council had been told about training. Ms. Cahill said it is a two-day training program. They have continual web training as well on Fridays. Ms. Lauricella asked about training citizens. Ms. Cahill said they can write up educational pieces if requested. It is in the current contract. Ms. Lauricella asked who issues the public information. Chief McCarthy said any message that is given needs to be recognized as an authority. Tad Diesel is the Public Information Officer, but he would not always be the spokesperson.
Ms. Lauricella said only two sirens work. They feel it is important for this to be discussed fully in terms of whether or not they should be fixed. They need to know how many people have cable phones, portable phones, etc. Chief McCarthy said the cost of additional sirens would be very high; this is a very expensive item.
The Chair suggested that the LWV hold a forum with Chief McCarthy.
Mr. Sutton asked if anyone has visited a nearby town that has this system. Ms.
Cahill said they are in Trumbull and Darien just came on board. Trumbull and
Guilford and East Haven have used this. Chief McCarthy said he has spoken to
the Chief of East Haven and they have used it extensively.
Mr. Sutton asked about the stability of Reverse 911. Ms. Cahill said they have been in business for ten years. She has worked for them for five years and they have doubled in revenue each year.
Ms. Romano asked if this system integrates with the Amber Alert; Ms. Cahill said it does not.
Discussion took place on how many phone calls would be made to all of the phones in a household.
The Chair suggested they put the issue of the sirens on the next agenda.
Ms. Cahill said Reverse 911 has a survey option, and maybe the question should be put onto the survey.
Ms. Romano asked if there would be more grant funding available at the end of five years. Chief McCarthy said the region will receive money starting in 2007.
Mr. Poruban asked how many phone lines Norwalk would be getting, and Ms. Cahill said it would be 24. Mr. Poruban asked how much additional it would cost per month for the phone lines. Chief McCarthy said he did not know. Mr. Poruban said he wanted to talk to Ms. DelVecchio. Chief McCarthy will provide information at the Council meeting.
Ms. Cahill suggested that businesses might want to make contributions to the mass call. Ms. Romano said she agreed with Mr. Poruban on the need for mass call.
Mr. Poruban said 24 phone lines at a business rate would be $11,520 per year.
Chief McCarthy said they want this in place before hurricane season.
** MS. ROMANO MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE MAYOR, RICHARD A. MOCCIA, TO EXECUTE AN
AGREEMENT WITH REVERSE 911 TO PROVIDE A REVERSE 911 TELEPHONE SYSTEM PLUS TRAINING
AND SUPPORT FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $77.680.
** MOTION PASSED WITH ONE ABSTENTION (MR. PORUBAN).
FITNESS EQUIPMENT
** MR. SUTTON MOVED TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASING AGENT TO ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER
TO LIFE FITNESS, 5100 NORTH RIVER ROAD, SCHILLER PARK, IL. TO PURCHASE SEVEN
MODEL 95Xi ELLIPTICAL CROSS TRAINERS, FOR A PRICE NOT TO EXCEED $24,276.21 (ACCOUNT
NO. 35311725251 – FEMA AFG FUNDS - $19,420.97 & OPERATING ACCOUNT 013120-5741
- $4855.24) & TO AUTHORIZE THE PURCHASING AGENT TO ISSUE A PURCHASE ORDER
TO NAUTILUS GSA, 6465 DUNBARTON DRIVE, HUDSON, OH. 44236 TO PURCHASE FIVE NAUTILUS
NS 4000 MULTI STATION WEIGHT MACHINES AND FICVE STAIRMASTER 7000 PTX STEPMILLS,
FOR A PRICE NOT TO EXCEED $49,610 ($39,688 FROM FEMA AFG FUNDS – ACCOUNT NO.
35311725251 AND $9,922 FROM CITY OPERATING ACOUNT 013120-5751).
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
POLICE DEPARTMENT
The Chair read Chief Rilling’s memo:
1. Camera System
During the past several weeks, I conducted three separate Public Information
Sessions regarding the new camera system. The first meeting was with the SoNo
Alliance, a committee of persons representing the neighborhoods in South Norwalk
as well as all the Housing Authority properties. The second meeting was open
to the general public and was widely announced in the local newspapers. Only
three persons attended this meeting.
