1
00:00:04,620 --> 00:00:12,180
All right, hello and welcome to the finance committee of the Somerville City Council calling

2
00:00:12,180 --> 00:00:22,960
us meeting to order on June 29, 2020 at 6.04 p.m. We are meeting, we

3
00:00:25,360 --> 00:00:27,060
go chief, we are meeting

4
00:00:27,660 --> 00:00:35,980
virtually with remote participation as a result of Governor Baker's report and Governor Mayor

5
00:00:35,980 --> 00:00:41,060
your creditornies are to order. As a reminder to all attendees please keep

6
00:00:41,060 --> 00:00:46,640
your microphone muted unless you are being called for role or recognized by the

7
00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:51,540
chair. Audio recording and video recording of this meeting will be posted on

8
00:00:51,540 --> 00:00:55,220
the city's website shortly following the conclusion of the meeting.

9
00:00:57,520 --> 00:00:58,380
Let's start

10
00:00:58,380 --> 00:01:00,560
tonight with a roll call if you would.

11
00:01:03,050 --> 00:01:05,190
This is roll call. Councilor

12
00:01:05,190 --> 00:01:05,590
Klingon.

13
00:01:06,450 --> 00:01:07,070
Present.

14
00:01:07,870 --> 00:01:08,890
Councilor Mubah.

15
00:01:10,130 --> 00:01:10,390
Present.

16
00:01:11,110 --> 00:01:11,910
Councilor White.

17
00:01:12,630 --> 00:01:12,950
Yeah.

18
00:01:13,570 --> 00:01:14,610
Councilor Rosetti.

19
00:01:16,450 --> 00:01:17,070
Present.

20
00:01:17,830 --> 00:01:18,850
Councilor Strezzo.

21
00:01:20,550 --> 00:01:21,190
Present.

22
00:01:21,810 --> 00:01:22,950
Councilor Niedergang.

23
00:01:23,650 --> 00:01:23,930
Here.

24
00:01:24,450 --> 00:01:25,730
Councilor Davis.

25
00:01:27,190 --> 00:01:27,550
Here.

26
00:01:28,190 --> 00:01:29,410
Councilor McLaughlin.

27
00:01:31,330 --> 00:01:32,690
Councilor Ewan Kampen.

28
00:01:33,230 --> 00:01:33,470
Here.

29
00:01:35,070 --> 00:01:36,270
Councilor Ballantyne.

30
00:01:36,350 --> 00:01:36,950
Here.

31
00:01:37,990 --> 00:01:39,350
And Councilor Scott.

32
00:01:40,230 --> 00:01:40,470
Present.

33
00:01:41,130 --> 00:01:43,990
Mr. Chairman, we have 10 members present, one is absent.

34
00:01:45,010 --> 00:01:45,610
Right.

35
00:01:45,870 --> 00:01:51,750
And Councilor McLaughlin, President McLaughlin is recused this evening on these matters.

36
00:01:52,450 --> 00:01:57,110
So on the agenda tonight is the discussion of the fiscal year 21 budget.

37
00:01:57,110 --> 00:02:04,430
In particular, the police department is the budget that we will be reviewing this evening.

38
00:02:06,470 --> 00:02:12,550
Just to let people know, in terms of procedure, how I anticipate this to proceed is I will

39
00:02:12,550 --> 00:02:18,550
be inviting the chief to present the materials that he's prepared for the City Council, including

40
00:02:19,690 --> 00:02:23,910
some information that while he has a slide deck and I know that some other materials

41
00:02:23,910 --> 00:02:28,650
were sent to the City Council in response to questions that Council have submitted in advance.

42
00:02:30,170 --> 00:02:34,890
After that presentation, I recognized the Mayor who has also submitted a memo for this evening

43
00:02:35,470 --> 00:02:39,890
and then I planned to recognize Councilor Zeddy to provide a little bit of further information

44
00:02:40,530 --> 00:02:44,970
to the committee. After we have that information, we'll be entertaining individual

45
00:02:44,970 --> 00:02:49,010
Councilor's questions about the presentations made by the Chief, the Mayor, or Councilor

46
00:02:49,010 --> 00:02:55,750
that. So I ask my colleagues to save your questions until we get through those. That's

47
00:02:55,750 --> 00:03:02,270
when I'll be calling on individual councillors for their questions. Once those questions are

48
00:03:02,270 --> 00:03:06,390
complete, I plan to move into consideration of memos submitted by various members of the

49
00:03:06,390 --> 00:03:11,090
City Council regarding the police budget and then after that it'll be the will of the

50
00:03:11,090 --> 00:03:18,610
committee on how to proceed so with that I would like to invite Chief Fallon

51
00:03:18,610 --> 00:03:28,730
there you go chief Fallon you are now unmuted chief and I invite you to come

52
00:03:28,730 --> 00:03:30,110
come aboard right

53
00:03:45,150 --> 00:03:47,950
the chief industry having some technical difficulties can

54
00:03:47,950 --> 00:03:53,230
anybody please assist the chief actually can you hear me now consular we can we

55
00:03:53,230 --> 00:04:01,300
can. So I want to thank thank you to the Honorable City Council for the

56
00:04:01,300 --> 00:04:05,060
opportunity to present tonight. Over the past few weeks there have been many

57
00:04:05,060 --> 00:04:10,240
questions about the world policing in our society. I welcome these questions and

58
00:04:10,240 --> 00:04:15,400
look forward to it to the dialogue that will follow. The murder of George Floyd

59
00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:20,400
has called for an awakening in our society for racial justice. I agree the

60
00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:23,960
time is now to listen to people of color and the cooperation of them

61
00:04:23,960 --> 00:04:29,640
built in America that serves all its residents equally. I'd like to put in the context of

62
00:04:29,640 --> 00:04:35,800
the work that the San Juan Police does, progress we've made over the past decade in the future.

63
00:04:36,660 --> 00:04:41,140
Nobody knows the future of policing, but I believe the future will be formed by city leaders,

64
00:04:42,060 --> 00:04:48,980
elected officials, residents, and employees working in unison to shape the future

65
00:04:52,060 --> 00:04:57,020
that we

66
00:04:57,020 --> 00:05:00,060
organizational structure and key functions of the Sunville Police Department.

67
00:05:01,220 --> 00:05:06,100
Patty Contente is going to speak briefly on a community outreach, help and recovery unit.

68
00:05:06,740 --> 00:05:09,840
I'm going to talk about staffing levels at the Sunville Police Department.

69
00:05:10,640 --> 00:05:15,720
Sunville Police Department reforms the date, and the mayor is going to speak about racial

70
00:05:15,720 --> 00:05:17,200
and social justice project.

71
00:05:20,060 --> 00:05:25,580
The fiscal year 21 Sunville Police Department proposed budget includes positions for 130

72
00:05:25,580 --> 00:05:30,060
sworn offices, which is a reduction of two positions from fiscal year 20.

73
00:05:30,900 --> 00:05:37,260
In addition to sworn offices, our personal services include civilian positions like

74
00:05:37,260 --> 00:05:42,960
clerks, IT specialists, analysts, and our community outreach help and recovery office,

75
00:05:43,840 --> 00:05:46,300
which we will discuss in more detail in a few slides.

76
00:05:48,820 --> 00:05:54,180
The primary functions of the assembled police department include patrol, traffic,

77
00:05:54,620 --> 00:05:55,620
and criminal investigations.

78
00:05:55,620 --> 00:06:01,680
Our largest division is patrol, which is led by Captain James Donovan and includes six

79
00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,980
lieutenants, nine sergeants, and 64 patrol officers.

80
00:06:06,860 --> 00:06:08,400
Patrol is your neighborhood police.

81
00:06:09,020 --> 00:06:15,320
The officers respond to calls for service 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days

82
00:06:15,320 --> 00:06:15,780
a year.

83
00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:22,040
Patrol has seven cars on the streets, each every eight-hour shift to provide coverage

84
00:06:22,040 --> 00:06:26,040
to respond to emergencies at any time, day or night.

85
00:06:27,120 --> 00:06:29,320
Our Traffic Bureau is led by Lieutenant Polito.

86
00:06:29,840 --> 00:06:32,040
He has one sergeant, seven officers,

87
00:06:32,280 --> 00:06:34,300
and includes 55 civilian crossing guards.

88
00:06:34,980 --> 00:06:37,640
The primary responsibilities include traffic enforcement

89
00:06:37,640 --> 00:06:40,660
to ensure our streets are safe for all world users,

90
00:06:40,880 --> 00:06:44,420
including motor vehicles, pedestrians, and cyclists.

91
00:06:45,080 --> 00:06:47,420
The Bureau is also responsible for cross investigation,

92
00:06:47,820 --> 00:06:50,380
providing traffic control at civic functions

93
00:06:50,380 --> 00:06:56,060
like our city's many festivals in managing the Crossing God program to ensure our students have

94
00:06:56,060 --> 00:07:02,020
safe walking routes to school. The Traffic Bureau also participates in city initiatives like Vision

95
00:07:02,020 --> 00:07:07,580
Zero and the Traffic Commission to ensure police department enforcement is aligned with the cities

96
00:07:07,580 --> 00:07:14,060
and our communities priorities. The detective vision is led by Captain Ward who has five

97
00:07:14,060 --> 00:07:19,420
sergeants and 24 officers. This division is responsible for investigating criminal acts.

98
00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:24,620
Although we are fortunate to live in a time when crime is at a 30-year low, there are still

99
00:07:24,620 --> 00:07:30,880
incidents of serious crime within this city. Crimes that involve weapons and violence

100
00:07:31,640 --> 00:07:38,260
that require the dedicated investigation of all our officers. The Bureau also has a

101
00:07:38,260 --> 00:07:42,740
family services unit that includes a civilian victim,

102
00:07:43,300 --> 00:07:47,120
witness advocate who provides informed guidance and

103
00:07:47,120 --> 00:07:50,040
coordinated response to individuals who experience

104
00:07:50,040 --> 00:07:51,000
domestic violence.

105
00:07:53,590 --> 00:07:55,350
The graph before you now displays

106
00:07:55,350 --> 00:07:57,790
the range of your police department's activities,

107
00:07:58,030 --> 00:08:01,910
including direct patrols, motive vehicle enforcement,

108
00:08:02,230 --> 00:08:04,130
and incident response to calls for service.

109
00:08:04,690 --> 00:08:07,130
This provides a comprehensive picture of the several police

110
00:08:07,130 --> 00:08:14,170
Department's patrol and traffic bureau responsibilities. Every year, we respond to more than 40,000

111
00:08:14,170 --> 00:08:21,930
community issues, 40,000 community issues from calls for service or emergencies, providing

112
00:08:21,930 --> 00:08:27,510
director patrols at the request of community members in this council to ensuring roads

113
00:08:27,510 --> 00:08:29,270
are safe through traffic enforcement.

114
00:08:32,900 --> 00:08:35,060
One in three summer police department responses

115
00:08:35,060 --> 00:08:38,080
are for director patrols and traffic enforcement for road safety.

116
00:08:39,020 --> 00:08:44,140
Healthy, highly functioning police departments receive their authority from community members

117
00:08:44,140 --> 00:08:49,960
and are responsive to their needs. Residents are summable or rightly cognizant of our current

118
00:08:49,960 --> 00:08:54,920
and increasing density, which factors into pedestrian cyclists, pedestrian,

119
00:08:55,180 --> 00:09:03,600
cyclists, and motorist safety. On top of answering 28,000 incidents, response calls for

120
00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:08,660
service a year, your officers are listening to you in the residents and are constantly

121
00:09:08,660 --> 00:09:14,440
addressing road safety. 28,000 times a year, a resident calls the several police department

122
00:09:14,860 --> 00:09:15,880
looking for assistance.

123
00:09:20,390 --> 00:09:24,190
As I just mentioned, 28,000 times a year, residents call the police

124
00:09:24,190 --> 00:09:31,530
department looking for assistance. This is 78 calls for service a day. 78 times a

125
00:09:31,530 --> 00:09:33,910
Today, a resident requests a police response.

126
00:09:34,810 --> 00:09:36,710
I look forward to working with the community

127
00:09:37,050 --> 00:09:39,370
and city government to take a comprehensive,

128
00:09:39,930 --> 00:09:42,890
nuanced, determined, and informed approach

129
00:09:43,290 --> 00:09:44,630
on continued progress.

130
00:09:45,510 --> 00:09:48,270
We cannot dismantle this service without listening to them

131
00:09:48,590 --> 00:09:50,690
and working with them to ensure that we're able

132
00:09:50,690 --> 00:09:53,550
to provide them a viable alternative.

133
00:09:56,820 --> 00:09:59,540
Calls for service for type are broken down in the slide.

134
00:10:00,160 --> 00:10:02,020
Our computer aided dispatch system

135
00:10:02,020 --> 00:10:07,580
has dozens of codes for incident types. And here we're seeing the top 20 issues in 2019,

136
00:10:08,220 --> 00:10:13,720
which account for about 89 percent of calls for service. These issues range from quality of life

137
00:10:13,720 --> 00:10:19,940
calls to serious potential crimes like assault and domestic violence. These calls can come any

138
00:10:19,940 --> 00:10:24,580
time of day or night, which you will see in the future slides. And the several police department

139
00:10:24,580 --> 00:10:30,180
is the only organization right now who is capable of responding to an emergency 24-7.

140
00:10:30,180 --> 00:10:35,380
There are many cases where officers are not fully aware of the situation they are walking

141
00:10:35,380 --> 00:10:38,200
into and there may be dangers present.

142
00:10:38,860 --> 00:10:42,200
Calls for service don't fully reflect our workload.

143
00:10:42,700 --> 00:10:50,280
An example of this is the fact that in 2019, over 1,200 domestic-related actions were

144
00:10:50,280 --> 00:10:52,340
logged by your Summable Police Department.

145
00:10:52,820 --> 00:10:58,440
That's 1,200 times officers of the Summable Police Department inserted themselves in

146
00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:00,920
potentially volatile situations.

147
00:11:05,900 --> 00:11:09,080
SPDE, single police department, receives an average

148
00:11:09,080 --> 00:11:12,600
of 500 domestic disturbance calls a year.

149
00:11:13,420 --> 00:11:15,380
We understand the level of victimization

150
00:11:15,380 --> 00:11:19,040
in domestic violence, and I applaud members of this council,

151
00:11:19,540 --> 00:11:22,400
such as Council Valentine, who has repeatedly asked

152
00:11:22,400 --> 00:11:24,700
questions about your police department's data

153
00:11:24,700 --> 00:11:27,800
around domestic violence in our response.

154
00:11:28,500 --> 00:11:31,080
Domestic violence calls not only pose a physical threat

155
00:11:31,080 --> 00:11:37,580
to offices. They also take an emotional toll. If the thought is to cut insular units in

156
00:11:37,580 --> 00:11:43,280
the police department and provide only patrol offices, not only will you lose vital services,

157
00:11:43,980 --> 00:11:50,140
you will be positioning the department for burnout and failure. Responsive these calls

158
00:11:50,140 --> 00:11:56,740
takes at least two offices and a supervisor. So when one of the 500 domestic to server

159
00:11:56,740 --> 00:12:02,240
calls are taking place in your city, 40% of your patrol force is tied up.

160
00:12:06,660 --> 00:12:07,280
Unfortunately,

161
00:12:08,080 --> 00:12:12,620
most domestics involve assault and battery. The level of victimization with these calls

162
00:12:12,620 --> 00:12:18,380
is hot-ranging. Some are even more dangerous for victims with incidents of aggravated assault,

163
00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:23,740
as you can see above. I understand there are calls to provide civilian response to social

164
00:12:23,740 --> 00:12:29,840
problems, but police are uniquely positioned to respond to calls where a perpetrator is

165
00:12:29,840 --> 00:12:31,720
potentially violent or has a weapon.

166
00:12:32,520 --> 00:12:34,700
These types of escalations are beyond the scope

167
00:12:34,700 --> 00:12:36,740
of what a civilian response could address.

168
00:12:37,500 --> 00:12:38,300
Think about the numbers.

169
00:12:39,120 --> 00:12:43,120
We had 207 reported domestic assault cases last year.

