TOWN OF SOMERS

REGULAR SAFETY COMMITTEE MEETING

MINUTES

Wednesday, September 7, 2005

10:00 a.m.

Town Hall Conference Room

 

 

I.          Call to Order:

            Chairman Donna Sepe called the meeting to order at 10:02 a.m.

 

II.            Members Present/Absent:

Donna Sepe; Connie Carenzo; Joan Jaquith; Jim Jenkins; Walter Summers; Bill Boutwell

            and Jim Kuhn, AFS&V

            Absent:

            Everett Morrill; David Ferracci Public Works

            Dick Zini and Diane Kepner of Somers Elementary

            John Gamble, Webster Insurance

            David J. Demchak, CIRMA

 

III.            Approval of Minutes:                June 1, 2005

            After a discussion, Jim Kuhn made a motion to approve the 6/1/05 minutes as written; seconded by Jim Jenkins and unanimously approved.

 

IV.            Workers Compensation Loss Review:

            Webster Insurance was not represented so there was no loss review presented.

 

V.        Liability Claims:

            Jim Kuhn of AFS&V reported a claim on 8/1/05 of a cracked windshield caused by a rock from the road hitting the windshield.  Later in the month, another public works vehicle also had a cracked windshield again caused by a rock from the road.  Both windshields were replaced.  Nothing else was reported in the last three months.

 

There was a discussion about the skateboard park and the fact that nobody is monitoring the use of the park.  It was the consensus of the committee members present that the skateboard park should be closed if there is no supervision and/or the skateboards are not wearing their safety equipment, especially their helmuts.

 

VI.       Risk Management Programs:

            Jim Jenkins reported that he has repainted the public sidewalk outside the Town Hall so that people will notice there is a step down.  It was the recommendation of the safety committee that the sidewalk in the front of the Town Hall building be replaced.  Jim Jenkins feels that claims may have been made because several people have been hurt when they did not realize that there is a step down. 

 

Safety Minutes

9/7/05

Page 2

 

Bill Boutwell suggested that CIRMA supply a list of claims resulting from falls on the sidewalk to convince the town to replace the sidewalks in front of the Town Hall.  Possibly the steps could be replaced with a ramp.

 

VII.      Safety Issues:

            a.            Standard Operating Procedures

            b.            Defensive Driver Training

 

                        A discussion was held about the necessity for safety equipment to be used at the Transfer Station when handling trash such as gloves, boots, safety glasses and masks.  Some of this equipment should also be used when operating public works equipment. 

 

Joan Jaquith remarked that most of the custodians at MBA School are very conscientious about the proper use of safety equipment.

 

Jim Kuhn offered to call David Demchak of CIRMA to inform him of the safety issues discussed at this meeting such as the sidewalk in front of the Town Hall and the proper use of safety equipment in all departments; also the committee's feeling about the skateboard park.

 

Water quality at the Library was discussed.  Donna Sepe said the water is a yellowish color and very unappetizing but it is not unsafe to drink.  However, all of the library employees use bottled water. 

 

It was noted that the Police Department is all set at their new location at 619 Main Street to do fingerprinting, if needed by citizens.

 

VIII.            Membership Vacancies:

            Dick Zini and Dianne Kepner are no longer members of the Safety Committee.  Bill Boutwell will ask for representation from the teachers and custodians at the schools.

 

The next meeting of the Safety Committee will be on December 7, 2005 at 10:00 a.m. in the Town Hall conference room.  Committee Secretary will type the agenda on her computer and use e-mail addresses as much as possible to get the agenda out, especially to the insurance companies.  Packets were sent out for this meeting over a week before the meeting itself, but we have no representation from either Webster or CIRMA at this meeting which has not happened before.  Hopefully, the use of e-mail will give a more timely notification of our next meeting.

 

 

 

Safety Committee Minutes

9/7/05

Page 3

 

IX.            ADJOURNMENT:

 

            Motion to adjourn made by Joan Jaquith; seconded by Jim Kuhn and unanimously approved by the members.  The meeting adjourned at 10:45 a.m.

 

                                                            Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

                                                            Connie Carenzo, Recording Secretary

                                                            TOWN OF SOMERS

 

 

 

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING.