MINUTES

I. Call to order – Chairman Robert Minch called the meeting to order at 7:35 p.m. Members present in addition to Robert Minch were: Raymond Laflamme, Anthony Liquori, Stephen Minikowski, Jerry Young, Northern Correctional Institution Warden Jeff McGill, Willard Cybulski CI Esther Torres, and Osborn CI Deputy Warden Agenl Quiros, substituting for Warden David Strange. Excused absences were former Chairman George Van Tasel and Charles Colby, while members Edward Moylan and Northern District Administrator Wayne Choinski were absent

II. Minutes Approval: April 20 18, 2007: Chairman Minch made a motion to approve the regular meeting minutes of April 18, 2007 as written, with the exception that page two (New Business) was missing. Same was seconded by Raymond Laflamme and Stephen Minikowski.

III. Old Business:

1. In lieu of a regular meeting on July 18, 2007, a tour of the Osborn Prison was hosted by DOC Personnel, and First Selectman David Pinney accompanied the group. At that time he was given the following bed count: Osborn CI, 1935; Willard Cybulski, 1038; and northern CI, 435. A statement reflecting that tour was submitted but is presently inexplicably missing. Similarly a statement indicating that the regular meeting on October 17, 2007 could not be held due to a lack of a quorum was also unaccounted for.

2. A copy of the Annual Report for 2007 was circulated among the members.

3. The proposed removal of member Edward Moylan by the First Selectman who has the power of removal has been brought to the latter’s attention by two members on a number of occasions over the past two years.

4. Accolades were extended to the DOC and its representatives for their prompt responsiveness in ensuring that a number of guard rails were repaired, and four street lights functioning once again on Bilton Road, which provides sole access to five of the six local CIs.

IV. New Business:

1. Committee member Joan Ann Torres has submitted her resignation, which has been accepted. This vacancy along with the Moylan de facto vacancy creates even more of a vital urgency to fill both positions ASAP.

2. Consideration for the permanent replacement or occasional substitution of the recording secretary position was entertained with no acceptances at this time.

3. The Committee’s future additional scheduled meetings are as follows: April 16, 2008; July 16, 2008, and October 15, 2008.

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING

4. Committee members have not been receiving their customary monthly calls in recent months and a DOC representative will inquire about the status of that community contact/notification program.

5. The Fire Department has appointed Bill Meiers, Jr. as its new chief. He had previously served in that position for 6 years and has 30 years of experience.

6. The Fire Department has announced that the Reversed 911 Notification System, which is a back-up to the DOC system, has now been fully tested and operational wherein the “bugs” have been removed and it is ready for a real scenario. This system provides a more comprehensive or regional coverage in terms of alerting town officials, school closings and even reaching at their work place.

7. DOC representatives noted the continued emphasis placed upon the Parole Board of Review Release Program which has its primary focus on violent offenders in light of the Cheshire tragedy and while there is apparently no discussion relative to prison expansion the inmate population numbers are ever increasing, 237 in Somers and approximately 200 in Enfield (437 overall). Lower level/less violent inmates are now placed in quads and being made ready for re-entry and half-way house programs. No new or additional programs are known to be under consideration.

8. A member raised the question of whether the Governor could plan for prison expansion without announcing it publicly. However the rebuttal was that once the bonding issue was raised it would no longer by unannounced. Chairman Minch also reiterated the committee’s opposition to expansion and support of sending prisoners out of state if necessary as had the prior commissioner.

V. Bed Count:

Warden Esther Torres provided the bed count for Willard Cybulski CI while Warden Jeff McGill provided same for Northern CI and Deputy Warden Angel Quiros for Osborn CI. The numbers are as follows:

Facility	Bed Count	Increase/Decrease	Maximum Capacity
Willard Cybulski CI	1152	+114	1104
Northern CI	435	0	586
Osborn CI	2058	+123	None set
TOTALS	3645	+237 since July prison tour

VI. Audience Comments – None, although prospective committee member Lincoln Pease was in attendance as an observer.

VII. Adjournment: A motion to adjourn was made by Robert Minch and Stephen Minikowski, seconded by Jerry Young and unanimously approved. The meeting adjourned at 8:25 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Anthony Liquori, Recording Secretary

Town of Somers

MINUTES ARE NOT OFFICIAL UNTIL APPROVAL AT A SUBSEQUENT MEETING