170
00:12:44,100 --> 00:12:45,760
I look forward to working with this council

171
00:12:46,180 --> 00:12:48,120
to really see this number come down.

172
00:12:48,700 --> 00:12:50,320
Look forward to hearing your ideas.

173
00:12:50,980 --> 00:12:53,260
The other police department has been very progressive

174
00:12:53,260 --> 00:12:54,660
in addressing domestic violence

175
00:12:55,180 --> 00:12:57,080
by hiring a victim witness advocate

176
00:12:57,080 --> 00:12:59,880
to dedicate the time to these survivors.

177
00:13:00,880 --> 00:13:03,440
When any voice is silenced due to domestic violence,

178
00:13:04,000 --> 00:13:04,900
we all suffer.

179
00:13:07,200 --> 00:13:08,840
The final unit I'd like to review

180
00:13:08,840 --> 00:13:11,620
is our community outreach help and recovery office.

181
00:13:12,380 --> 00:13:14,120
I'd like to introduce Patty Contente,

182
00:13:14,780 --> 00:13:16,500
who is a licensed clinical social worker.

183
00:13:17,120 --> 00:13:19,860
Patty began working with the police department in 2010

184
00:13:19,860 --> 00:13:22,120
in her role with Health and Human Services

185
00:13:22,120 --> 00:13:24,160
as a clinical use specialist,

186
00:13:24,900 --> 00:13:26,840
trauma response network manager.

187
00:13:26,840 --> 00:13:33,860
In 2012, we collaborated to implement our first Department of Mental Health Courier to

188
00:13:33,860 --> 00:13:39,220
implement a GIL diversion program focused on diverting individuals impacted by behavioral

189
00:13:39,220 --> 00:13:39,560
health.

190
00:13:40,260 --> 00:13:45,480
This work identified the importance of integrated public health, public safety initiatives

191
00:13:45,800 --> 00:13:51,900
in order to connect and redirect individuals from the criminal justice system towards other

192
00:13:51,900 --> 00:13:55,040
systems that are able to address their needs.

193
00:13:55,040 --> 00:14:01,820
In 2015, at the height of the opioid epidemic here in Somerville, Patty moved to the police

194
00:14:01,820 --> 00:14:02,200
department.

195
00:14:03,100 --> 00:14:09,260
In July of 2016, we formally implemented CORE unit as part of our Somerville police department.

196
00:14:09,900 --> 00:14:14,160
I'd like to give the floor to Patty to talk about the work she does with her team.

197
00:14:16,380 --> 00:14:16,800
All right.

198
00:14:20,610 --> 00:14:21,770
You're recognized, Ms. Contente.

199
00:14:21,950 --> 00:14:22,270
Thank you.

200
00:14:23,810 --> 00:14:24,650
Thank you.

201
00:14:24,650 --> 00:14:29,510
on both counsel and thank you chief. So I just want to provide some basic

202
00:14:29,510 --> 00:14:35,530
overview. So the core unit is a civilian unit. It's a clinical unit. We have three

203
00:14:35,530 --> 00:14:40,330
clinicians, two social work clinicians and a late act licensed alcohol and drug

204
00:14:40,330 --> 00:14:45,670
counselor. This unit was developed through a process with community

205
00:14:45,670 --> 00:14:50,450
partners and stakeholders. Been fortunate to have a number of grants

206
00:14:50,450 --> 00:14:59,710
from the time of 2010 before the implementation in 2016 to really look at the need for an integrated

207
00:15:01,460 --> 00:15:08,540
We're able to maintain our capacity to do outreach and training through an internship program.

208
00:15:09,140 --> 00:15:15,200
This year, we've expanded from three graduate-level interns. In the fall, we'll start with four

209
00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:24,080
graduate MSW interns. We also recently partnered starting in 2018 with EnRoute to provide an

210
00:15:24,080 --> 00:15:29,480
internship for high school students who are immigrants and are interested in

211
00:15:29,480 --> 00:15:31,080
exploring different career paths.

212
00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:36,980
We also have a number of other programs

213
00:15:36,980 --> 00:15:41,880
including our major ones are the Metro Boston CIT Training and Technical

214
00:15:41,880 --> 00:15:47,360
Assistance Center and an overdose outreach program. The program is

215
00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:52,800
maintained capacity through three grants, two of which are through the

216
00:15:52,800 --> 00:15:56,620
mental health and one through the Department of Public Health. Next slide.

217
00:15:59,440 --> 00:16:00,360
So as I started to

218
00:16:00,360 --> 00:16:06,540
mention, there's community outreach. We accept referrals from anyone in the community. We're

219
00:16:06,540 --> 00:16:13,040
fortunate that this is a free service, low bar access to any community member. But the majority

220
00:16:13,040 --> 00:16:18,200
of our referrals come through police officers. Part of our integration into the department

221
00:16:18,200 --> 00:16:21,740
was to set up flags that officers could identify,

222
00:16:22,300 --> 00:16:24,720
calls for service that had root causes

223
00:16:24,720 --> 00:16:26,140
related to behavioral health.

224
00:16:26,600 --> 00:16:29,140
The officers flagged those either for mental health

225
00:16:29,140 --> 00:16:31,180
or narcotics misuse.

226
00:16:31,820 --> 00:16:35,680
And then our unit follows up on all those calls.

227
00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:38,760
The primary reason for that was we wanted to capture

228
00:16:40,130 --> 00:16:42,820
both criminal and non-criminal incidents

229
00:16:43,230 --> 00:16:45,440
that involved a police response.

230
00:16:45,440 --> 00:16:52,880
For those cases where there is a court complaint or people are court involved, we work with

231
00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:57,940
the officers to develop a diversion plan and present that to the courts in conjunction

232
00:16:57,940 --> 00:16:58,680
with the officers.

233
00:17:00,240 --> 00:17:05,240
Our next major program is the Metro Boston Crisis Intervention Team Training and Technical

234
00:17:05,240 --> 00:17:06,180
Assistance Center.

235
00:17:06,740 --> 00:17:10,540
We are a regional hub for 38 police departments.

236
00:17:10,540 --> 00:17:15,360
We provide a range of trainings, which I'll speak to in a few minutes.

237
00:17:16,220 --> 00:17:20,860
And then our last major other program is the Overdose Aftercare Team.

238
00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:23,160
This is in partnership with Access.

239
00:17:23,740 --> 00:17:27,760
Access is our local active drug user health program.

240
00:17:28,280 --> 00:17:33,380
And they have a grant through the Department of Public Health, which they approached

241
00:17:33,380 --> 00:17:41,460
us to partner on doing in the community doorknob outreach visits to community members. Next slide.

242
00:17:44,240 --> 00:17:48,740
So as I started to mention, the community outreach and direct service component is really

243
00:17:48,740 --> 00:17:54,620
driven by officer referrals. We also get referrals from community partners, including

244
00:17:54,620 --> 00:18:01,260
the Department of Mental Health. The system is really dependent on a collaboration with

245
00:18:01,260 --> 00:18:08,320
officers. Officers are voluntarily writing reports for non-criminal encounters where they

246
00:18:08,320 --> 00:18:13,840
again see a root cause of behavioral health being a component of the reason for the call.

247
00:18:14,620 --> 00:18:20,860
The officers provide a detailed report so that when we're making that outreach call,

248
00:18:20,940 --> 00:18:28,860
we are able to engage in a conversation that's specific to lower the stigma around

249
00:18:28,860 --> 00:18:37,520
accessing mental health and addiction services and without the officer's input we would really

250
00:18:37,520 --> 00:18:44,980
not have the success that we have. The part of the community outreach is also looking at

251
00:18:45,400 --> 00:18:51,720
what trainings can we offer to community members in a proactive approach to really inform

252
00:18:51,720 --> 00:18:58,000
community. So we offer Recovery Coach Academy, Mental Health First Aid, Overdose Outreach,

253
00:18:58,000 --> 00:19:04,720
NARCAM trainings in order to assist the community in managing prices and finding alternatives

254
00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:06,340
than calling the police department.

255
00:19:07,140 --> 00:19:12,160
And lastly, the jail diversion program, again, we work closely with the Somerville district

256
00:19:12,160 --> 00:19:12,660
court.

257
00:19:13,480 --> 00:19:15,620
Our diversions are all treatment focused.

258
00:19:16,120 --> 00:19:20,340
Some diversions will be in other locations as community service focused.

259
00:19:20,340 --> 00:19:33,080
We work hard with the individuals to really engage them in supports that will really focus

260
00:19:33,080 --> 00:19:35,980
on behavioral change to reduce recidivism.

261
00:19:36,520 --> 00:19:37,940
So that's our jail diversion program.

262
00:19:39,020 --> 00:19:39,860
Next.

263
00:19:43,240 --> 00:19:48,840
So as I mentioned earlier, the crisis intervention team is the primary training that we do

264
00:19:48,840 --> 00:19:55,040
two is the crisis intervention team, which is a 40-hour training, which covers a range

265
00:19:55,040 --> 00:20:02,460
of topics on clinical conditions, such as depression, anxiety, psychiatric conditions.

266
00:20:03,040 --> 00:20:08,600
We have a day and a half that's focused on verbal and tactical de-escalation.

267
00:20:09,260 --> 00:20:14,680
We have a number of community providers, like our emergency service, psychiatric

268
00:20:14,680 --> 00:20:20,640
emergency services teams as well as DMH providers who come in and talk about how

269
00:20:20,640 --> 00:20:28,240
to partner. CIT, though, is more than just a training. We also work with all of

270
00:20:28,240 --> 00:20:33,320
our departments, including Somerville, to review and inform policy on

271
00:20:33,320 --> 00:20:41,520
responses to behavioral health. We also work with stakeholder groups to

272
00:20:41,520 --> 00:20:47,820
inform how communication can be improved across the community, around police

273
00:20:47,820 --> 00:20:54,500
interactions, identifying community needs, and what role officers can play. In

274
00:20:54,500 --> 00:20:58,280
addition to the 40-hour training, we also have a range of advanced trainings.

275
00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:03,380
Through our work and with the Somerville Police Department, the Jail

276
00:21:03,380 --> 00:21:08,500
Diversion Program, we learned a great deal about where the gaps are in the

277
00:21:08,500 --> 00:21:16,720
community. Our program really fit within President Obama's six pillars of 21st century

278
00:21:16,720 --> 00:21:24,580
policing, which was a study that was issued in 2015. So we're really trying to, with our center,

279
00:21:26,120 --> 00:21:31,240
encourage departments, including Somerville, to look at ways to build community trust,

280
00:21:31,240 --> 00:21:38,000
policy oversight, engage in partnering with community and training in education

281
00:21:38,000 --> 00:21:43,340
and officer wellness has been a huge component of that. Thus far we have about

282
00:21:43,340 --> 00:21:51,180
54% of our Somerville sworn officers who have completed the 40-hour CIT.

283
00:21:55,630 --> 00:21:56,210
Also I

284
00:21:56,210 --> 00:22:00,010
know there's been a lot of discussion around you know kind of what is a

285
00:22:00,010 --> 00:22:05,790
police officer's role in responding to mental health calls. This graph shows you kind of

286
00:22:05,790 --> 00:22:13,150
the range of calls for service specifically identified as psychiatric emergencies or

287
00:22:13,150 --> 00:22:18,390
behavioral health calls. One of the things that's important to understand in the graph

288
00:22:18,390 --> 00:22:23,810
highlights is that one-third of these calls are coming from community health care providers.

289
00:22:23,810 --> 00:22:32,590
So in Massachusetts, we have a non-police emergency response system.

290
00:22:32,790 --> 00:22:37,950
It's called the Psychiatric Emergency Response Service Program.

291
00:22:38,690 --> 00:22:42,210
It is a state-funded and available to every community.

292
00:22:42,410 --> 00:22:47,670
Our local program is funded through the Boston Medical Center.

293
00:22:48,570 --> 00:22:51,890
With that program, they provide clinical assessment.

294
00:22:51,890 --> 00:22:53,750
They're able to have a mobile crisis team.

295
00:22:53,910 --> 00:22:58,950
They're able to go out in the community, meet with people, connect and redirect them to care.

296
00:22:59,750 --> 00:23:03,730
It's important to note that, as the Chief had mentioned, many of these calls for service

297
00:23:03,730 --> 00:23:08,070
have a concern around safety issues.

298
00:23:08,470 --> 00:23:14,970
Safety issues that oftentimes a civilian outreach team would not have the scope or capacity to manage

299
00:23:15,610 --> 00:23:21,190
or that there's an urgent need to get someone to an emergency department.

300
00:23:21,190 --> 00:23:28,150
So a third of these calls are coming from our providers who already have access to clinical

301
00:23:28,150 --> 00:23:31,870
services, emergency response in the community.

302
00:23:33,190 --> 00:23:38,530
Oftentimes what I've learned is the advantage and what I really love about working within

303
00:23:38,530 --> 00:23:45,130
the Somerville Police Department is that officers are, you know, kind of an active workforce

304
00:23:45,130 --> 00:23:46,050
in the community.

305
00:23:46,050 --> 00:23:51,970
They're in the city 24-7, they understand the community stressors.

306
00:23:52,470 --> 00:23:58,750
They're able, many times they know the community members who they're responding to and they're

307
00:23:58,750 --> 00:24:05,230
able to develop a rapport whereas no one wants to be kind of diagnosed with mental health

308
00:24:05,230 --> 00:24:08,710
or told that they need to go into treatment.

309
00:24:08,890 --> 00:24:14,470
With the officers, can normalize that it's understandable for folks to be under stress

310
00:24:14,470 --> 00:24:20,430
and can really develop a rapport and effectively deescalate situations that

311
00:24:20,430 --> 00:24:26,150
otherwise might not be able to be managed. I can tell you that oftentimes

312
00:24:26,150 --> 00:24:30,970
people will will be disinterested in talking to me even though I'm on scene

313
00:24:30,970 --> 00:24:37,510
and available and be very open and responsive to officers. So it's been a

314
00:24:37,510 --> 00:24:43,510
great partnership in that way. Again one of the things that we've done

315
00:24:43,510 --> 00:24:50,330
through core is we've implemented a CIT program here. We now have four CIT

316
00:24:50,330 --> 00:24:55,450
coordinators who are police officers. Those officers were interviewed for that

317
00:24:55,450 --> 00:24:59,970
role and they were chosen for their interests, their skill, and also their

318
00:24:59,970 --> 00:25:04,650
ability to cover all three shifts. So now on every shift we have a police

319
00:25:04,650 --> 00:25:11,310
officer who is knowledgeable in CIT response, available to consult and

320
00:25:11,310 --> 00:25:15,970
supervise scenes as necessary, which is extremely important.

321
00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:20,160
That covers my

322
00:25:20,160 --> 00:25:22,460
comments, so I'll pass it back to the Chief.

323
00:25:27,040 --> 00:25:28,720
I want

324
00:25:35,980 --> 00:25:37,060
to thank Patty for your

325
00:25:37,060 --> 00:25:40,940
time tonight and all your work at the Summer Police Department. From the day I

326
00:25:40,940 --> 00:25:44,800
joined the Summer Police Department, I saw a vast number of officers that wanted

327
00:25:44,800 --> 00:25:49,260
to improve the culture of the Summer Police Department. I can tell you from

328
00:25:49,260 --> 00:25:52,880
a chief's position that culture trumps policy.

329
00:25:53,700 --> 00:25:59,100
Policies can be formulated and supervising as we work daily to hold officers accountable

330
00:25:59,500 --> 00:26:00,540
to these policies.

331
00:26:01,260 --> 00:26:05,380
It takes years to develop a positive culture in a police department.

332
00:26:05,900 --> 00:26:11,380
One in which officers sees themselves as guardians of their community and culture which

333
00:26:11,380 --> 00:26:17,280
officers view arrest as the last option in value of the sanctity of life is forthright

334
00:26:17,280 --> 00:26:23,540
in every decision they make. Collectively, that's how our voices be heard that revalue and support

335
00:26:23,540 --> 00:26:29,580
the culture of our department. This council has worked hard to review candidates and give them

336
00:26:29,580 --> 00:26:35,480
the privilege to go out and serve our residents. I ask you to continue to stand behind them,

337
00:26:35,480 --> 00:26:41,840
to support the ability to continue on this path of progress, to actualize the goals of 21st

338
00:26:41,840 --> 00:26:47,340
century policing and participate in ensuring safety that include their responsibility and

339
00:26:47,340 --> 00:26:51,920
commitment to increasing the quality of life for every resident of our city.

