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HomeMy WebLinkAbout111297 rm min CITIZEN'S ADVISORY BOARD Minutes Wednesday, November 12, 1997 7:00 PM City Commission Conference Room PRESENT: Bernard Brown, Paul Legge, Kevin Hipes, Richard Huber, Dean Ray, Linda Kuhn, Earl Myers, Police Chief Joe Dillard and Gracy Posley This meeting was called to order by Chairperson Mr. Brown. Mr. Brown requested approval of CAB minutes for October 8, 1997 if there are no changes or corrections. Motion made by Mr. Legge, seconded by Mr. Huber; motion carried for the minutes to be approved. Discussion begins re combining CAB member opinions to make a suggestion to the City Commission of the three options that were recommended pertaining to the police department's assessment. Mrs. Kuhn states Sheriff Eslinger commented law enforcement is not territorial. Mrs. Kuhn feels law enforcement is territorial. Remarked if option B is decided upon, citizens will lose the quality of employees and dispatchers. Mrs. Kuhn feels option A should be considered first and options B and C are always available. Mr. Hipes discusses CAB's opinion re the Options Committee. Mr. Hipes is for Option A, feels Chief Dillard should be given a year to illustrate progress and to possibly provide quarterly reports. Mr. Legge suggest CAB should not get involved with the Options Committee's decision; since the City Commission elected to devise the Options Committee and not utilize CAB. Mr. Legge states CAB was created by City Ordinance to do what the Options Committee is handling and asks if the City Commission asked for CAB's opinion? Members advise, no. Mrs. Kuhn feels CAB is an advisory board re the police department and should make a recommendation re the options. Mr. Legge feels citizens should have input to CAB for a recommendation to the City Commission. Mr. Hipes comments at the most recent Options Committee meeting, citizens input was requested. Approximately forty -eight citizens showed, approximately twelve citizens spoke. Mr. Brown advises the Options Committee decision should be made by the end of the year. Mrs. Kuhn comments at the last Options Committee a very important question should have been asked of Sheriff Eslinger that was not asked. The question being, "Will the crime rate go down if you take over the police department ?" Mr. Myers comments Chief Dillard need to be backed and to let Chief Dillard straighten the department. Mr. Brown feels Chief Dillard should be given a chance to correct the problems and to exercise option B if necessary. Mr. Huber is for option A with reservations and hope the police department/Chief Dillard is not a Black/White issue. Mr. Legge asks Chief Dillard how many years does he have in law enforcement? Chief Dillard replies, twenty -six. Mr. Legge states Mr. Hubler was hired to give constructive criticism. He does not feel Mr. Hubler should have imposed options A, B, and C. Feels Chief Dillard should have met with other police chiefs in the County. Mr. Legge does not endorse options A, B, or C; states Chief Dillard should be able to do his job without interference. Motioned by Mr. Legge, seconded by Mrs. Kuhn, motion carried for CAB to strongly recommend Option A to the City Commission. Mr. Art Harris, 1108 Grove Manor Dr. comments he thinks the police department is fine. Mr. Legge asks Mr. Harris his opinion re the options relating to the police department. Mr. Harris states he has a mixture of options A and B. Mrs. Barbara Jackson, 208 W. 17th St. states she is conveying a neighborhood crime watch message for her neighbors and the newly organized west side neighborhood crime watch (west of 17 -92 from 6th St. to 2nd St. and west to Cedar Ave.). (Mrs. Jackson distributes a Westside Neighborhood Watch Update) Mrs. Jackson states there is much illegal activity on the west side. CAB Minutes November 12, 1997 Page 2 of 2 States the police department has not responded properly and see the police officers as part of the problem. Comments the neighborhood need to respect the officers. Mrs. Kuhn comments to Mrs. Jackson the line of communication must be opened at the police department and the perception of the police department to many is more than the reality. Mrs. Kuhn relayed she has contacted the police department's Community Relations Division and spoke with Sgt Presley and apprised him of this neighborhood's problems and her assisting the group. Mrs. Kuhn advises Mrs. Jackson she and Mr. Kuhn were instrumental in establishing the Historic area neighborhood crime watch and have been contacted by someone from Mrs. Jackson's group to attend their neighborhood watch meeting(s). Mrs. Kuhn states to Mrs. Jackson, community policing the police department plans to implement will make a significant difference. It was suggested by Mrs. Kuhn for Mrs. Jackson to get on the City Commission agenda re the neighborhoods lack of street lighting. Mr. Harris suggested to Mrs. Jackson $8. Tight poles re street lighting for unlighted areas her group is neighborhood watching. Mrs. Jackson complained of speeders on the W. 3rd St. area. Chief Dillard explains the S.M.A.R.T. (speed monitoring device) the police department recently received and that the radar equipment will be placed in various areas of the City with speeding problems. The unit will definitely be placed in W. 3rd St. area. Chief Dillard comments to Mrs. Jackson community policing and manpower is a primary concern at this time. And asks Mrs. Jackson to have someone call the police department as often as necessary to have problems and complaints resolved. There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 PM.