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HomeMy Public PortalAbout12-24-1956 - Special Meeting 23 SPECIAL MEETING . BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS & SAFETY • MONDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1956 J • City Controller Wilson, presiding _. all members present. The presiding officer reported that this special meeting had been called by unaminous consent of all members of the Board of Public Works & Safety. Police Chief Mitrione reported that Thurlowe Harter, Charles Hart and Louis Gibbs, had completed their probationery period on the Police Department and he recommended they be made regular Patrolmen effective January1 1 Li � .� 957• ty Attorney Cecere moved that Thurlowe Harter, Charles Hart and Louis Gibbs be made regular Patrolmen as of January 1, 1957. Seconded by City Engineer Deuker. Police Chief Mitrione recommended that Patrolman Troy Woolf be promoted to Sergeant in the Juvenile Division effective January 1, 1957. City Attorney Cecere moved that Troy Woolf be promoted to Sergeant in the Juvenile Division as of January 1, 1957. Seconded by City Controller Willson. Police Chief Mitrione read the-following letter from James Saxton: • Department of Public Works December 22, 1956, • Richmond, Indiana • Gentlemen: Thank you very much for appointing me to serve as a patrolman on your cityes police force. I am sorry, but due to other committments, I am unable to accept • this appointment. However, I do appreciate having been given this opportunity. Thank you. Sincerely, • James A..Saxton si/ JAS/s City Attorney Cecere moved that the above letter be made part of the minutes of the meeting and remarked that the appointment of James A. Saxton was subject to his ac- ceptance and said that it should not now be considered. Police Chief Mitrione read the following report: Gentlemen: Since my appointment as Chief of Police, Richmond Police Department, I have sought ways to make the department more efficient at the lowest possible cost to the taxpayers. � As you all know, I have in the past, informally and formally discussed these matters with you, including what I shall bring before you today. -._ In line with the above, I have made a complete study of the operation, of transmission and receiving of radio messages. Presently, we are operating a Police Radio Station located at West llth and Main Street in addition to a radio message center at Police Headquarters This Police Radio Station at West llth and Main Street has been operated by three men, radio operators: each working an eight-hour shift, six days a week. The radio message center at Headquarters has been operated by regular Police Officers. My study leads to the following recommendations: 1. That the operation of the Police Radio Station, located at West llth and Hain St. be abolished as a dispatching and receiving center. This operation has proved to be costly without any direct benefit to the department or the taxpayers. (a) The receiving and dispatching of radio messages can be handled more efficiently from Police Headquarters by regular police officers assigned to duty at headquarters. The dispatching and handling of radio messages can be handled by the same police officers who • handle telephonic eommunications and perform .other duties at Headquarters. (b) The abolishment of the Police Radio Station at West llth and Main Street will provide a direct savings of $13,200.00 annually, the salary and allowances of three radio operators. In addition three regular police officers, who weekly are assigned to the PIlicE Radio Station to relieve the radio operators on their off-day, shall be available for re- gular police duties. And further, during vacations, two weeks for each radio operator, it has been necessary to assign a regular patrolman to the Police Radio Station. If this recommendation is approved, we shall have an extra police officer on the street during these six weeks of vacation. 2 4 2. It is my further recommendation in conjunction with the above, that the services of radio operators, Mr. Paul Andrews and Mr. Kenneth W. Young, be dispensed with as of December 31, 1956. The Police Headquarters is presently equipped and is capable to op- erate more efficiently without the receiving and dispatching center at West llth and Main Street. (a) Specifically, it is my recommendation that it is not necessary or economical to have radio operators attached to the Richmond Police Department. Each of our regular police officers is qualified to transmit and receive radio messages and they do so daily. (b) Mr. Andrews and. Mr. Young were employed on September 1, 1942 and January 2, 1948 respectfully, as radio operators. Both of these gentlemen were over the statutory age for employment in any other capacity with the Police Department. Neither of these men were physically examined at the time of employment; nor has either of these men ever qualified for the Police Pension. Fund.. Mr. Andrews was 46 years of age on the date of his employment; Mr. Young was 38 years of age. Mr. Young was and is physicail in- capacitated because of the amputation of the right arm above the elbow at the time of his employment. • In summary, I recommend the termination of the employment of Mr. Andrews and Mr. Young as of the-31st day of December, 1956, based on: 1. The abolishment of the Police Radio Station at West llth and Main Street as a transmitting and receiving station. The operation of this installation is not conductive to the most efficient operation of the Police Department. It has been, and is, a wasteful, non-productive operation. • 2. The direct savings of $13,200.00 plus the additional manpower, who will be available for regular police duties on the cessation of the unnecessary activity and employment. Respectfully submitted, Dan A. l4itrione, Police Chief City Attorney Cecere moved for the approval of the report of the Police Chief and that it be made a part of the minutes of the meeting. Also, that Mr. Andrews and Mr. Young be notified by Special Delivery letter of their termination of employment. Seconded by • City Controller Nilson. There being no further business presented, on motion duly made and seconded, the meeting adjourned. • W' Liam E. 'Nilson,President • Attest: - ; /u�� `'ity Clerk •