340
00:26:54,340 --> 00:26:58,060
Put some context to the conversations. I'd like to talk about why

341
00:26:58,060 --> 00:27:05,260
we need the staffing that we have. As you are aware, there are six current

342
00:27:05,260 --> 00:27:10,200
vacancies in the police department. Right now, those vacancies comprise of four neighborhood

343
00:27:10,200 --> 00:27:16,440
police officers, one officer in patrol, and one detective. I want to briefly discuss the impact

344
00:27:16,440 --> 00:27:21,700
of these vacancies on the apartment and why I believe it is critical to include these positions

345
00:27:21,700 --> 00:27:27,820
in our fiscal year 21 budget. Neighborhood police officers are your community problem

346
00:27:27,820 --> 00:27:33,260
solvers who are tasked with resolving quality of life issues before they become crimes.

347
00:27:34,120 --> 00:27:37,640
Vacancies in these positions means that we are doing less problem solving

348
00:27:37,640 --> 00:27:41,960
and less community outreach like business contacts and resident outreach.

349
00:27:42,700 --> 00:27:46,020
Lower staffing levels prevents the department from investigating,

350
00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:48,420
from investing in problem solving,

351
00:27:48,860 --> 00:27:54,840
and puts us in a reactive posture that benefits the public or our police department.

352
00:27:55,780 --> 00:28:00,900
I vehemently disagree with any cause for the police to disengage with the community.

353
00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:03,820
Policing in Somerville is about relationships.

354
00:28:03,820 --> 00:28:12,280
Policing in Somerville is built on a foundation of legitimacy granted to us by the residents,

355
00:28:12,560 --> 00:28:13,960
not through criminal law.

356
00:28:14,460 --> 00:28:20,880
And as you saw during COVID-19 crisis that was still in the midst of today, for us it's

357
00:28:20,880 --> 00:28:22,920
about cooperation over compliance.

358
00:28:23,880 --> 00:28:29,740
The Detective Bureau vacancies directly translate into increased caseload.

359
00:28:29,740 --> 00:28:36,620
Between 2015 and 2019, the detective's caseload has increased from 85 cases per detective

360
00:28:37,060 --> 00:28:44,180
up to 111 cases per detective. Our detective bureau has done an incredible job with the resources

361
00:28:44,180 --> 00:28:50,220
available, investigating serious crimes like aggravated assault and firearm incidences,

362
00:28:51,340 --> 00:28:58,180
but increased caseloads means less time on each case. What you won't see on paper is how we

363
00:28:58,180 --> 00:29:02,340
do staffing prevents the other department from backfilling offices

364
00:29:02,340 --> 00:29:07,380
who are out on leave. For example, out on leave, for example,

365
00:29:07,580 --> 00:29:10,800
long-term injury. A good example of this is your traffic

366
00:29:10,800 --> 00:29:13,580
bureau, which provides a tremendous service to the

367
00:29:13,580 --> 00:29:16,560
residents of this city. One officer who was out on long

368
00:29:16,560 --> 00:29:19,300
term injury this year, who were unable to backfill the

369
00:29:19,300 --> 00:29:22,640
position, disaffectively cut out traffic bureau by about

370
00:29:22,640 --> 00:29:26,080
15% for eight months, which limited our ability to

371
00:29:26,080 --> 00:29:28,120
assigned offices to vision zero tasks.

372
00:29:42,600 --> 00:29:44,540
I apologize, my screen blake.

373
00:29:45,060 --> 00:29:47,400
The civil service hiring process makes it impossible

374
00:29:47,820 --> 00:29:50,000
to maintain offices at a specific level

375
00:29:50,000 --> 00:29:51,120
throughout a fiscal year.

376
00:29:51,740 --> 00:29:54,480
Police academies are scheduled on an identity basis,

377
00:29:54,660 --> 00:29:57,220
and seats and academies are not always available.

378
00:29:57,900 --> 00:29:59,840
In the past few years, our graduates

379
00:30:00,540 --> 00:30:05,360
Graduation rates from academies have been around 60 percent, so we have fewer officers

380
00:30:05,360 --> 00:30:12,220
entering the force. That's by plan. Years ago, we'd help officers get through on an academy.

381
00:30:12,440 --> 00:30:17,680
Now we know that our community demands the best in the highest level of policing. In fact,

382
00:30:18,040 --> 00:30:23,880
it is a fact that we will have retirements this year and lose offices to attrition. Lowering

383
00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:28,380
our staff level beyond the two positions already cut in the budget. These vacancies from

384
00:30:28,380 --> 00:30:33,500
retirement and attrition will not be reflected in our budgeted positions, but will impact

385
00:30:33,500 --> 00:30:38,460
our staffing and operation level. Without having the position in the budget, we would

386
00:30:38,460 --> 00:30:43,440
not be able to start the hiring process until after the retirement a resignation occurs,

387
00:30:43,980 --> 00:30:46,680
which could mean positions are vacant for a year.

388
00:30:49,680 --> 00:30:52,400
Reducing our staffing further will

389
00:30:52,400 --> 00:30:56,380
lead to an increase in what is referred to as forced holdovers, which is where

390
00:30:56,380 --> 00:30:58,940
that an officer is ordered to work the next shift

391
00:30:58,940 --> 00:31:00,880
because our overtime list is exhausted.

392
00:31:01,600 --> 00:31:04,320
For example, if a patrol officer worked a day shift,

393
00:31:04,820 --> 00:31:08,000
they may be ordered to work the following first half shift,

394
00:31:08,360 --> 00:31:10,900
evening shift, evening shift.

395
00:31:11,140 --> 00:31:14,840
From July of 2019 to June 13th of 2020,

396
00:31:15,140 --> 00:31:17,400
we had roughly 60 forced holdovers.

397
00:31:18,140 --> 00:31:20,540
This practice is needed to keep adequate staffing

398
00:31:20,540 --> 00:31:23,940
so we can respond to emergencies if and when they arise.

399
00:31:23,940 --> 00:31:29,820
But it is a burden on offices and add stress and burnout.

400
00:31:30,520 --> 00:31:33,440
At the department, we know that officer bonus is critical,

401
00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:36,840
which is why adequate staffing is important for operations.

402
00:31:37,520 --> 00:31:42,700
We asked you to partner with us in putting this new class of candidates into the July Academy.

403
00:31:43,340 --> 00:31:47,220
These candidates represent the voices you are saying we need to desperately listen to.

404
00:31:47,860 --> 00:31:51,740
The vacant funded positions before you tonight will be filled by two black males,

405
00:31:51,740 --> 00:31:57,500
one Hispanic male, and for the first time in the history of the Soundville Police Department,

406
00:31:58,000 --> 00:31:59,220
a non-citizen.

407
00:32:01,450 --> 00:32:06,330
Please consider a message we are sending to our community by hiring a dreamer

408
00:32:06,330 --> 00:32:11,570
to serve on our police force. Please don't let this opportunity pass us by.

409
00:32:14,450 --> 00:32:15,150
It was requested

410
00:32:15,150 --> 00:32:21,530
for daily call volume in this graph shows that it's highly variable. Daily call volume is

411
00:32:21,530 --> 00:32:28,010
highly variable. Looking at 2020 quarter one calls for service, volumes fluctuate. A low

412
00:32:28,010 --> 00:32:33,010
volume day can be followed by a high call day. The nature of this job means that you

413
00:32:33,010 --> 00:32:38,010
can't just look at the average number of calls on a Monday. You have to plan for adequate

414
00:32:38,010 --> 00:32:41,710
staffing in any case of an emergency.

415
00:32:46,340 --> 00:32:48,660
Talk about the current staffing levels at the

416
00:32:48,660 --> 00:32:53,900
Sunville Police Department. This slide further illustrates that Sunville already

417
00:32:53,900 --> 00:32:59,800
operates a small police department. Of the 25 most popular cities in Massachusetts, we

418
00:32:59,800 --> 00:33:07,380
have the fewest officers per capita. In 2018, we had 15 officers per 10,000 residents. This

419
00:33:07,380 --> 00:33:14,080
is compared to 24 officers per 10,000 residents in Cambridge, and 31.5 officers per 10,000

420
00:33:14,080 --> 00:33:20,640
residents in Boston. Bigger cities could cut the officer head count by 20 or 30 percent

421
00:33:20,640 --> 00:33:23,640
and still have more offices than we have here in Summable.

422
00:33:24,260 --> 00:33:26,640
And it's not just about that we have fewer offices

423
00:33:26,640 --> 00:33:27,380
than our neighbors.

424
00:33:27,960 --> 00:33:31,080
As a department, we have downsized over the years.

425
00:33:31,780 --> 00:33:35,880
In 2001, we had 145 budgeted positions.

426
00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:39,700
In fiscal year 21, we're proposing 130 positions.

427
00:33:40,440 --> 00:33:43,940
This is a 10% reduction of force in the past decade.

428
00:33:50,680 --> 00:33:51,740
To add further context,

429
00:33:52,900 --> 00:33:54,320
not only do we have fewer officers

430
00:33:54,320 --> 00:33:55,680
for capital than our neighbors,

431
00:33:55,680 --> 00:34:02,220
We also spend less on our police department as a percentage of our operational budget.

432
00:34:02,920 --> 00:34:08,520
In fiscal year 20, Soundville spent 6.6 of our budget on police.

433
00:34:09,060 --> 00:34:12,880
This is a small percentage than MedFit, Cambridge, and Boston.

434
00:34:13,520 --> 00:34:19,660
As a lean department, we don't have much to cut without jeopardizing basic operations.

435
00:34:25,310 --> 00:34:29,970
These slides on here just highlight some of the progress the Soundville Police Department

436
00:34:29,970 --> 00:34:37,230
has made, and it's really only a few. The city of Somerville has a police department that it can

437
00:34:37,230 --> 00:34:43,170
be proud of. I ask you not to decrease service levels to our residents who are most in need of

438
00:34:43,170 --> 00:34:48,610
our services. Don't step away and dismantle a police department that has worked for years

439
00:34:48,610 --> 00:34:55,910
to transform itself into a service organization, servicing our residents who our society has

440
00:34:55,910 --> 00:35:02,090
field and many different levels. Let's endeavor to work together to do the difficult work of

441
00:35:02,090 --> 00:35:07,790
governance and put it in the place a social service fabric needed to protect our most vulnerable

442
00:35:07,790 --> 00:35:13,570
residents before we cut a police department that has been working on reform for the past 20 years.

443
00:35:14,210 --> 00:35:19,670
I became a police officer in 1998 and I was proud to serve side shoulder to shoulder with

444
00:35:19,670 --> 00:35:24,230
the minimum of the several police department. I've seen them change over the years. I've

445
00:35:24,230 --> 00:35:30,010
seen them, their investment in this community, mothers, husbands, fathers, it's amazing

446
00:35:30,010 --> 00:35:36,170
they work they do on a day in and day out basis. They're here for you. They're proud

447
00:35:36,170 --> 00:35:42,830
to serve this community. I ask you today to stand with us, with us on the continue road

448
00:35:42,830 --> 00:35:47,930
to reform. Some of them can lead the way. Our call offer shows that. Our partnership

449
00:35:47,930 --> 00:35:53,090
ship with 26 or 36 police department shows that we can set the standard for policing.

450
00:35:53,810 --> 00:35:59,570
Let's work together towards that. I'd like to transition to the mayor to discuss ratio

451
00:35:59,570 --> 00:36:01,010
and social justice project.

452
00:36:04,010 --> 00:36:07,210
Thank you chief. Mr. Chairman. Welcome sir.

453
00:36:07,870 --> 00:36:14,550
I said may I proceed. Please go ahead. Thank you Chairman Scott to you the members of

454
00:36:14,550 --> 00:36:19,530
the city council present to the community tuned in and all those who've engaged before

455
00:36:19,530 --> 00:36:26,230
tonight's meeting and continuously. As the Chief has spoken, alluded to we have worked for over

456
00:36:26,230 --> 00:36:33,330
15 years not just as an administration but as a community to deliver just and unbiased and

457
00:36:33,330 --> 00:36:39,030
really compassionate policing to the community and to invest in the education and social services

458
00:36:39,810 --> 00:36:46,130
our residents deserve. We'd agree with everyone the work is far from done which is why we're

459
00:36:46,130 --> 00:36:52,010
proposing a more than $1.6 million initial investment in the racial and social justice

460
00:36:52,010 --> 00:36:58,650
project. As I mentioned in my previous presentation, this initiative demonstrates our commitment

461
00:36:58,650 --> 00:37:03,710
to reimagining policing and to invest in our community, especially those groups most

462
00:37:03,710 --> 00:37:10,490
impacted by systemic racism and social inequality, those closest to the pain. It is an intensive

463
00:37:10,490 --> 00:37:18,310
push to really establish long-term structures rooted in racial and social justice presented on

464
00:37:18,310 --> 00:37:23,870
this slide. You'll see a condensed version of the information I presented on June 19th.

465
00:37:24,230 --> 00:37:28,530
The project summary you received early today has details on each of these initiatives.

466
00:37:29,430 --> 00:37:34,870
Coordinated by the Director of Racial and Social Justice, the project of reimagining policing

467
00:37:34,870 --> 00:37:42,250
will be a community led process that amplifies the voices of those closest to the pain of racial and social injustice

468
00:37:42,250 --> 00:37:46,830
and also brings the voices of those closest to the work into the conversation.

469
00:37:47,770 --> 00:37:51,310
So I submit the project and the initiative really has two goals.

470
00:37:51,770 --> 00:37:56,030
One, that the council is already engaging with the administration and the public,

471
00:37:56,150 --> 00:37:59,310
establishing a civilian oversight committee for the Somerville Police Department.

472
00:37:59,310 --> 00:38:05,330
to developing a new public safety model that includes civilian response and holistic thinking

473
00:38:05,330 --> 00:38:10,230
and other approaches that really builds on the more than 15 years of standard setting and transformation

474
00:38:10,230 --> 00:38:13,610
of the police department to reimagine it to something even greater.

475
00:38:14,450 --> 00:38:18,990
The Director of Racial and Social Justice will also coordinate a community-led process

476
00:38:18,990 --> 00:38:23,070
to determine how to invest the initial $750,000

477
00:38:23,070 --> 00:38:28,050
and more that we have proposed for the Racial and Social Justice Fund in fiscal year 21.

478
00:38:28,050 --> 00:38:35,890
one. Now, we are not prescribing how these funds will be spent or how the

479
00:38:35,890 --> 00:38:40,810
reimagining policing project will be conducted, making the Director of

480
00:38:40,810 --> 00:38:45,510
Racial and Social Justice such a critical position. Who, what a collaborative

481
00:38:45,510 --> 00:38:51,290
hiring process we want to work together with the Council in the community to

482
00:38:51,290 --> 00:38:55,710
identify a person with the skill set necessary to ensure these processes

483
00:38:55,710 --> 00:39:03,110
are inclusive and they truly amplify those voices in our community that are closest to the pain of racial and social injustice.

484
00:39:03,810 --> 00:39:09,770
The Director of Racial and Social Injustice will report to the Mayor's Office for the time being.

485
00:39:10,310 --> 00:39:16,230
However, as you all know, as we did with the Office of Housing Stability under the leadership of Ellen Schachter,

486
00:39:16,650 --> 00:39:22,250
we will ask the RSJ Director to create a business plan for launching a Racial and Social Justice Office,

487
00:39:22,970 --> 00:39:28,390
Establishing its goals and objectives and defining the personnel and resources necessary to achieve them.

488
00:39:29,330 --> 00:39:37,590
Finally, included in the Summable Public Schools budget, it's more than $600,000 of racial and social justice investments and our students.

489
00:39:38,730 --> 00:39:46,390
Our schools have placed equity at the center of their work for years, and this new investment doubles down on that approach.

490
00:39:47,370 --> 00:39:47,990
Next slide, please.