The last meeting was conducted for the Coalition of Norwalk Neighborhoods. There
were approximately 40 persons in attendance.
At all the meetings, there was complete support for the camera project. At the
third meeting, one young lady expressed concerns about having a camera outside
her house because she likes to sun bathe in the front yard. I convinced her
that the likelihood of a camera in front of her house was quite small.
We have installed a second camera on a pole in the center of the main parking
area at Calf Pasture. That camera is operational and has functioned flawlessly.
We are currently exploring the best locations for placements of additional cameras.
There will be at least one, and possibly two, more cameras at the beach and
there will likely be one somewhere in the area of Washington Street.
Dispatchers in the Communications Center have access to the camera located a
Veteran's Park. They use it only when absolutely necessary to determine if the
drawbridge is up or if there is a call at the park for an emergency. No person
other than Lt. Wrinn and I have access to the camera at the beach.
The camera system shall remain unavailable to all persons until all cameras
are in place and the policies and procedures governing them have been issued.
2. Bank Robberies
As you are aware, we have had six bank robberies in the past 8 to 10 weeks.
While that is a significant increase when compared to previous years, other
communities in Fairfield County and around the state ha\1e seen increases also.
The Mayor and I have been in contact with Kimberly Mertz, the Special Agent
in Charge of the FBI in Connecticut. She has offered her resources in assisting
our agency in the investigation of these cases. We have also reached out to
various banks and are planning to meet with the security people and managerial
staff to review security measures that need to be in place. Having said that,
and not for distribution to the general public, we have developed significant
leads in at least four of the six robberies. If these leads pan out, we should
be arresting three separate individuals for four robberies in the next several
weeks. Please keep this information confidential as disclosure could possibly
jeopardize the investigation.
Thank you
Chief Harry W. Rilling
Norwalk Department of Police Service One Monroe Street
Norwalk, CT 06852
Office: (203) 854-3001 Fax: (203) 854-9215
OTHER BUSINESS
** THE CHAIR MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO DISCUSS MS. LAURICELLA’S ITEM.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
Ms. Lauricella reviewed her memo:
Thu, 28 Jun 2007 16:04:56 -0700 (PDT)
From:
"diane lauricella" <dlauricella24@yahoo.com>
Subject: NU water Tank Site: Public Safety, Health and Welfare Committee
To:
"PHYLLIS BOLDEN" <pybolden@yahoo.com>
"bill krummel" <krummel_william_m@sbcglobal.net>, ricksly56@yahoo.com,
"doug sutton"
<dgls_sutton@yahoo.com>, "Joanne Romano" <joannetromano@yahoo.com>,
kevin.poruban@snet.net
cc:
In addition to information that I copied to you under the auspices of several different Council Committees (Public Works, Planning, Land Use and Building Management, WPCA) I offer the following concerns that do not appear to have been addressed that relate to your Committee's purview:
Note: This correspondence is based on the premise that this location is not proper for the risks expected, and that other more suitable sites away from residences could have been negotiated in order to have less of an impact on residences, businesses and the precious natural resources of this City.
1. Air Quality: As vacuum trucks are being pumped into or out of these twelve 10 x 10 x 40-foot tanks, volatile organics such as solvents, gasoline and fuel oil that may be encountered during the trench-digging operation will escape out the top and may cause a danger to health in the roughly 60 residential units surrounding the water tank storage site. In addition, several businesses like Fat Cat operate into the late evening and the daytime operations air vents are taking in ambient air throughout the evening. How will they know that there was a toxic release if occurs? Are there any air quality monitors around the periphery of the site operated by a credible independent environmental contractor?
Are these tanks sealed...or do they vent out the volatiles as the tanks get warmer throughout the day?
Also, idling diesel trucks waiting to offload their water will add to the problems..in a narrow valley where fumes and vapors will remain.
