|
|
ENFIELD TOWN COUNCIL
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING
AUGUST 20, 2001
A Special Meeting of the Enfield Town Council was called to order by Chairwoman Strom in the Enfield Room of the Enfield Town Hall, 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut on Monday, August 20, 2001 at 6:34 p.m.
ROLL-CALL Present were Councilmen Fiore, Giddings, Hall, Kaupin, Strom, Tait, and Vayda. Councilmen Egan and Falk joined the meeting at 6:35 p.m. Councilmen Mangini and McGuire were absent. Also present were Town Manager, Scott A. Shanley; Town Clerk, Suzanne F. Olechnicki; Director of Public Works, John Kazmarski; Assistant Director of Public Works, Colleen Brand.
Mr. Shanley introduced Colleen Brand, the new Assistant Director of Public Works.
WORK SESSION
Overview/Work Release Program Department of Corrections
Present from the Willard-Cybulski Correctional Institution were School Principal, Frank Preston, and School Counselor, Debra Snedeker.
Mr. Preston stated Willard-Cybulski is a Level Two facility, and this is the least restrictive environment before returning to society.
He then explained the Work Release Program. He stated about six months ago, 23 companies participated in a career fair. He noted those companies indicated they cannot find viable, motivated and talented employees with the market being so tight with unemployment. He pointed out these companies came to the Corrections Department looking for a place to draw from.
Mr. Preston stated they have a very good educational program, and if they can help these men find a job when they leave, theyve increased the chances of their success once theyve been released.
Mr. Preston stated they are before the Council this evening to see how their host community feels about this program because they do not want to do anything that Enfield would have a concern about. He added they do not want to take away gainful employment from the citizens of Enfield, therefore, the employers would first post a job description at the Labor Department for two weeks, and theyll also advertise in the local newspapers. He noted if they do not get any leads after two weeks, they can then draw from the Department of Corrections.
Mr. Preston stated the unemployment rate for Enfield as of June is 2.7% unemployment.
Mr. Preston stated the employers would pay the prevailing wage and also prove they are not taking away gainful employment from the citizens of Connecticut.
He explained one of the benefits of this program is that inmates will be paying federal and state taxes, child support, room and board, a commissary fee, and they will be making restitution payments to a victims compensation fund. He noted 20% of the prevailing wage will go into a savings plan, and when they leave Corrections, they could use that savings toward a deposit for an apartment, car insurance, etc. He pointed out this program provides the person with a current resume, some money to get a roof over their head and insurance for a car to begin their lives over.
Mr. Preston stated its their belief this program will reduce recidivism.
Ms. Snedeker explained each participant would have to go through an intensive eight-week job skills program prior to taking a job. She noted they are also looking at having a follow-up to this program to track these individuals one, three and nine months after release. Mr. Preston stated he anticipates this program being very successful.
Councilman Vayda stated he would like feedback in the future as to how this program is progressing.
Ms. Snedeker stated they will also be having debriefings with the companies to see how things are working.
Mr. Preston pointed out the employers can earn federal income tax credit by hiring employees through this program.
Ms. Snedeker pointed out they are not trying to relocate individuals to this area. She noted these participants may be from all over Connecticut. She stated they will be trying to set up these individuals with similar jobs from their home towns.
Councilman Tait questioned if theres any job security for the participant as concerns being bumped from the position by a citizen. Mr. Preston stated if the participant isnt performing the job, and the employer wishes to replace him with someone from the community, the Corrections Department would not interfere.
Councilman Tait questioned whether a participant loses this working privilege if theres any misbehavior in the prison environment, even though he may be doing well on the job. Mr. Preston stated if theres any misbehavior, the inmate cannot return to the job since it is a privilege to work on the outside.
Councilman Egan questioned if theres on the job training. Mr. Preston stated the participant would receive the same kind of training as any other employee.
Councilman Kaupin questioned who provides the transportation between the Corrections facility and the workplace, and Mr. Preston responded the employer provides the transportation.
Councilman Kaupin questioned whether an employee can actually work a full nine to five day, and Mr. Preston responded yes they can work day hours, Monday through Friday.
Councilman Kaupin questioned what the dress code would be for a participant. Mr. Preston noted if special clothing is required, i.e., overalls, then the participant would wear overalls. He added they would leave the work clothes at the workplace.
Councilman Kaupin questioned whether this new program would take away from the work detail program. Mr. Preston stated he does not see this taking away from the work detail program. He added they have enough inmates to draw from for the work detail program.
Councilman Giddings questioned whether a participant can choose to stay with a job once they finished their time in prison. Mr. Preston noted the participant can stay with that job. He added they are also aware some men prefer to return to their hometowns, and in those cases, they would look at placing them in a job in their community.
Chairwoman Strom expressed her appreciation to the Department of Corrections for explaining this program to the Town Council.
Councilman Kaupin requested a similar presentation be made to the Prison Town Liaison Committee. Chairwoman Strom agreed. Mr. Preston noted it will be one of their goals to make a presentation to that Committee.
Grant Opportunities/Schools
Councilman Egan read the following from a Board of Education meeting packet: “The District has been invited to apply for a $25,000 grant through the Graustein Memorial Fund.” She noted earlier this month she, Mayor Strom, and Amy Witbro met with the Director of the Foundation to discuss this grant. She pointed out Town Council and Board of Education endorsement is required to apply for the grant. She stated Amy Witbro will bring this before the Board of Education tomorrow night.
Chairwoman Strom explained this is strictly a planning grant, not an implementation grant.
It was the consensus of the Council to move forward on this.
Naming Wallop School Park
Mr. Shanley stated it has been learned that the Wallop School Park has never been formally named. He noted its important that this park be formally named, before a sign is ordered.
It was the consensus of the Council to name this park “Wallop School Park”.
MOTION #5405 by Councilman Giddings, seconded by Councilman Kaupin to go into Executive Session to discuss Personnel Matters, Pending Litigation, and Real Estate Negotiation.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #5405 adopted 9-0-0, and the meeting stood recessed at 7:32 p.m.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
The Executive Session of the Enfield Town Council was called to order by Chairwoman Strom at 7:33 p.m.
ROLL-CALL Present were Councilmen Egan, Falk, Fiore, Giddings, Hall, Kaupin, Strom, Tait, and Vayda. Also present were Town Manager, Scott A. Shanley; Town Clerk, Suzanne F. Olechnicki.
Personnel Matters, Pending Litigation, and Real Estate Negotiations were discussed with no action or votes being taken.
Chairwoman Strom adjourned the Executive Session at 7:35 p.m. She reconvened the Special Meeting at 7:36 p.m. and stated that during Executive Session they discussed Personnel Matters, Pending Litigation, and Real Estate Negotiations with no action or votes being taken.
ADJOURNMENT
MOTION #5406 by councilman Kaupin, seconded by Councilman Giddings to adjourn.
Upon a SHOW-OF-HANDS vote being taken, the Chair declared MOTION #5406 adopted 9-0-0, and the Special Meeting stood adjourned at 7:37 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Jeannette Lamontagne
Secretary to the Council
Suzanne F. Olechnicki
Town Clerk
Clerk of the Council
|
|
|