491
00:39:47,990 --> 00:39:49,010
A

492
00:39:51,220 --> 00:39:57,540
substantial funding source for the Relatial and Social Justice Project is over, again,

493
00:39:57,620 --> 00:40:03,420
$750,000 in reallocated monies from the Somerville Police Department's budget.

494
00:40:04,280 --> 00:40:09,040
The Police Department presented a proposed budget of more than $17 million to me in

495
00:40:09,040 --> 00:40:09,260
April.

496
00:40:10,080 --> 00:40:15,380
We worked together with the Chief as a team to identify cuts and reallocation of funds

497
00:40:15,380 --> 00:40:19,140
detailed on this slide in order to provide a funding source for the critical initial

498
00:40:19,140 --> 00:40:25,060
investments of the RSGA project. Now these cuts, reallocation of funds represent approximately

499
00:40:25,060 --> 00:40:32,880
4.4% reduction in the police department's budget compared to their original proposal. Now as you

500
00:40:32,880 --> 00:40:40,420
recall, what we call for my presentation on the 19th, Boston cut about $12 million from their

501
00:40:40,420 --> 00:40:45,640
police department's original proposal, which is about a 2.8% reduction, and Cambridge cut

502
00:40:45,640 --> 00:40:49,300
about $2.5 million, which is a 3.7% reduction,

503
00:40:49,460 --> 00:40:51,360
just to give comparative context.

504
00:40:52,060 --> 00:40:54,500
But this reinforces what the chief discussed earlier.

505
00:40:55,020 --> 00:40:57,280
Compared to our neighbors and police departments

506
00:40:57,280 --> 00:41:00,840
across the country, we are already a lean department.

507
00:41:01,380 --> 00:41:02,880
And this goes back to the work we started

508
00:41:02,880 --> 00:41:05,440
more than 15 years ago,

509
00:41:05,500 --> 00:41:07,800
because the goal wasn't to hire police officers

510
00:41:07,800 --> 00:41:09,060
as a way to solve crimes.

511
00:41:09,420 --> 00:41:11,420
The goal was to change the way we policed

512
00:41:11,420 --> 00:41:13,480
and we made investments in changing that approach,

513
00:41:13,480 --> 00:41:20,560
which is why you see an incremental decrease in the number of actual rank and sworn offices in the department

514
00:41:20,560 --> 00:41:25,660
and an investment in services around human and social services and different approaches to community policing.

515
00:41:26,580 --> 00:41:28,160
So, again, we are already a lean department.

516
00:41:28,540 --> 00:41:31,920
And though the dollar value of our cuts may seem small compared to Boston and Camers,

517
00:41:32,400 --> 00:41:35,380
as they share the budget, they're actually larger.

518
00:41:36,500 --> 00:41:37,280
Next slide, please.

519
00:41:40,700 --> 00:41:44,480
So, we know we must move quickly.

520
00:41:44,480 --> 00:41:52,500
I want to thank many of you who have impressed upon me to lay out a timeline of how we would

521
00:41:52,500 --> 00:41:56,480
envision this working, and I especially want to thank Councilor Davis.

522
00:41:57,620 --> 00:42:01,920
As we want to move quickly with a sense of urgency, I'd submit we must also move thoughtfully.

523
00:42:02,680 --> 00:42:06,840
The timeline presented in this slide and in the summary document you received today

524
00:42:07,660 --> 00:42:13,320
establishes a draft timeline for the Racial and Social Justice Project, but once hired,

525
00:42:13,320 --> 00:42:19,060
The director, the Irish State Director's first responsibility ruled to me to work with the

526
00:42:19,060 --> 00:42:23,980
community to establish a detailed plan to achieve the goals and objectives of the project.

527
00:42:24,860 --> 00:42:29,540
The process that the community ultimately decides upon engages and may take longer than

528
00:42:29,540 --> 00:42:29,800
this.

529
00:42:30,300 --> 00:42:34,580
As a community working collectively with residents and those closest to the pain in

530
00:42:34,580 --> 00:42:38,600
the city council and the administration and all stakeholders, we may decide there's

531
00:42:38,600 --> 00:42:44,100
opportunity to accelerate parts of this initiative or that has to be adjusted based on other factors.

532
00:42:45,220 --> 00:42:51,160
One that's right before us and not going away anytime soon is what impact COVID-19 has on all

533
00:42:52,140 --> 00:42:56,320
segments, in fact, in sectors of city government in our life as we move forward.

534
00:42:57,080 --> 00:43:01,280
But today what we present is an aggressive initial timeline that reflects,

535
00:43:05,280 --> 00:43:05,660
I'd submit,

536
00:43:05,660 --> 00:43:11,440
Let me just end and try to summarize here and just make a statement.

537
00:43:12,020 --> 00:43:16,700
And I appreciate the time, Mr. Chairman, for you to everyone on the council and everyone tuned in.

538
00:43:18,020 --> 00:43:23,380
The chief provided you his presentation of the FY21 Police Department budget and gave some context.

539
00:43:23,380 --> 00:43:35,220
And I think we all know that our budget process is taking place amidst a long overdue national conversation about systemic racism and the role of police in our communities.

540
00:43:37,160 --> 00:43:45,020
I think we are all in agreement that policing should not be the solution for all the issues that we as a society have neglected or turned away from addressing.

541
00:43:45,720 --> 00:43:54,840
but the reality, as you have heard, is that every day, residents, business owners, myself, city counselors, and even clinicians and social workers are calling the police.

542
00:43:55,700 --> 00:44:03,800
I have long pushed back against the idea that you need to hire officers or rush your way out of crime, and we've shown that over the years.

543
00:44:04,720 --> 00:44:14,460
What makes a difference is having officers though who are committed to serving the community compassionately, fairly, and really in a way that addresses the issues holistically.

544
00:44:15,200 --> 00:44:19,340
And I'm extremely proud of the work that the Somerville Police Department has done to

545
00:44:19,340 --> 00:44:24,060
not criminalize issues of health, like mental illness and addiction, and the priority they

546
00:44:24,060 --> 00:44:27,120
have put on peacefully resolving whatever situation they are called to.

547
00:44:27,460 --> 00:44:30,980
Now we may take that for granted and say that shouldn't come into question, but compare

548
00:44:30,980 --> 00:44:34,260
what we do here in Somerville with this, the Police Department, with so many across

549
00:44:34,260 --> 00:44:37,180
the nation, you'll find out that we are leading and setting a standard.

550
00:44:37,800 --> 00:44:42,800
And this work should not be minimized, but we also realize it is a start, not

551
00:44:42,800 --> 00:44:49,900
There's so much to learn from what we've experienced and done over the past 15 plus years to build upon as we re-imagine something even more special.

552
00:44:50,560 --> 00:44:59,220
And we are committed to do this work in a thoughtful way and an informed way that elevates the voices of those who have been disproportionately affected by policing.

553
00:45:00,000 --> 00:45:04,040
And while we understand the need to move quickly, we want to make sure that we move forward really

554
00:45:04,040 --> 00:45:08,180
thoughtfully and in a way that keeps residents safe and continues to address our community

555
00:45:08,180 --> 00:45:14,700
needs. The unfortunate reality is that there is not a robust social system in place to

556
00:45:14,700 --> 00:45:21,360
help take the work away from the police. It's going to take all of our work together. If

557
00:45:21,360 --> 00:45:24,740
the Summable Police Department budget, as the Chief has mentioned, were to be slashed

558
00:45:24,740 --> 00:45:29,060
and offices were laid off, there is no one currently waiting in the wings to step

559
00:45:29,060 --> 00:45:30,520
and to fill all those roles.

560
00:45:31,500 --> 00:45:35,020
Right now, the reality is that it's often police officers

561
00:45:35,020 --> 00:45:36,260
who are helping to connect residents

562
00:45:36,260 --> 00:45:37,440
with the services they need.

563
00:45:37,860 --> 00:45:39,780
I'd submit, and I think we'd all agree.

564
00:45:40,000 --> 00:45:41,260
Perhaps a lot of that needs to change.

565
00:45:41,400 --> 00:45:43,040
We have a lot of lessons to bring to the table

566
00:45:43,040 --> 00:45:45,340
on how that perhaps should change.

567
00:45:45,760 --> 00:45:46,900
But if we want things to change,

568
00:45:47,400 --> 00:45:48,120
we're gonna need to work.

569
00:45:48,280 --> 00:45:50,460
We're gonna need to work locally, regionally,

570
00:45:50,480 --> 00:45:51,880
and statewide to improve access

571
00:45:51,880 --> 00:45:54,880
to long-term mental health care and recovery services.

572
00:45:55,420 --> 00:45:56,240
And to prevent crime,

573
00:45:56,360 --> 00:45:57,660
we will need to address sweeping issues

574
00:45:57,660 --> 00:46:03,400
like poverty and access to education and jobs, and as a society, and we will need to rethink our own

575
00:46:03,400 --> 00:46:09,200
behavior and reevaluate when it's appropriate for us to call the police. I mean, that should be at

576
00:46:09,200 --> 00:46:15,160
the core of the work we do as a community to lead this charge. And more narrowly, we can't

577
00:46:15,160 --> 00:46:19,140
also want to make a point that we can't ignore the reality of our police contracts.

578
00:46:19,700 --> 00:46:22,820
One of the hallmarks of the employment relationships is a unionized workplace.

579
00:46:23,460 --> 00:46:32,320
What we're unionized workplace is that the city cannot make unilateral changes, so the terms and conditions of employment without satisfying is bargaining obligations.

580
00:46:33,280 --> 00:46:45,920
Because the employees in the city's police department are represented by a labor union in most aspects of their employment, the city is required to bargain with the unions to resolution or impasse before it can make impactful operational changes.

581
00:46:45,920 --> 00:46:48,840
We just can't steamroll over these legal requirements.

582
00:46:49,180 --> 00:46:55,620
And failing to complete these processes exposes the city to sanctions issued by state agencies or arbitrators,

583
00:46:55,820 --> 00:46:57,780
both of which are enforceable against the city and court.

584
00:46:58,240 --> 00:47:01,680
This is not mentioned by me as a insurmountable hurdle.

585
00:47:01,860 --> 00:47:02,540
We've done this.

586
00:47:03,260 --> 00:47:09,200
When we formed the police advisory group led by former Attorney General Scott Hoshbrock and members of the community,

587
00:47:09,600 --> 00:47:13,240
and we engaged the community in the reform process and we took on special interest.

588
00:47:13,520 --> 00:47:14,100
We did this.

589
00:47:14,100 --> 00:47:17,160
We overcame those obstacles and instituted the reforms

590
00:47:17,160 --> 00:47:18,740
that led to the success we've seen today.

591
00:47:19,420 --> 00:47:21,860
But I agree with all of you that time is of the essence.

592
00:47:22,220 --> 00:47:25,820
The moment is urgent and we cannot afford to defer a change.

593
00:47:26,120 --> 00:47:28,840
So often the necessary bargaining process takes time

594
00:47:28,840 --> 00:47:29,320
to complete.

595
00:47:30,060 --> 00:47:32,580
Delaying lengthy processes are also the enemy

596
00:47:32,580 --> 00:47:34,900
of meaningful change and only affirm the status quo.

597
00:47:35,060 --> 00:47:35,980
We're on the same page.

598
00:47:36,300 --> 00:47:38,620
So we are actively and we'll continue to work with you

599
00:47:38,620 --> 00:47:41,080
to examine the strategic and expeditious options

600
00:47:41,080 --> 00:47:43,740
in furtherance of our goal of reimagining policing

601
00:47:44,500 --> 00:47:49,580
But it's my hope as a hard work, it's on the way that also the city's union partner,

602
00:47:51,060 --> 00:47:54,400
that city's union is actually partnered with the city leadership and all of us in the community

603
00:47:54,400 --> 00:47:58,100
towards our shared goals for the future of the department and of the community.

604
00:47:58,760 --> 00:48:03,080
Given that they are currently doing this work, I'd submit they want to be an important voice

605
00:48:03,080 --> 00:48:04,800
in this conversation as well.

606
00:48:05,680 --> 00:48:06,960
But I just want to thank you.

607
00:48:07,660 --> 00:48:11,420
To that end, I want to thank everyone in the community for being engaged in this issue.

608
00:48:12,380 --> 00:48:14,780
They have passions towards this issue, meaning they really care.

609
00:48:15,660 --> 00:48:21,080
And by bringing this level of constructive discomfort or disequilibrium and bringing

610
00:48:21,080 --> 00:48:24,900
this all to the table, we'll only build upon the great work we've done for more than 15

611
00:48:24,900 --> 00:48:29,360
years of reforming police in Somerville and to lead a stand of reimagining.

612
00:48:29,480 --> 00:48:32,620
So Mr. Chairman, thank you to you, to all of the members of the council, allow me

613
00:48:32,620 --> 00:48:33,000
to speak.

614
00:48:33,120 --> 00:48:35,140
And I stand with the Chief ready to answer any questions.

615
00:48:39,130 --> 00:48:39,850
All right.

616
00:48:40,430 --> 00:48:41,330
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

617
00:48:41,530 --> 00:48:42,050
Thank you, Chief.

618
00:48:42,590 --> 00:48:43,230
Thank you, Ms. Contente.

619
00:48:43,230 --> 00:48:50,330
So at this point, according to the schedule that I had laid out, we'll get to questions

620
00:48:50,330 --> 00:48:50,930
shortly.

621
00:48:51,650 --> 00:48:59,730
I did have one presentation of information that Councilor Rosetti requested to make.

622
00:49:01,370 --> 00:49:04,710
So at this point, I'd like to recognize Councilor Rosetti.

623
00:49:05,450 --> 00:49:08,570
And for Councillors who would like to get in line to ask questions, I already see

624
00:49:08,570 --> 00:49:14,230
Councillor Mba and Councillor Ewan Campan and so we'll start recommending people

625
00:49:14,230 --> 00:49:17,330
after Councillor Rosetti provides us with some information. So Councillor

626
00:49:17,330 --> 00:49:22,050
Rosetti, do you have the floor? Mr. Chair, thank you. I wanted to share

627
00:49:22,050 --> 00:49:29,370
through you last year during budget talks when I questioned the Chief on the

628
00:49:29,370 --> 00:49:35,910
grant monies that were received. To my notes at that time it was $749,807

629
00:49:35,910 --> 00:49:42,130
dollars. And a lot of it was in his professional technical and other lines that he had planned

630
00:49:42,130 --> 00:49:47,650
for work for his department. And I questioned why he was putting it in the budget if he

631
00:49:47,650 --> 00:49:54,230
was, you know, going to be receiving grants. And he suggested it wasn't smart to create

632
00:49:54,230 --> 00:49:58,850
a budget with no guarantee of a grant having come in yet. Therefore, he put it in his

633
00:49:58,850 --> 00:50:07,650
budget. So beginning July 1, I started to monitor grants coming into the city. And in the budget book

634
00:50:07,650 --> 00:50:14,850
itself, it's not clearly noted the grants that are received by departments. So I may not have targeted

635
00:50:14,850 --> 00:50:21,690
all of the grants, but to my notes, the Summable Police Department received $1.5 million in grants.

636
00:50:22,570 --> 00:50:27,250
And then I dove in a little bit deeper and I looked to see how much of those particular

637
00:50:27,250 --> 00:50:35,690
of grants were repetitive grants from years past. And of that, for fiscal year 20, I found

638
00:50:35,690 --> 00:50:42,290
that $690,171 were repetitive grants from multiple years.

639
00:50:45,030 --> 00:50:48,810
When I looked into the ones

640
00:50:48,810 --> 00:50:53,450
that I know were given year after year for the same particular purpose, at least half

641
00:50:53,450 --> 00:50:57,830
of that relates to mental health issues and Department of Public Health issues.

642
00:50:58,470 --> 00:51:04,390
And I thought and looked very clearly at the Racial Social Justice Department program that

643
00:51:04,950 --> 00:51:08,570
the mayor wanted to introduce and the monies for that program.

