TOWN OF SOMERS
PRISON
LIAISON/PUBLIC SAFETY COMMITTEE
P. O. Box 308
Somers,
Connecticut 06071
REGULAR MEETING
MINUTES
4/20/05 - 7:30
p.m.
Town Hall
I. CALL
TO ORDER:
Chairman Robert Minch called the meeting to order at 7:38 p.m. Members present in addition to the Chairman were: Stephen Minikowski, Anthony Liquori, Northern District Administrator Remi Acosta, Willard Cybulski Warden Bruce Cuscovitch, Northern Warden Wayne Choinski and Acting Warden for Osborn Robin Sutherland. Former Chairman George VanTasel called in for an excused absence. Members who did not call in for an excused absence were: Charles Colby, Raymond LaFlamme, Edward Moylan and Jo-Ann Torres.
II. MINUTES APPROVAL: January 19, 2005
Chairman Robert Minch made a motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of January 19, 2005 after one minor grammatical revision was made. The motion was seconded by Remi Acosta and Bruce Cuscovitch and unanimously approved.
III. OLD
BUSINESS:
Northern District Administrator Remi Acosta asked Chairman Robert Minch if the five volumes of the Environmental Impact Study and Water & Sewage Flow Studies had been received and Minch indicated that they had and were in his possession. Acosta also asked Minch if he had received a copy of the State Statute regarding Annual Reports and the latter assured him he had.
IV. NEW
BUSINESS:
Remi Acosta indicated that the new, scheduled, execution date for death row inmate Michael Ross is now set for May 11, 2005 and that all of the previous safety procedures as stated in the prior meeting minutes of January 19, 2005 will be followed once again. He restated that in addition to the Department of Correction, the Enfield Police Department and the Connecticut State Police will be collectively handling all of the security arrangements for this event. He opined that there may be less motor vehicle traffic than Ross' last execution date, but possibly more protestors.
Wayne Choinski commented that death row inmate Cedric Cobb has written to the
Prison Liaison Minutes
4/20/05
Page 2
newspapers that he wanted to expedite things in terms of his own execution. However, Choinski emphasized the need or requirement for a mental competency test before that can be considered. Choinski added a prior judge heard the case and Cobb's parents also interceded on his behalf at that time. As a result, Cobb has now made 180 degree turn in his position.
Stephen Minikowski asked Remi Acosta if there has been any changes or effects within the DOC since the current governor was installed and Acosta replied that while governors come and go, his department is protected by law in that it always does what is required by law irrespective of the governing administration. Most members also concurred that not very much is going on within the DOC or elsewhere in the state in view of the shortfall of state funding.
Chairman Minch asked Northern District Administrator Acosta if he had any contact with Greg Everett, Head of Parole and Pardons, and when Acosta replied in the affirmative, Minch said he is a fine individual with whom he has had past professional dealings and asked Acosta to extend his good wishes to him.
Stephen Minikowski noted that rehabilitation work is being done at the old firehouse and Bruce Cuscovitch commented that a great amount of progress is being made there in restoring the building and bringing it up to code requirements via the inmate to community labor assistance program. Specifically, he said the dispatch desk has been bullet-proofed, and new windows, floors and sheet-rocking of the walls has been accomplished along with other items and the overall project is nearing completion. Minikowski also commented that the Connecticut State Police are currently using space at the Fire Department and related that both departments work well together, particularly in view of their common, community mission.
The undersigned thanked Bruce Cuscovitch for the installation of a new, snow fence along the north side of Bilton Road from Willard Cybulski facility to an area near Taylor Road. The residents of the area are particularly appreciative of that, especially during heavy snowfall and drifting snows. Remi Acosta assured the Committee it will be safely stored so it can be used again in future winter seasons.
V. BED
COUNT:
Warden Bruce Cuscovitch, Wayne Choinski and Acting Warden Robin Sutherland provided the following bed count for their facilities:
Prison Liaison Minutes
4/20/05
Page 3
Willard-Cybulski C.I. 1100 (plus 2)
Northern C.I. 356 (minus 52)
Osborn C.I. 1857 (minus 3)
TOTAL: 3313 (decrease of 53 since
last meeting.
Several members noted the large decrease of inmates, particularly at Northern C.I., which Remi Acosta attributed to less problems and less gang members and a lot of inmates being released to parole, transitional supervision into the community. He added the department has a rule or guideline wherein home visits are made to determine the adequacy of the home situation, as well as to assess the quality of the neighborhood and to ensure that it is not located in a crime-ridden area.
Lastly, Chairman Minch commended the current smooth or harmonious relationship between the DOC and this Committee as he has on a number of prior occasions which he said had not been the case a number of years ago. Northern District Administrator Acosta fully concurred with Minch's positive assessment and all agreed there is a mutually, supportive relationship in the best interest of the town and state.
V. ADJOURNMENT:
A motion to adjourn was made by Chairman Minch and seconded by Minikowski and Cuscovitch and unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 7:53 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Anthony J. Liquori, Jr.
Recording Secretary
MINUTES
ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.