2. Water Quality: The upper harbor has had many problems, even as recently as 2005 when oxygen levels were so low that there was a large bunker fishkill, causing a putrid, sickening smell and contamin9ting the water for days after. Because these tanks are so close to the river WITH NO SECONDARY CONTAINMENT a spill of polluted water may further degrade this struggling river. There are many citizens who fish just downstream of this proposed site.
..
There is risk of discharge "hot" or contaminated water into sanitary sewer because no city authority has been appointed to watchdog the evening process. By the time the STPlant was affected, it would be too late. Pls arrange for qualified monitoring consultant who does not have a conflict of interest.
3. Noise: Noise is a health issue and the NU contractor still has not provided the cumulative decibel readings per vac truck, and the possible readings of several trucks waiting to offload the water. In addition, other sites in Fairfield County have generators humming along throughout the night adding to the noise level.
Also, the topography of a narrow valley steep at both sides causes noise levels
to increase due to sound wave
physics. Note the up to sixty residences surrounding this site that will be
woken up throughout the evening
until 6 am.
Back up beepers will be used (OSHA rule) enough to cause additional noise problems...
Ms. Lauricella also distributed the following:
PROPERTIES RESEARCHED FOR USE AS NORWALK GROUDWATER
HANDLING AND DISCHARGE SITES
1. Reed St. and Putnam St. Lot (Owner not interested in leasing property.)
2. Conn. D.O.T. Maintenance Yard behind Service area on Rte. 95 between Exit 9 and 10 in Darien (Site is currently occupied by another contractor)
3. Harbor Ave. (Access restrictions and site is currently being occupied by another contractor)
4. Main Ave. and Merritt Parkway at Exit 40A ( Conn. D. O. T. owns the lot and the utility division denied access due to a future project)
5. Glover Ave. lot currently occupied by Sub-contractor McPhee Electric. (Existing sewer infrastructure is not large enough to handle the expected flow rate.)
6. Knight St. and Cross St. (Lot not suitable due to proximity to neighbors and size of property. Existing sewer infrastructure is not large enough to handle the expected flow rate)
7. Chapel St. and West Ave. (Lot not suitable due to proximity to neighbors and size of property. Existing sewer infrastructure is not large enough to handle the expected flow rate)
..
8. Intersection of Route 7 & Northern end of Glover Ave. (Conn. D.O.T owns the lot and the utility division denied access due to a future project.)
9. East Ave. (Former Gibbs College site) (Property owner is marketing the property and does not want to commit to short time use.)
10.Crescent & North Main (95/7 site) (Portions of the site are already being used as a lay-down site by another contractor.)
11. 272 Main St. (Building scheduled for demolition, timing of development would not accommodate the project. Existing sewer infrastructure is not large enough to handle the expected flow rate)
_ 12. 618 West Ave. (Site is too small to accommodate tanks and vehicles.)
DIANE’S IDEAS: 13. Norden Systems – Spinnaker
14. City Sewage Treatment Plant
15. Pepperidge Farm
Ms. Lauricella said this committee needs to be apprised of health and safety conditions. A lot of misinformation is being used by City staff. Every Council Committee that should be given information was not given that information.
Extensive discussion took place. Ms. Lauricella wanted to know why Mr. Callahan did not tell this committee about this and why it wasn’t on the agenda. This project has been handled by “divide and conquer”.
Mr. Poruban said that the Siting Council has given NU carte blanche. Ms. Lauricella said she called the Siting Council. There is a mechanism where an investigation can be requested. They can demand that vapor control tanks be used.
Ms. Lauricella will forward a list of the names of the business owners to the Chair. She will in turn hold a public hearing. Mr. Poruban pointed out that this would also affect residences.
** MR. SUTTON MOVED TO HOLD A SPECIAL MEETING TO LOOK INTO THE SITING OF THESE
STORAGE TANKS DUE TO CONCERN ABOUT QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES.
** MOTION PASSED UNANIMOUSLY.
As there was no further business, the Chair adjourned the meeting at 10:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Cheryl Telesco
Telesco Secretarial Services
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