ENFIELD PRISON/TOWN LIAISON COMMITTEE

MINUTES OF A REGULAR MEETING

March 11, 2009

CALL TO ORDER

A Regular Meeting of the Enfield Prison/Town Liaison Committee was held at the Enfield Town Hall Employee’s Lounge on Wednesday, March 11, 2009.  Chairman Nowak called the meeting to order at 7pm.

ROLL CALL

Present from the Town of Enfield were:  Chairman Tophie Nowak, Kenneth Edgar, Nelson Rodriguez, Carmella Brennan and Charles Macsata, Captain Gary Collins and Councilman Cynthia Mangini.

Present from the Department of Corrections were:  Warden Bruce Cuscovitch, Carl Robinson CI.

Warden Cuscovitch questioned why the wardens from Somers are on the roll call sheet.  The reason being is that they are invited to the meeting as part of the prison system and are included in the original charge of the committee.

APPROVAL OF MINUTES

The minutes from the December 10, 2008 meeting were passed unanimously.

OLD BUSINESS

Report of Population Counts

                                                                                                            Current Qrt.     Past Qrt.

Warden Torres                      Willard Cybulski Correctional Institute           1163               1161

Warden Cuscovitch               Carl Robinson Correctional Institute              1518               1451

Warden Feliciano                  Enfield Correctional Institute                            811                 724

The drop in population at Carl Robinson was due to the shutdown of a living area, Building 7, which houses 71 inmates.  The bed count is at 1478.

Report of Chairman

No report at this time.

Update of Notification System

Mr. Macsata questioned the portion of the minutes on the radio communications system at the prison and he understood that there are some stock boxes on the prison grounds where they communicate and there was a communications drill some time back.  Interoperability between all emergency personnel is used on an emergency basis.  There are several radios that can be used for this purpose, but not on a day-to-day basis.  The radios are located in the command center.

Councilman Mangini suggested inviting the DOC to the refarming meeting which deals with the changing of frequencies.

Review of Significant Incidents or Policy Changes

Warden Cuscovitch gave the report for the prisons.

Willard/Cybulski – Quiet.  Rolling coins for the Fourth of July Celebration.

Carl Robinson – The bathrooms in the housing area were redone. 

Enfield – There was an assault on an officer for fighting.

NEW BUSINESS

Mr. Rodriquez questioned if gang activity has elevated.  Warden Cuscovitch stated that gang activity is constant, but through intelligence networking it is kept under control.  They gang members are known.

OPEN FORUM AND PUBLIC PARTICIPATION

Ms. Tucker requested to speak as a resident and discussed a situation that was witnessed.  Ms. Tucker was stopped at a red light at Shaker and Washington Roads.  She was able to see the oncoming vehicles, with the sirens and the lights on, traveling at a high speed, west on Shaker Road from the Prison.  The light turned green and the vehicle behind Ms. Tucker passed her and continued through the intersection going between both of the vehicles.  It could have been a very bad accident.  This situation has been discussed at previous meetings.  The Town feels that there is a risk when prisoners are transported.  It was suggested that Ms. Tucker put it in writing and send it to Wayne Choinski with the date and time and any other details.

There was an incident at Carl Robinson during Super Bowl Weekend.  There was a fire in a rooftop unit.  Everything went smoothly.  Shaker Pines was able to get into the facility with no problems and the evacuation went without incident.

Chairman Nowak would also like to start seeing the population counts for Somers.  Warden Cuscovitch will get that information.  She also asked if there will be any cutbacks.  Warden Cuscovitch does not believe there will be any cutbacks in security.

Sandhill road will be reopened when the roadwork is completed.

DATE OF NEXT MEETING

Chairman Nowak stated the next meeting is scheduled for June 10, 2009, 7pm at the Enfield Town Hall, Enfield Conference Room.

ADJOURNMENT

Chairman Nowak made a motion to adjourn and it was seconded.  The vote was unanimous, and the meeting stood adjourned at 7:30 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Mariann Tucker

Recording Secretary