644
00:51:09,090 --> 00:51:16,390
So I wanted to share with my colleagues again that there is 1.5, a minimum of 1.5 million

645
00:51:16,390 --> 00:51:27,690
in budgets coming into the department of which 690,171 are repetitive and that if these grants

646
00:51:27,690 --> 00:51:32,890
are supplanting what was requested in the hard budget, why are we then also putting it in the

647
00:51:32,890 --> 00:51:39,190
hard budget? Our free cash was astronomical. It's helped us this particular year, of course,

648
00:51:39,650 --> 00:51:44,410
but free cash we've been very lucky over the years to be okay with that. So,

649
00:51:44,410 --> 00:51:50,450
So, if possible to even create a stabilization fund of these monies to take out of the budget

650
00:51:50,450 --> 00:51:55,190
that we anticipate could potentially be coming in and grants as they have year after year

651
00:51:55,690 --> 00:52:00,610
and putting it into a stabilization fund if that's allowable and then have the racial

652
00:52:00,610 --> 00:52:05,950
social justice department group monitor and of course that would come to us for a final

653
00:52:05,950 --> 00:52:07,550
vote before it was expended.

654
00:52:08,050 --> 00:52:10,410
But I just wanted to share those numbers with you all.

655
00:52:10,510 --> 00:52:11,490
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

656
00:52:11,490 --> 00:52:11,590
Yeah.

657
00:52:13,720 --> 00:52:14,480
All right.

658
00:52:14,720 --> 00:52:16,200
Thank you, Councillor Rosetti.

659
00:52:16,580 --> 00:52:21,860
And just to make sure I've got the number, 1.5 million in grants, 690,000 or so repetitive

660
00:52:21,860 --> 00:52:22,240
grants.

661
00:52:23,900 --> 00:52:24,440
Yes, sir.

662
00:52:25,040 --> 00:52:25,500
All right.

663
00:52:25,640 --> 00:52:25,940
Thank you.

664
00:52:26,700 --> 00:52:27,500
All right.

665
00:52:27,680 --> 00:52:35,400
So I see in line for questions related to those, I guess, one very long three-part

666
00:52:35,400 --> 00:52:39,380
presentation or four-part presentation, Councillor Mba, you will have the floor first.

667
00:52:40,020 --> 00:52:44,100
We're followed right now by Councillor Ewan Kampen, Councillor White, Councillor Strezzo

668
00:52:44,100 --> 00:52:45,000
and Councillor Davis.

669
00:52:45,440 --> 00:52:46,860
I'm concerned by you at the floor, sir.

670
00:52:48,500 --> 00:52:54,580
Thank you so much, Mr. Chairman, for the recognition before,

671
00:52:56,820 --> 00:52:58,680
you know, I just want to give, you

672
00:52:58,680 --> 00:53:04,400
know, my remarks and then before I dive into the question, you know, if I may.

673
00:53:06,020 --> 00:53:13,080
So first, I want to thank the Chief for the presentation and the Mayor and Ms. Contender.

674
00:53:14,140 --> 00:53:21,820
Also, I also want to thank all the activists that came out overwhelmingly to advocate for us to

675
00:53:21,820 --> 00:53:30,000
defund the police and the 4000 plus residents who signed the petition, which I have signed in

676
00:53:30,000 --> 00:53:34,800
in support of a living wage for the paraprofessionals who are largely women of color.

677
00:53:35,580 --> 00:53:42,560
I'm glad to see that request being granted and to know that we don't have any layoff or follow

678
00:53:43,090 --> 00:53:50,140
with our city employees as we have witnessed in other cities. Some of your testimonies were

679
00:53:50,140 --> 00:53:55,940
really heartbreaking. I heard about the bike incident, I heard about the breaking,

680
00:53:55,940 --> 00:54:01,980
They must have incident, the Boston Pride Parade incident, and so many others.

681
00:54:03,020 --> 00:54:05,800
I want you to know I heard every single one of you.

682
00:54:06,920 --> 00:54:13,020
Police abuse of power is not new in our society, especially against black people.

683
00:54:14,080 --> 00:54:17,160
This violence against black people stretches back to slavery.

684
00:54:18,340 --> 00:54:20,620
To Jim Crow and now Jim Crow Esquire.

685
00:54:21,640 --> 00:54:25,440
I appreciate the work of the Chief and the Somerville Police Department.

686
00:54:26,820 --> 00:54:32,820
But we have systemic racism in our society that we can start to address at the local

687
00:54:32,820 --> 00:54:33,240
level.

688
00:54:35,480 --> 00:54:39,140
During my time on the city council, we reform our policing policies.

689
00:54:39,880 --> 00:54:42,520
We overhaul our police confirmation process.

690
00:54:43,280 --> 00:54:44,740
We ban future recognition.

691
00:54:45,520 --> 00:54:47,660
We created a welcoming act ordinance.

692
00:54:48,460 --> 00:54:50,800
We said no to military style equipment.

693
00:54:50,800 --> 00:54:57,700
We review our civil asset for future and have fought for equity in police hiring and promotions.

694
00:54:58,780 --> 00:55:04,980
In fact, we promoted the first two black officers to sergeants in the city's history.

695
00:55:07,050 --> 00:55:15,830
I personally will be pursuing body cameras for our police department as we move to create a civilian oversight board.

696
00:55:16,990 --> 00:55:21,190
Because George Floyd's mother drew attention because his death was captured on video.

697
00:55:21,190 --> 00:55:26,950
As we know, other black people who continue to be brutalized in the hands of the police

698
00:55:26,950 --> 00:55:27,850
don't make the news.

699
00:55:29,010 --> 00:55:33,170
Some of you had his first black police officer only until 1974.

700
00:55:35,390 --> 00:55:40,190
We need to change the culture of policing and also promote diversity.

701
00:55:41,730 --> 00:55:43,910
We need to become anti-racist.

702
00:55:44,910 --> 00:55:49,910
That means clearly identifying racist ideas and policies and actively undoing them.

703
00:55:49,910 --> 00:55:57,370
We need to understand that everything we do has racist implications, and our local budgets

704
00:55:57,370 --> 00:56:05,280
are racist because they perpetuate a racist status quo that produces unequal outcomes

705
00:56:05,280 --> 00:56:12,600
by race over and over again, generation after generation, and if we want a different outcome,

706
00:56:12,720 --> 00:56:19,200
we need a different approach that prioritizes equity by diverting resources away from racist

707
00:56:19,200 --> 00:56:25,820
activities, like over-policing, and towards anti-racist policies, like improving educational

708
00:56:25,820 --> 00:56:28,480
outcomes and increased economic opportunities.

709
00:56:31,200 --> 00:56:32,920
I have been wrestling for the past several

710
00:56:32,920 --> 00:56:38,500
weeks, Mr. Chair, and it is time we start listening to the voices of color and amplify

711
00:56:38,500 --> 00:56:46,020
their demands and stop the legacy of systemic racism by speaking for them. I have been

712
00:56:46,020 --> 00:56:50,700
talking and listening to people of color in this community, and after consulting with

713
00:56:50,700 --> 00:56:54,600
the mayor and community leaders of color, the Office of Racial and Social Justice has

714
00:56:54,600 --> 00:57:01,240
been created. I'll be focusing my energy on making sure that office works, that it doesn't

715
00:57:01,240 --> 00:57:05,240
just become a committee that has studied things without impacting our community.

716
00:57:07,380 --> 00:57:07,940
I'll also

717
00:57:07,940 --> 00:57:15,260
be making some drastic cuts and will continue to consult with just Osama V on their demands

718
00:57:15,260 --> 00:57:22,980
and what other leaders would serve our marginalized community members on how to utilize these funds.

719
00:57:24,020 --> 00:57:29,120
I appreciate the work of our allies who have decided that defending the police is necessary

720
00:57:29,120 --> 00:57:31,120
for the safety of Black and Brown people.

721
00:57:32,020 --> 00:57:37,640
I completely understand the frustration around policing with everybody, especially the Boston Pride Parade.

722
00:57:38,760 --> 00:57:42,860
I commend Rep. Presley's resolution to end qualified immunity.

723
00:57:43,580 --> 00:57:48,140
I'm grateful for the work that has been done by our police department and this body.

724
00:57:49,560 --> 00:57:56,660
Yet our police department has become better since we took office and we have ways to

725
00:57:56,660 --> 00:57:56,880
go.

726
00:57:58,160 --> 00:58:02,440
I've spoken to some social workers who told me they had to call the police to handle

727
00:58:02,440 --> 00:58:03,340
some of their cases.

728
00:58:04,640 --> 00:58:10,980
I have to be honest, I haven't really studied deeply the consequences of a society without

729
00:58:10,980 --> 00:58:11,380
policing.

730
00:58:12,180 --> 00:58:16,340
But one thing that is clear to me is that we need to have a conversation around police

731
00:58:16,340 --> 00:58:17,680
over time and details.

732
00:58:18,880 --> 00:58:21,620
In fact, I think police details should go away completely.

733
00:58:23,340 --> 00:58:26,020
They should have no business on the construction site.

734
00:58:27,600 --> 00:58:31,960
You don't need to have a police officer around to fix a port hole.

735
00:58:31,960 --> 00:58:39,440
I don't think that is ridiculous, Mr Chairman, and with that, I just want to ask some general

736
00:58:39,440 --> 00:58:42,180
question for the chief, if I may, Mr Chair.

737
00:58:44,850 --> 00:58:45,730
You're at the floor, sir.

738
00:58:46,550 --> 00:58:47,050
Thank you.

739
00:58:49,680 --> 00:58:50,180
Chief Fallon,

740
00:58:53,320 --> 00:58:58,360
what are our metrics for substance regarding public safety?

741
00:58:59,260 --> 00:59:01,720
Should they be updated, and if so, how?

742
00:59:06,250 --> 00:59:08,550
Councillor, can I ask you to repeat that question, please?

743
00:59:09,350 --> 00:59:09,770
I will.

744
00:59:11,250 --> 00:59:16,670
What are your metrics for success regarding public safety, and should they be updated?

745
00:59:17,690 --> 00:59:19,430
And if so, how should they be updated?

746
00:59:26,120 --> 00:59:27,120
And I thank you for that.

747
00:59:27,420 --> 00:59:28,140
I take counsel.

748
00:59:28,320 --> 00:59:29,240
I thank you for your comments.

749
00:59:29,920 --> 00:59:31,140
And I thank you for that question.

750
00:59:32,060 --> 00:59:38,300
A metric for success at the San Juan Police Department is when we play our role as a city

751
00:59:38,300 --> 00:59:44,640
the entity in raising the living standard, the pride, the safety of every resident of

752
00:59:44,640 --> 00:59:50,660
this community. That's our metrics. Our metrics is how do we play a role in our community

753
00:59:50,870 --> 00:59:58,340
to provide public safety without bias, that is procedurally just to every member of our

754
00:59:58,340 --> 00:59:59,880
community. And since I've been chief.

755
01:00:00,110 --> 01:00:06,970
They have the command staff in the room here. And since they've become members of the command staff, that's what we reward officers on.

756
01:00:07,130 --> 01:00:12,570
When I first got on the police department, you were rewarded by how many tickets you wrote and how many arrests you made.

757
01:00:13,090 --> 01:00:21,910
Now we reward officers. You work with us on promoting two very deserving officers, and we recognize them on how you engage with the public.

758
01:00:22,190 --> 01:00:27,530
Do you connect somebody in your community that's in need of mental health services or opioid services?

759
01:00:27,530 --> 01:00:32,070
services. Do you connect them to services in your community? When we see them doing that,

760
01:00:32,330 --> 01:00:33,870
that's a metric of success.

761
01:00:36,200 --> 01:00:43,520
And thank you, Chief. And are there any opportunities for reallocating or sharing functions related

762
01:00:43,520 --> 01:00:46,340
to public health, mental health, and substance abuse?

763
01:00:48,060 --> 01:00:53,200
Councillor, again, I appreciate your question. I take our community outreach help in recovery,

764
01:00:53,200 --> 01:00:57,080
which, but NAMI, the National Alliance on Mental Illness,

765
01:00:57,220 --> 01:00:58,880
is saying it's the model to go to.

766
01:00:59,500 --> 01:01:00,720
It's the model to go to.

767
01:01:00,840 --> 01:01:02,260
Some of us has the correct model.

768
01:01:02,600 --> 01:01:04,600
We need to continue to work in that direction.

769
01:01:05,160 --> 01:01:08,100
And news offices come on to the police department

770
01:01:08,100 --> 01:01:09,340
and train them in that culture,

771
01:01:09,560 --> 01:01:11,020
that they're guardian to the community,

772
01:01:11,380 --> 01:01:14,120
that their job is to connect people

773
01:01:14,120 --> 01:01:15,800
to the services they need.

774
01:01:16,360 --> 01:01:18,700
Maybe I missed it in Patty's presentation,

775
01:01:18,860 --> 01:01:20,600
but one of the biggest things I'm proud of

776
01:01:20,600 --> 01:01:26,520
It's the meetings

777
01:01:29,530 --> 01:01:35,290
that the core office holds, I'm sorry, stakeholder meetings, stakeholder

778
01:01:35,290 --> 01:01:39,730
meetings, where every stakeholder in this community, from homeowners to opioid addiction, the

779
01:01:39,730 --> 01:01:44,390
mental health, are all in the same room with police officers, talking about how do we

780
01:01:44,390 --> 01:01:50,350
serve the members of our community that are most at need, those stakeholders, programs

781
01:01:50,350 --> 01:01:55,190
programs like that stakeholder meeting are what drive cultural change in policing, and

782
01:01:55,190 --> 01:01:58,990
that's what the Sunville Police Department wants to do. We want to drive cultural change

783
01:01:58,990 --> 01:02:05,090
in policing to walk this country. We had a big role in that with the CIT program and

784
01:02:05,090 --> 01:02:09,810
CIT training, which is 40 hours of training for offices, but really important.

785
01:02:12,180 --> 01:02:17,260
Steve, as you've heard, you know, through you, Mr. Chair, you've heard from every

786
01:02:17,260 --> 01:02:22,000
representation, even from the mayor, from the city council, we have ways to go. So what

787
01:02:22,000 --> 01:02:28,920
specific, you know, new measures can you undertake to engage the community in a two-way discussion

788
01:02:28,920 --> 01:02:34,840
about the role of police in Somerville and the Somerville police standards for policing?

789
01:02:37,570 --> 01:02:42,950
And I apologize to a cheer getting used to the format, through the cheer to you, councillor.

790
01:02:43,090 --> 01:02:47,230
And I thank you for your question. Not a program you need to implement. You need

791
01:02:47,230 --> 01:02:52,130
sit down and listen to each other. I hear the community. I hear the communities call for change

792
01:02:52,130 --> 01:02:58,590
and I want to be part of that change. For my 20 years in policing and six now going on seven years

793
01:02:58,590 --> 01:03:04,610
as chief has taught me that we have to listen to each other. We have to engage in some with each

794
01:03:04,610 --> 01:03:10,110
other. Policing is successful when you work with the community. I remember times in policing

795
01:03:10,110 --> 01:03:14,590
when the police department is in one silo and the community is in another silo.

796
01:03:14,590 --> 01:03:17,710
That's a recipe for disaster.

797
01:03:18,430 --> 01:03:20,810
The mayor said earlier these conversations might be difficult.

798
01:03:21,490 --> 01:03:22,470
We're here to listen.

799
01:03:22,610 --> 01:03:26,550
We're here to listen and learn and improve with the community.

800
01:03:28,620 --> 01:03:30,740
Thank you, Chief.

801
01:03:31,740 --> 01:03:39,300
Through your chair, I guess we'll reduce the chief's performance.

802
01:03:39,580 --> 01:03:41,220
Is it the city council or is it the mayor?

803
01:03:41,220 --> 01:03:42,000
I

804
01:03:44,300 --> 01:03:49,220
don't, maybe Chief, can you add, like, can you add?

805
01:03:49,460 --> 01:03:49,900
I can.

806
01:03:53,190 --> 01:03:53,750
Let's see.

807
01:03:54,150 --> 01:03:55,050
We're critiquing.

808
01:03:55,270 --> 01:04:00,470
Our managerial rights specified in the contract, but in practice, that is not a role that's developed

809
01:04:00,470 --> 01:04:01,290
in the City Council.

810
01:04:02,830 --> 01:04:03,290
Sorry.

811
01:04:03,590 --> 01:04:06,430
Through you, Mr. Chairman, if I understood, and again, I apologize.

812
01:04:07,030 --> 01:04:11,530
Council member, was the question is who reviews the Chief's performance?

813
01:04:11,870 --> 01:04:12,850
Am I correct here on that?

814
01:04:13,010 --> 01:04:13,770
Yes, Mr. Mayor.

815
01:04:13,770 --> 01:04:19,490
Again, through you, Mr. Chairman, to the good councillor, well, as I over the chief reports

816
01:04:19,490 --> 01:04:24,530
to the executive office myself and when I, you know, we review his performance and make

817
01:04:24,530 --> 01:04:29,350
recommendations as performance, the chief and one of the major implementations of reform

818
01:04:29,950 --> 01:04:34,010
going back more than 15 years was to remove the position of chief of police from civil

819
01:04:34,010 --> 01:04:38,310
service, including the other two members of the command staff, deputy chief, and

820
01:04:38,310 --> 01:04:42,010
make them contractual performance to live up to the terms of the contract.

821
01:04:43,370 --> 01:04:47,430
Recently, I say recently, I think more than a year ago, the City Council approved extending

822
01:04:47,430 --> 01:04:48,090
that contract.

823
01:04:48,470 --> 01:04:51,050
In our opinion, the Cheap performed admirably.

824
01:04:51,710 --> 01:04:55,350
So even though I'll make a recommendation, manage the Cheap's performance, make a recommendation

825
01:04:55,350 --> 01:04:59,030
to council, the council didn't review any contract extension.

826
01:04:59,470 --> 01:05:03,190
And the council is still the appointing authority, excuse me, the confirmation

827
01:05:03,190 --> 01:05:04,010
of appointment.

828
01:05:04,290 --> 01:05:05,870
The appointing authority is the executive branch.

829
01:05:07,630 --> 01:05:15,010
Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Until you chair, so what are the stages of the database of people

830
01:05:15,010 --> 01:05:19,430
with mental health difficulties and their interactions with some of the police departments?

831
01:05:23,440 --> 01:05:27,220
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ember. I think that question may be best answered by Patty

832
01:05:27,220 --> 01:05:30,740
Contente who's still on the line. Sure. I want to hear.

833
01:05:33,040 --> 01:05:37,660
Yes. Hi. Thank you, councillor. Thank you for your question. Your question was calls

834
01:05:37,660 --> 01:05:39,660
for service related to mental health?

835
01:05:40,860 --> 01:05:46,540
As I said, the status of the database of people with mental health difficulties and their interaction.

836
01:05:47,280 --> 01:05:51,440
So, you know, like how, like, do we have a database for that and how is the data being

837
01:05:51,440 --> 01:05:51,660
used?

838
01:05:52,800 --> 01:05:54,980
The database is being used.

839
01:05:55,240 --> 01:06:01,780
The officers are writing reports to provide my unit, which is in the Somerville Police

840
01:06:01,780 --> 01:06:05,080
Department with context on how to follow up.

841
01:06:05,080 --> 01:06:09,800
We also work with a number of the community service providers.

842
01:06:10,860 --> 01:06:16,900
When I first started working with the department, one of our first diversions came about as

843
01:06:16,900 --> 01:06:24,680
a result of a community service provider with a client in the Department of Mental Health

844
01:06:24,680 --> 01:06:31,260
System that they were concerned about, but they did not have the evidence to access

845
01:06:31,260 --> 01:06:33,080
a higher level of care.

846
01:06:33,080 --> 01:06:38,100
He was in the community living in the community but his behaviors due to his

847
01:06:38,100 --> 01:06:42,920
mental illness were putting him at risk walking into the street being out late

848
01:06:42,920 --> 01:06:48,760
at night possibly being a victim of crime by other individuals in the

849
01:06:48,760 --> 01:06:54,440
community. They reached out to the police department so by having those

850
01:06:54,440 --> 01:06:59,780
calls for service documented the officers had I think over 200 encounters

851
01:06:59,780 --> 01:07:04,200
with this individual in a span of a few weeks.

852
01:07:04,680 --> 01:07:07,880
That provided the evidence for the service provider

853
01:07:07,880 --> 01:07:10,540
to make a case that this individual

854
01:07:10,540 --> 01:07:14,040
required more services, services beyond their scope.

855
01:07:14,540 --> 01:07:16,080
So that's just one example.

856
01:07:16,600 --> 01:07:19,640
We have other examples where an individual,

857
01:07:20,520 --> 01:07:23,700
again, is an engaging and very dangerous behavior.

858
01:07:24,460 --> 01:07:26,400
I think there's a lot of misunderstanding

859
01:07:26,400 --> 01:07:28,780
with the mental health system.

860
01:07:29,960 --> 01:07:35,860
Folks with mental illness have rights like all of us.

861
01:07:36,220 --> 01:07:41,160
They are able to choose what type of services and treatment

862
01:07:41,160 --> 01:07:44,340
they would feel they want to benefit from.

863
01:07:44,780 --> 01:07:48,640
Unfortunately, because mental illness is an illness of the brain

864
01:07:48,640 --> 01:07:56,240
and it does impair judgment, it can distort perception at times,

865
01:07:56,240 --> 01:08:02,540
not always, but at times. So those individuals feel sometimes that they're being harmed by

866
01:08:02,540 --> 01:08:07,960
their treatment. They feel like they're having negative impact because of their treatment.

867
01:08:08,420 --> 01:08:16,700
So they are not engaged with their services and their providers. And that puts them at risk

868
01:08:16,700 --> 01:08:21,810
of behaviors in the community that could cause, again,

869
01:08:22,640 --> 01:08:25,600
them to be a victim of an assault.

870
01:08:25,920 --> 01:08:30,340
It could put them at risk of being out, you know,

871
01:08:30,520 --> 01:08:34,240
kind of in dangerous situations at different hours

872
01:08:34,240 --> 01:08:38,160
of the night and be, again, a victim of someone.

873
01:08:38,600 --> 01:08:40,720
So it is in that way that we are using,

874
01:08:41,220 --> 01:08:43,860
there's been a lot of discussion.

875
01:08:43,860 --> 01:08:46,500
there's a data-driven justice project.

876
01:08:47,000 --> 01:08:50,560
There are so many national and statewide initiatives

877
01:08:50,560 --> 01:08:54,380
that are calling out to the police, initiatives driven

878
01:08:54,380 --> 01:08:57,860
by public health, by mental health,

879
01:08:57,960 --> 01:09:00,480
that are saying, police, we need you.

880
01:09:00,640 --> 01:09:03,240
We need you as partners in this work.

881
01:09:04,180 --> 01:09:07,640
It's a big misconception that there's not a role.

882
01:09:08,160 --> 01:09:10,020
Police officers are public servants

883
01:09:10,820 --> 01:09:13,200
and they do know the community.

884
01:09:13,200 --> 01:09:16,800
We had someone who were trying to locate just this week.

885
01:09:18,420 --> 01:09:24,240
They had three providers, someone from healthcare for the homeless, their family member,

886
01:09:24,780 --> 01:09:27,320
another doctor who worked with them.

887
01:09:27,440 --> 01:09:31,340
This individual was at risk due to neurological conditions.

888
01:09:32,180 --> 01:09:37,640
It was our police officers who helped identify and locate where that individual was.

889
01:09:38,040 --> 01:09:41,880
Not through arrests, but through talking to other community members.

890
01:09:41,880 --> 01:09:45,660
They knew where to go, who to talk to.

891
01:09:46,000 --> 01:09:47,540
They talked to the community to say,

892
01:09:47,920 --> 01:09:50,140
gee, we're concerned about X person.

893
01:09:50,380 --> 01:09:51,360
Can you help us?

894
01:09:51,440 --> 01:09:52,440
Do you have any idea?

895
01:09:52,860 --> 01:09:55,020
And it turned out that all the providers

896
01:09:55,720 --> 01:09:56,980
had misinformation.

897
01:09:58,120 --> 01:10:00,520
It was the officers' efforts to go

898
01:10:00,520 --> 01:10:02,020
and talk with the community

899
01:10:02,020 --> 01:10:04,340
that helped us locate that individual.

900
01:10:05,020 --> 01:10:07,360
So it's very disheartening to hear people.

901
01:10:08,280 --> 01:10:10,120
And I understand, I understand.

902
01:10:10,120 --> 01:10:19,920
It's 2020 in no way should we live in a world where George Floyd was murdered in that way.

903
01:10:20,160 --> 01:10:22,420
That's just incomprehensible.

904
01:10:23,080 --> 01:10:29,740
However, policing is, and policing change is different in every community.

905
01:10:30,780 --> 01:10:34,920
And I would say that in the work, again, it hasn't happened overnight.

906
01:10:35,120 --> 01:10:37,300
We've been at this, as the chief mentioned.

907
01:10:37,300 --> 01:10:39,860
And I started working with the department 2010.

908
01:10:40,680 --> 01:10:41,760
So it's been 10 years.

909
01:10:42,200 --> 01:10:45,580
And I feel like we've started to make some progress

910
01:10:47,340 --> 01:10:50,720
towards, you know, revisioning police work.

911
01:10:52,080 --> 01:10:56,380
Police are seeing their role as guardians in the community.

912
01:10:57,040 --> 01:10:59,180
They see people on their worst day

913
01:10:59,960 --> 01:11:01,500
and they have a lot of information

914
01:11:01,500 --> 01:11:05,100
that clinicians and providers don't necessarily have.

915
01:11:05,100 --> 01:11:06,540
So I'll wrap it up on that point.

916
01:11:07,420 --> 01:11:08,020
Thank you.

917
01:11:08,160 --> 01:11:11,400
Just from the chair, it's a very long night ahead of us.

918
01:11:11,540 --> 01:11:12,320
There are a lot of counselors.

919
01:11:12,640 --> 01:11:16,500
We're all here and we all have questions, so if we could just try to address the questions

920
01:11:16,500 --> 01:11:18,320
being asked, I'd really appreciate it.

921
01:11:18,420 --> 01:11:18,740
Thank you.

922
01:11:21,150 --> 01:11:23,270
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

923
01:11:23,430 --> 01:11:24,030
Appreciate it.

924
01:11:24,510 --> 01:11:28,330
So, to Ms. Contella, just to follow up with what you're saying through your chair.

925
01:11:28,730 --> 01:11:31,570
So how do officer guests elected for mental health training?

926
01:11:33,150 --> 01:11:34,710
So we've been very fortunate.

927
01:11:34,710 --> 01:11:41,690
it, so far we have used a volunteer model, so those 54% of officers who have attended

928
01:11:41,690 --> 01:11:48,730
RCIT training have requested to attend the training. That tells us that officers are

929
01:11:48,730 --> 01:11:54,770
recognizing that they need additional tools in engaging with folks. They're interested

930
01:11:54,770 --> 01:12:03,850
in understanding how to best respond to individuals with behavioral health. We do have opportunities

931
01:12:03,850 --> 01:12:10,530
for officers to go to training or as I mentioned the CIT coordinator roles. Those officers were

932
01:12:10,530 --> 01:12:17,370
asked to participate in an application process where they submitted an interest and then were

933
01:12:17,370 --> 01:12:22,090
interviewed by my staff to be granted those roles.

934
01:12:24,680 --> 01:12:27,080
And through you chair, you know, I don't

935
01:12:27,080 --> 01:12:33,460
remember which slide it was, but on the core community outreach hub and recovery, do core staff

936
01:12:33,460 --> 01:12:40,260
go out on emergency or crisis intervention, you know, calls with the police officers or just for

937
01:12:40,260 --> 01:12:48,320
non-emergency calls? Through you, Chair. So when we started the program, when we got our first grant,

938
01:12:48,620 --> 01:12:56,080
actually the state model had been a co-response sending clinicians out on the emergency of the

939
01:12:56,080 --> 01:13:01,940
urgent. When we were applying for the grant, they said we want an innovative model. We're

940
01:13:01,940 --> 01:13:09,300
finding that model not to be as effective and so we decided to implement a follow-up model.

941
01:13:10,200 --> 01:13:16,020
Primarily because we know that the officers with the training that they have both in the law

942
01:13:16,020 --> 01:13:24,800
enforcement and with the CIT side, officers are fully equipped and capable. I think sometimes

943
01:13:24,800 --> 01:13:32,180
are an underutilized under-recognized workforce that's available 24-7, they are more than qualified

944
01:13:32,180 --> 01:13:38,540
and capable to assess the situation and determine if someone needs to go to the hospital or if they

945
01:13:38,540 --> 01:13:43,500
can be safe in the community. Then they also have the resources of that psychiatric emergency

946
01:13:43,500 --> 01:13:51,120
team which can then join them on scene or most often what happens is we follow up with them

947
01:13:51,120 --> 01:13:58,860
the next day. My last point is think about yourself in a crisis. Is that the time where

948
01:13:58,860 --> 01:14:04,620
you can most utilize and understand services? Oftentimes people are overwhelmed. They're

949
01:14:04,620 --> 01:14:10,500
not having a good day. We found that our model has been effective because we're following

950
01:14:10,500 --> 01:14:16,140
up after the crisis. It provides a better opportunity to really engage and understand

951
01:14:16,140 --> 01:14:20,740
what's important to people and to facilitate them connecting to that.

952
01:14:23,360 --> 01:14:26,980
Thank you. And Mr. Chairman, thank you for your patience.

953
01:14:28,000 --> 01:14:33,900
About the jail diversion program, how many people have been impacted by that program each year?

954
01:14:36,750 --> 01:14:43,010
The numbers in terms of people who are actually in the jail diversion program are fairly low.

955
01:14:43,010 --> 01:14:51,910
We have a range of anywhere from 5 to 10 cases annually that were diverting from the court system.

956
01:14:52,610 --> 01:14:58,910
That is primarily due to the fact that officers are not charging individuals with behavioral health.

957
01:15:00,000 --> 01:15:04,420
They're not charging people with addiction. They're connecting them to services instead.

958
01:15:07,340 --> 01:15:12,760
And so you have that data with demographic information, agenda, ethnicity, do you have

959
01:15:12,760 --> 01:15:13,020
that?

960
01:15:15,970 --> 01:15:20,870
Because the number you said is relatively low, so how do we have that data?

961
01:15:21,450 --> 01:15:29,090
I could look at that. We typically don't track demographics, but I can certainly pull that

962
01:15:29,090 --> 01:15:31,770
as you mentioned, the numbers are low.

963
01:15:32,230 --> 01:15:34,550
I would say that the majority of the folks

964
01:15:34,550 --> 01:15:36,970
in diversion are Caucasian.

965
01:15:37,530 --> 01:15:40,810
We have had a couple of African American

966
01:15:40,810 --> 01:15:46,010
or Black individuals, but primarily they are Caucasian.

967
01:15:48,010 --> 01:15:51,310
And Mr. Chair, I have just two more.

968
01:15:51,790 --> 01:15:55,150
If I may, I really appreciate your patience.

969
01:15:56,770 --> 01:16:00,890
It looks like, you know, the cost per day averages around 70.

970
01:16:01,330 --> 01:16:05,650
So what actions have been taken within those calls in response to those calls?

971
01:16:06,490 --> 01:16:11,870
And are there similar statistics or responses like when they make calls, what happened,

972
01:16:12,130 --> 01:16:16,670
you know, like, how are the calls, what different, like, what kinds of calls are

973
01:16:16,670 --> 01:16:21,970
coming in and what kinds of responses, like, dispatches, police reports per day?

974
01:16:22,170 --> 01:16:24,230
Like, do we have any information around that?

975
01:16:24,230 --> 01:16:25,090
So,

976
01:16:32,000 --> 01:16:34,980
to the chair, to the good councilor, and again, thank you for your call.

977
01:16:35,840 --> 01:16:39,540
I think I also want to point out that some of the police department, I think, was the

978
01:16:39,540 --> 01:16:44,360
first department in Middlesex County to start a jail diversion program for juveniles that

979
01:16:44,360 --> 01:16:50,280
we've had in place for many, many years, and that's through Detective Montana Natasha,

980
01:16:51,280 --> 01:16:53,320
and she's done great work with that for years.

981
01:16:53,480 --> 01:16:58,100
And through parting by you this year, councilor, we've started our collaboration with

982
01:16:58,100 --> 01:16:59,940
communities for restorative justice.

983
01:17:00,460 --> 01:17:03,400
And officers have attended restorative circles

984
01:17:03,400 --> 01:17:05,180
and I've attended them myself,

985
01:17:05,300 --> 01:17:08,540
so also continue to improve in that direction also.

986
01:17:09,180 --> 01:17:11,140
But through the chair, if I could refer the counselor

987
01:17:11,740 --> 01:17:14,300
back to slide, I believe it's eight,

988
01:17:14,440 --> 01:17:16,040
where it talks about calls for service

989
01:17:16,320 --> 01:17:17,200
and there's a breakdown.

990
01:17:17,500 --> 01:17:19,120
There's a variety of calls

991
01:17:19,520 --> 01:17:21,480
that the police department responds to.

992
01:17:22,080 --> 01:17:24,080
Medical calls and traffic incidents

993
01:17:24,080 --> 01:17:26,140
are usually number two, one and two.

994
01:17:26,140 --> 01:17:35,060
Every year, after that, we see check conditions, alarms, unknown trouble, general assistance,

995
01:17:35,420 --> 01:17:38,900
noise is always a top category, as well as lanceny.

996
01:17:39,580 --> 01:17:47,780
Unwanted calls are always up there, disputes, as they discussed earlier, missing property,

997
01:17:48,000 --> 01:17:54,620
B&E officers respond to over one B&E a day or close to one assault a day.

998
01:17:54,620 --> 01:18:00,380
more than one domestic violence of domestic disturbance a day,

999
01:18:01,480 --> 01:18:03,520
close to two disputes a day.

1000
01:18:04,160 --> 01:18:06,960
So, you know, the breakdown is on the slide

1001
01:18:06,960 --> 01:18:08,300
and calls for service from type.

1002
01:18:08,780 --> 01:18:12,100
As I said in my presentation, many times an officer doesn't know the situation

1003
01:18:12,900 --> 01:18:14,200
they're being called into.

1004
01:18:14,360 --> 01:18:17,700
It's a 911 hang-up or it's a silent open line

1005
01:18:17,700 --> 01:18:19,820
and the officer needs to go there and evaluate.

1006
01:18:22,380 --> 01:18:35,840
And thank you, Chief. And so this is the last one on the slide. It's one of the slides that you talk about, you talk about the Somerville Police Advisory Group.

1007
01:18:36,480 --> 01:18:43,560
What is the status of that group that produced a report in 2005? Never heard about that. This is the first time.

1008
01:18:45,680 --> 01:18:48,140
Mr. Chairman, if you'd like, I can respond directly to that.

1009
01:18:49,860 --> 01:18:50,340
Please.

1010
01:18:51,540 --> 01:18:52,440
Yes, thank you.

1011
01:18:52,980 --> 01:19:10,160
The group, I'm going to try to, I spent a long time, was chaired by former, then former attorney, still former attorney general squad, Hash Braga, then lower police chief Ed Davis, Tim Robbins, former commander of the Mass State Police and the BU Police Chief, members of the community,

1012
01:19:10,160 --> 01:19:12,160
Community Human Rights Commission.

1013
01:19:13,000 --> 01:19:19,180
They made previous to that context, it was an original management study of the police

1014
01:19:19,180 --> 01:19:26,180
department, I believe in 1999, we had 100 recommendations for change, very few of those

1015
01:19:26,180 --> 01:19:29,740
were implemented, there was a lot of concerns in the department, in 2001 the department

1016
01:19:29,740 --> 01:19:34,980
was deemed the house of hate by the Boston Globe, and work with the police advisory

1017
01:19:34,980 --> 01:19:38,540
group in the community, there were several major recommendations, you might have seen

1018
01:19:38,540 --> 01:19:44,260
the letter there, including following up the original management study. There was the issue

1019
01:19:44,260 --> 01:19:48,680
of the report over the next few years. We moved to implement those changes. There was a follow-up

1020
01:19:49,280 --> 01:19:54,500
review from the advisory group and presentation to check on our progress, progress that had been

1021
01:19:54,500 --> 01:20:00,940
made. At that point out, the advisory group phased out, counselor. Its work was completed

1022
01:20:00,940 --> 01:20:04,880
and it phased out. And they were satisfied that the police department had achieved all

1023
01:20:04,880 --> 01:20:06,220
recommendation when it's on its way.

1024
01:20:08,280 --> 01:20:12,460
Thank you. Thank you Mayor and through you chair I don't know

1025
01:20:12,460 --> 01:20:19,400
if this is the right time but I would love to you know chop up maybe like $800,000 from the

1026
01:20:19,400 --> 01:20:23,400
overtime that they have if they need more money they can always come to the city council

1027
01:20:23,400 --> 01:20:31,820
and ask for that money you know we we have to really you know start meticulously like

1028
01:20:31,820 --> 01:20:38,900
reviewing like how money is spent in this department. Thank you Councillor Mba. I think

1029
01:20:38,900 --> 01:20:42,740
I'd like to make sure all the councillors have an opportunity to ask their questions about the

1030
01:20:42,740 --> 01:20:48,200
slides. So admittedly anybody can make a motion at any time but I'd like to hear everybody out

1031
01:20:48,200 --> 01:20:56,040
and then come back around to proposals and motions for cuts. So I appreciate it but if

1032
01:20:56,040 --> 01:21:00,520
you're willing to forebear I'd like to move on to some of the other councillors who have

1033
01:21:00,520 --> 01:21:05,820
questions. Thank you for the opportunity, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, Councilor Ambar.

1034
01:21:07,420 --> 01:21:12,400
All right. On our list, we have Councilor Ewing-Campan, Councilor White, Councilor Strezzo,

1035
01:21:12,620 --> 01:21:18,340
and Councilor Davis. Councilor Ewing-Campan, you have the floor. Thank you very much,

1036
01:21:18,380 --> 01:21:23,840
Mr. Chair. Through you, thank you, Chief Fallon, Ms. Catente, Mr. Mayor. So I have three

1037
01:21:23,840 --> 01:21:30,560
questions about the presentation. The first one is about the response to

1038
01:21:30,560 --> 01:21:34,940
medical calls. So we received a communication a few weeks ago from a

1039
01:21:35,680 --> 01:21:39,640
Somerville resident who is a staffer to the Middlesex County Restoration

1040
01:21:39,640 --> 01:21:45,020
Center Commission, which does policy research around criminal justice. And in

1041
01:21:45,020 --> 01:21:48,480
the communication she was providing recommendations on how to improve our

1042
01:21:48,480 --> 01:21:54,400
911 system and how to separate out criminal calls from non-criminal calls, et cetera.

1043
01:21:55,260 --> 01:21:58,580
And in that communication, she said that she had done a survey of police departments in

1044
01:21:58,580 --> 01:22:03,580
Middlesex, including Somerville, and at the survey indicated that Somerville was quote

1045
01:22:03,580 --> 01:22:09,020
ahead of the curve because we already triaged behavioral health calls, and she specified

1046
01:22:09,900 --> 01:22:14,720
overdoses, suicide, mental health emergencies, and we dispatched EMT and fire, but not

1047
01:22:14,720 --> 01:22:14,980
police.

1048
01:22:15,880 --> 01:22:39,700
So I'm just honestly, you know, basically confused as how that system works. You know, that could be mistaken, or perhaps I'm misunderstanding some of the presentation tonight, which is focuses extensively on the medical calls and the calls basically to those types of non-criminal emergencies that were called out.

1049
01:22:39,700 --> 01:22:45,760
So I guess the question through the chair to the chief is we dispatch do we do dispatch

1050
01:22:47,000 --> 01:22:52,140
The question is do we dispatch to all of those to suicide overdose mental health emergencies?

1051
01:22:52,360 --> 01:22:54,900
Was that a misunderstanding in the communication we received?

1052
01:22:57,070 --> 01:22:58,370
Yeah through the chair to the

1053
01:22:59,550 --> 01:23:03,830
Contagion camera. Thank you for the question. I apologize for chiming in difficult

1054
01:23:03,830 --> 01:23:09,850
Well, your picture coming up to speak but yes, we do. I don't know where the miscommunication is

1055
01:23:10,470 --> 01:23:14,070
I think we could look into it further, but we do dispatch offices to those calls.

1056
01:23:15,150 --> 01:23:15,550
Okay.

1057
01:23:15,730 --> 01:23:16,850
Through the chair, thank you very much.

1058
01:23:17,310 --> 01:23:18,710
That was my understanding from your presentation.

1059
01:23:19,030 --> 01:23:21,630
I want to be clear the misunderstanding was not coming from your department.

1060
01:23:21,790 --> 01:23:27,250
I just wanted to make sure as we start to have this conversation about whether the

1061
01:23:27,250 --> 01:23:31,590
police should be the first responders to medical emergencies, mental health emergencies,

1062
01:23:32,990 --> 01:23:36,290
I want to make sure that I understand the status quo as we are now.

1063
01:23:36,850 --> 01:23:38,170
So thank you for that clarification.

1064
01:23:38,170 --> 01:23:44,790
The second question, and Councillor Ambar already started on this, but I am wondering

1065
01:23:44,790 --> 01:23:48,710
why only about half the department has taken the crisis intervention training to date.

1066
01:23:48,870 --> 01:23:53,490
So Ms. Contente said that it's basically by request of officers at this point.

1067
01:23:53,890 --> 01:23:55,790
So I understand that that much.

1068
01:23:56,050 --> 01:23:58,570
But I'm curious if there's a further answer.

1069
01:24:01,000 --> 01:24:04,060
Through the chair, if I might, this is Patty, respond.

1070
01:24:05,140 --> 01:24:06,540
Thank you for your question.

1071
01:24:06,540 --> 01:24:13,160
So the reason that it's been slow is really scheduling.

1072
01:24:14,000 --> 01:24:16,900
So we have to balance out officer availability.

1073
01:24:17,760 --> 01:24:19,400
They're obviously not on shift.

1074
01:24:19,640 --> 01:24:25,540
It's a 40-hour training, so five days taking someone out of their shift schedule.

1075
01:24:26,300 --> 01:24:27,600
So it's balancing that.

1076
01:24:27,760 --> 01:24:32,360
And also we are a regional program, so the demand is extremely high.

1077
01:24:33,020 --> 01:24:39,560
last year this current fiscal year we had planned nine classes they were full

1078
01:24:39,560 --> 01:24:44,740
with waiting list so we you know again it says shift scheduling issue as well

1079
01:24:44,740 --> 01:24:47,740
as having to start in a larger region.

1080
01:24:50,420 --> 01:24:51,980
Through the chair thank you very much so

1081
01:24:51,980 --> 01:24:54,780
is it the intention to have a hundred percent of the department take that

1082
01:24:54,780 --> 01:24:55,000
training?

1083
01:24:57,780 --> 01:25:02,880
Yes the chief and I have talked about that that is a definite

1084
01:25:04,800 --> 01:25:05,820
Thank you very much.

1085
01:25:06,260 --> 01:25:10,020
So my third and final question at this point is about the steps program.

1086
01:25:10,820 --> 01:25:14,720
So this is a program that we've, on the council have received a great deal of feedback about

1087
01:25:14,720 --> 01:25:20,580
and the steps program is one of the school-based programs where my understanding is an officer

1088
01:25:20,580 --> 01:25:25,320
basically serves as a mentor to a specific class of kids starting in I believe sixth

1089
01:25:25,320 --> 01:25:28,200
grade and then follows them through school over a multi-year period.

1090
01:25:28,200 --> 01:25:36,580
And the stated goal is to form positive relationships between young Somerville residents and members

1091
01:25:36,580 --> 01:25:40,320
of the police force mentoring relationships, making sure that, you know, students know

1092
01:25:40,320 --> 01:25:41,940
people in the department that they can reach out to.

1093
01:25:43,220 --> 01:25:48,060
So the question, and I'm going to keep this general with no names involved, but we received

1094
01:25:48,060 --> 01:25:53,820
over the weekend a communication from a resident that was strongly in favor of the police

1095
01:25:53,820 --> 01:25:55,700
department and of the steps program in general.

1096
01:25:55,700 --> 01:26:02,640
But as part of that letter, she described an experience that I found troubling.

1097
01:26:03,260 --> 01:26:09,560
And that was that she said an officer that she knows socially reached out to her and

1098
01:26:09,560 --> 01:26:18,360
asked about her daughter and said that he had seen her on Facebook associated with another

1099
01:26:18,360 --> 01:26:23,800
young person who this officer knew through the steps program and seemed to have concerns

1100
01:26:23,800 --> 01:26:27,680
about. And I want to be clear this resident called us out as positive

1101
01:26:27,680 --> 01:26:32,800
experience. She asked him, the officer, you know, why are you monitoring these

1102
01:26:32,800 --> 01:26:37,660
young people? And he said, you know, I form friendships with a lot of these young

1103
01:26:37,660 --> 01:26:41,800
mentees and I keep, I maintain that relationship for years in many cases.

1104
01:26:42,380 --> 01:26:46,240
And I want to keep tabs to make sure, you know, parents sometimes don't even know

1105
01:26:46,240 --> 01:26:50,000
what their kids are up to on social media. So again, the person who contacted

1106
01:26:50,000 --> 01:26:56,820
that us view this as a positive experience. I am quite troubled by this because to me it implies that

1107
01:26:58,420 --> 01:27:04,840
officers involved in the steps program are not solely serving as positive role models and etc.

1108
01:27:05,020 --> 01:27:11,820
They're also keeping tabs of you know students that they're concerned about and beyond that

1109
01:27:11,820 --> 01:27:16,220
potentially reaching out to other to members of the community kind of in a

1110
01:27:16,220 --> 01:27:17,920
outside of their police department role.

1111
01:27:18,840 --> 01:27:21,900
So if this was the result of a criminal investigation,

1112
01:27:22,060 --> 01:27:23,880
it's clearly beyond the pale that they would then reach out

1113
01:27:23,880 --> 01:27:26,800
to a residence and talk about the contents of that.

1114
01:27:27,600 --> 01:27:29,220
But I really, again, I'm not asking

1115
01:27:29,220 --> 01:27:32,600
about the specific individuals involved here.

1116
01:27:32,740 --> 01:27:34,840
I've followed up with you individually,

1117
01:27:35,160 --> 01:27:36,720
but more on a programmatic,

1118
01:27:38,620 --> 01:27:40,280
the goals of the STEP program,

1119
01:27:40,560 --> 01:27:43,900
does this sound consistent with the goals

1120
01:27:43,900 --> 01:27:45,460
and the implementation of the STEP program?

1121
01:27:45,460 --> 01:27:49,400
it's, I find it very troubling and I'd like to hear a response on that.

1122
01:27:51,960 --> 01:27:56,920
So to the chair and to you, councillor Ewan Campbell, I appreciate the question.

1123
01:27:57,300 --> 01:28:01,520
In full disclosure, I haven't had the opportunity to read the full back and forth emails.

1124
01:28:01,800 --> 01:28:07,000
I tried to respond to you last night and I think I clearly showed you in our social media policy

1125
01:28:07,000 --> 01:28:11,600
that an officer doing that for the criminal investigation is against the policy

1126
01:28:11,600 --> 01:28:14,300
without alerting the command staff of the peace department.

1127
01:28:14,920 --> 01:28:22,000
Without getting too much into the individual case, we're talking to here is the person

1128
01:28:22,000 --> 01:28:26,780
might be an employee of the police department in some capacity, so maybe there's a connection

1129
01:28:26,780 --> 01:28:30,840
there through a further connection, but that's not the role of the officers.

1130
01:28:31,260 --> 01:28:34,720
I'm going to fully look at it, the situation, look into it.

1131
01:28:35,100 --> 01:28:36,680
I spoke to Mary Skipper today.

1132
01:28:36,840 --> 01:28:40,660
We have not had one complaint about a steps officer in the schools.

1133
01:28:40,660 --> 01:28:49,060
They're there to mentor. They're not there to enforce the school rules. They're not there to look for criminal violations. They're there to know the students.

1134
01:28:49,260 --> 01:28:58,300
So at 10 o'clock at night, when you're in the eighth grade, and there's somebody calls and says, kids are in Conray Park hanging out.

1135
01:28:58,840 --> 01:29:06,860
I want the officer to know that. I know the students and say, hey, Brian, listen, box closed. I understand it's a hot summer night, you know, and you want to be outside.

1136
01:29:06,860 --> 01:29:11,820
but we received a few calls. I think that human interaction and getting to know each other

1137
01:29:11,820 --> 01:29:17,500
on a humanistic level has always been important to me in policing. I've seen that be successful

1138
01:29:17,500 --> 01:29:25,400
time and time again. If an officer overstepped his bounds in his role, as a steps officer,

1139
01:29:25,520 --> 01:29:29,780
we'll address that immediately and speak with them. But, you know, to date, I understand

1140
01:29:29,780 --> 01:29:35,120
that concern. I think I would be in the same concern from that. It's something that we

1141
01:29:35,120 --> 01:29:36,360
need to look into as a department.

1142
01:29:37,940 --> 01:29:39,960
Thank you very much, Chief, through the chair.

1143
01:29:40,160 --> 01:29:44,180
And given the goals that you state of the program,

1144
01:29:44,380 --> 01:29:46,300
I guess that's why it's so concerning to me.

1145
01:29:46,380 --> 01:29:48,220
And I'm wondering through you just to follow up

1146
01:29:49,280 --> 01:29:52,640
if there is a stated kind of policy around social media

1147
01:29:53,280 --> 01:29:56,960
of officers befriending young people.

1148
01:29:57,900 --> 01:29:59,540
I realize that this is a.

1149
01:30:00,460 --> 01:30:04,300
It could be a sensitive issue, but I'm kind of curious if the department has a policy on

1150
01:30:04,300 --> 01:30:04,520
it.

1151
01:30:11,480 --> 01:30:16,320
I believe you're muted. Chief Fallon, your microphone might have gotten unplugged. You're

1152
01:30:16,320 --> 01:30:16,680
not muted.

1153
01:30:17,500 --> 01:30:23,900
Okay, I apologize and do the chair and the council, you and Cameron, you know, I sent

1154
01:30:23,900 --> 01:30:28,460
you our social media policy last night and policies evolve over time. And when members

1155
01:30:28,460 --> 01:30:33,860
of the community, city councilors like yourself address policy issues, we're going to

1156
01:30:33,860 --> 01:30:39,880
be very, very, very adaptive to addressing the community concerns in our policies, teaching

1157
01:30:39,880 --> 01:30:44,660
our officers about those policies, and having the command staff in place to ensure that

1158
01:30:44,660 --> 01:30:49,340
they follow those policies. So it's valued input. You know, a citizen coming to a resident

1159
01:30:49,340 --> 01:30:53,420
coming to you, city councilor, you bring in your concern to the police department.

1160
01:30:53,760 --> 01:30:57,940
We're going to be adaptive and we're going to be responsive to these concerns, not

1161
01:30:57,940 --> 01:31:03,540
every policy policy is evolve over time. That's a big part of accreditation accreditation

1162
01:31:03,540 --> 01:31:08,120
process will give you a lot of policies. You promulgate a lot of policies in different areas.

1163
01:31:08,940 --> 01:31:14,820
But those policies are successful when you teach to them, when you hold offices accountable to them,

1164
01:31:15,280 --> 01:31:19,060
and when you adapt to change those policies with the community. But that's why it's so

1165
01:31:19,060 --> 01:31:23,100
vital. And I always welcome the input of this Council. I've learned so much from the City

1166
01:31:23,100 --> 01:31:28,620
Council and members of the Council. And we look forward to continuing our efforts together

1167
01:31:28,620 --> 01:31:31,740
in addressing concerns such as you bring to our attention.

1168
01:31:34,410 --> 01:31:38,330
Through the chair, thank you very much, Chief Fallon. I'm all set for now.

1169
01:31:40,580 --> 01:31:44,960
All right. Thank you. I do anticipate we'll be making several laps through, folks.

1170
01:31:45,200 --> 01:31:51,020
So thank you, Councilor Ioannon. Councilor White, and then we'll go to Councilor Strezzo and Davis.

1171
01:31:51,360 --> 01:31:52,460
Council White, you have the floor, sir.

1172
01:31:52,960 --> 01:31:56,940
Thank you, Mr. Chair. This could either be for the chief off of the mayor.

1173
01:31:57,980 --> 01:32:01,980
When you mentioned that there was a dreamer in line to become a patrol officer,

1174
01:32:01,980 --> 01:32:08,040
I remember back in 2010 when the City of Salvoley, Board of Aldermen and Yard administration

1175
01:32:08,040 --> 01:32:11,420
actually had a joint resolution supporting the DREAM Act.

1176
01:32:11,620 --> 01:32:14,380
Back in 2010, that wasn't that popular.

1177
01:32:14,980 --> 01:32:20,800
So this brings a concern to me and maybe I can ask a couple of questions to make sure

1178
01:32:20,800 --> 01:32:21,320
I'm correct.

1179
01:32:21,940 --> 01:32:25,460
It's my understanding that we cannot cut positions from the budget.

1180
01:32:25,640 --> 01:32:28,840
All we can do is cut the bottom line on personal services.

1181
01:32:29,620 --> 01:32:30,180
Is that correct?

1182
01:32:31,460 --> 01:32:34,480
That's correct. This is the Mayor through the Chair.

1183
01:32:35,580 --> 01:32:38,580
Okay. So it would be my understanding that

1184
01:32:40,980 --> 01:32:44,270
line item was that required layoffs,

1185
01:32:44,910 --> 01:32:49,230
and basically it would be the last person in who would be the first to be laid off

1186
01:32:49,230 --> 01:32:51,450
under the collective bargaining agreements?

1187
01:32:54,170 --> 01:32:58,750
In short, yes. I'd submit if I'm correct.

1188
01:32:59,590 --> 01:33:03,850
There's a civil service. You would have to give 30 days notice.

1189
01:33:03,850 --> 01:33:08,770
There's a bargain on reduction in force and it's typically last in first out correct

1190
01:33:09,710 --> 01:33:13,290
Okay, then I don't know if you have the database possible

1191
01:33:13,290 --> 01:33:20,150
But what I would like to see is let's just assume reductions in force by 10 to 60 percent

1192
01:33:20,150 --> 01:33:26,350
What the makeup would be of those who would be laid off at each of those percentiles

1193
01:33:26,350 --> 01:33:31,370
Because during my years on the first board of Alderman City Council each year

1194
01:33:31,370 --> 01:33:36,510
It seems that we've hired, or maybe over a period of a couple of years, we've hired

1195
01:33:36,510 --> 01:33:38,450
more women and people of color.

1196
01:33:39,130 --> 01:33:45,550
So my concern would be with these type of layoffs, would we lose, you know, a chunk

1197
01:33:45,550 --> 01:33:49,310
of our female officers and people of color?

1198
01:33:49,570 --> 01:33:55,330
And what type of a police department would be left as far as like age and ethnic background?

1199
01:33:57,630 --> 01:34:01,710
For the chair, we're happy to put those scenarios together for you.

1200
01:34:02,390 --> 01:34:08,470
Okay, because I think that will be helpful for me as you know, I address these potentials

1201
01:34:08,470 --> 01:34:08,890
of personal.

1202
01:34:11,310 --> 01:34:12,410
That's it, Mr. Chair.

1203
01:34:12,550 --> 01:34:12,870
Thank you.

1204
01:34:14,390 --> 01:34:15,770
Thank you, Councillor White.

1205
01:34:16,110 --> 01:34:22,690
I would also point out in the information that was provided by the City, one of the

1206
01:34:22,690 --> 01:34:33,070
questions asked by councillors was about the opportunity for buyouts or early retirements

1207
01:34:33,070 --> 01:34:39,150
for more senior personnel, which is a practice that this city has pursued in the past.

1208
01:34:40,090 --> 01:34:46,270
So the choice to only lay off the newest hire is an act of choice.

1209
01:34:46,430 --> 01:34:49,510
There are other policy issues that can be pursued by this administration.

1210
01:34:50,410 --> 01:34:53,130
And I believe, Mayor Curtatoni, you have done so in the past, correct?

1211
01:34:53,790 --> 01:34:57,910
Through you, Mr. Chairman, through you, you are correct.

1212
01:34:59,450 --> 01:35:04,370
It wouldn't be early retirement, ERI offered by the state.

1213
01:35:04,890 --> 01:35:10,570
What we've done in the past and the data escapes me is we've created sort of an incentive,

1214
01:35:11,890 --> 01:35:17,350
one-time payout incentive to retire and usually, and one of the, and this happened,

1215
01:35:17,390 --> 01:35:20,910
I believe right around the time as we were going through transformation

1216
01:35:20,910 --> 01:35:26,190
or taking on police reform, we had older, though, let's just say we had a lot

1217
01:35:26,190 --> 01:35:31,750
police officers are doing buy-in to reform and many close to the age of retirement and we work

1218
01:35:31,750 --> 01:35:36,990
together with the aldermen and not just the police I believe all the departments I forget what the

1219
01:35:36,990 --> 01:35:43,890
you know the monetary figure was to put an incentive retirement payment I guess that people

1220
01:35:43,890 --> 01:35:49,750
retired and then some were either at the age or close to it enough and it hit a sweet spot but

1221
01:35:49,750 --> 01:35:54,670
it's not your typical ERI passed down by the legislature so yes in short we have implemented

1222
01:35:54,670 --> 01:35:56,750
attempted those strategies in the past.

1223
01:35:58,010 --> 01:36:01,990
And if I may follow up, Mr. Chair, since you did comment on the point that I had raised,

1224
01:36:02,710 --> 01:36:06,630
it's my understanding that there would have to be funding in the police department for

1225
01:36:06,630 --> 01:36:08,230
any of those potential buyouts in

1226
01:36:11,270 --> 01:36:11,490
the...

1227
01:36:11,490 --> 01:36:12,450
To you, I believe so.

1228
01:36:13,410 --> 01:36:14,950
Most generally, if my record...

1229
01:36:20,840 --> 01:36:22,240
I believe that's correct.

1230
01:36:23,020 --> 01:36:23,580
All right.

1231
01:36:23,820 --> 01:36:24,400
Thank you.

1232
01:36:25,160 --> 01:36:25,800
All right.

1233
01:36:25,940 --> 01:36:30,760
Just as the point of information from the memo, it was in 2011 that the City of

1234
01:36:30,760 --> 01:36:35,960
Summerville last offered a $15,000 bonus to encourage officers who have retirement eligible

1235
01:36:35,960 --> 01:36:41,920
to retire. And they did have some takers. There were also early retirement incentive programs

1236
01:36:41,920 --> 01:36:51,400
in 2002 and 2003. All right. Next up here is Councillor Strezzo. Councillor Strezzo,

1237
01:36:51,400 --> 01:37:02,300
up before. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I did thank you very much, Mr. Chair, to you, to Councilor

1238
01:37:02,300 --> 01:37:07,280
Mava. Thank you for talking about the Somerville Police Advisory Group. I had questions about

1239
01:37:07,280 --> 01:37:13,380
that as well. And I was wondering if we could find more information about that as Councilors.

1240
01:37:13,440 --> 01:37:20,440
What year was it dissolved? And what were the mission statements of it? I don't know who that

1241
01:37:20,440 --> 01:37:27,120
question would be addressed to Chief Allen perhaps. I actually Mr. Chairman for you let me thank you

1242
01:37:27,120 --> 01:37:33,680
for the question Councillor Strezzo let me just clarify it wasn't dissolved unilaterally it had

1243
01:37:33,680 --> 01:37:37,800
fulfilled its mission and then we had asked them I believe and I went and we'll clarify this

1244
01:37:37,800 --> 01:37:43,260
few further was a year later and we had a progress check-in date and we can submit to the council

1245
01:37:43,260 --> 01:37:49,520
to you Mr. Chairman the full report if you haven't received it yet you might we even want

1246
01:37:49,520 --> 01:37:53,840
And if you're interested, for context, the original MMA police management study, which

1247
01:37:53,840 --> 01:37:55,500
I believe was 1999,

1248
01:37:58,080 --> 01:38:01,640
but that was all the context which led to a lot of the really focus on

1249
01:38:01,640 --> 01:38:04,140
the issues in the summer of the police department in the early 2000s.

1250
01:38:06,080 --> 01:38:06,960
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1251
01:38:09,300 --> 01:38:09,740
And

1252
01:38:12,170 --> 01:38:15,870
I did have a question, Chief Allen, about the cadet program.

1253
01:38:18,870 --> 01:38:21,770
So it is, it is, it is canceled.

1254
01:38:22,350 --> 01:38:23,270
What year was it canceled?

1255
01:38:29,220 --> 01:38:30,980
Thank you for your question, ma'am.

1256
01:38:31,780 --> 01:38:32,800
That was a new initiative.

1257
01:38:33,020 --> 01:38:34,400
We were looking to begin this year.

1258
01:38:36,500 --> 01:38:41,020
So, more so cancelled, put on hold to a future date,

1259
01:38:41,100 --> 01:38:43,640
but it's something that we want to work with the council

1260
01:38:43,640 --> 01:38:45,480
and the administration on implementing here

1261
01:38:45,480 --> 01:38:46,620
to some of the police department.

1262
01:38:48,640 --> 01:38:50,280
And from what I understand,

1263
01:38:50,280 --> 01:38:53,800
it has the capacity to provide scholarships.

1264
01:38:55,880 --> 01:38:57,000
You know, we work closely with the community

1265
01:38:57,000 --> 01:39:00,600
closely. Deputy, Deputy Stanford led on this initiative at the police department,

1266
01:39:00,680 --> 01:39:06,940
we're closely with the mayor and his staff. And the idea of the program was to take non-traditional

1267
01:39:06,940 --> 01:39:12,680
high school students who may not enter a career of public safety, hire them. You need to be 21

1268
01:39:12,680 --> 01:39:16,960
years of age to become a police officer in the state of Massachusetts, to work with them for

1269
01:39:16,960 --> 01:39:21,960
two or three years as cadets, help them, you know, work with them on how to take a civil

1270
01:39:21,960 --> 01:39:28,500
service exam, how to prepare yourself for being a police officer, and also during that time pay for

1271
01:39:28,500 --> 01:39:33,820
them to attend Bunker Hill Community College. So we turn an associate's degree while they're a cadet.

1272
01:39:34,520 --> 01:39:38,980
They can help with city events, be present at city events, engage with the community,

1273
01:39:39,620 --> 01:39:44,100
and then, you know, hopefully at that point we're working at the law office, working with

1274
01:39:44,100 --> 01:39:50,480
the law office, and they would be working with the state delegation to have those cadets

1275
01:39:50,480 --> 01:39:53,080
to have an opportunity to get extra points

1276
01:39:53,080 --> 01:39:54,180
on the civil service exam,

1277
01:39:54,620 --> 01:39:56,760
which would further put them up on the list

1278
01:39:56,760 --> 01:39:59,200
of becoming police officers here in Somerville.

1279
01:39:59,800 --> 01:40:02,200
And we went to many, a couple of job fears

1280
01:40:02,200 --> 01:40:04,700
at the high school, spoke to students about it.

1281
01:40:04,980 --> 01:40:06,340
We had some great applications.

1282
01:40:06,960 --> 01:40:08,580
Deputy Stanford is in the room with me.

1283
01:40:08,820 --> 01:40:10,520
And something we're excited about

1284
01:40:10,520 --> 01:40:11,660
and something I think we're definitely

1285
01:40:11,660 --> 01:40:12,580
gonna see here in the future.

1286
01:40:14,100 --> 01:40:19,060
What kind of applicants did you receive

1287
01:40:19,060 --> 01:40:25,800
through the you spoke about non-traditional applicants. Can you, what's

1288
01:40:25,800 --> 01:40:31,500
defined as non-traditional applicants of the cadet program, would you say? Yeah, I

1289
01:40:32,160 --> 01:40:35,320
speak to the Deputy Stanford in the room here through the chair, to Councillor

1290
01:40:35,320 --> 01:40:39,700
Estrezzo. We had about 20 applications, a lot of female applicants, a lot of

1291
01:40:39,700 --> 01:40:40,600
minority applicants,

1292
01:40:42,830 --> 01:40:45,150
also high school students that are to the best of my

1293
01:40:45,150 --> 01:40:50,890
recollection when people want to see serve their community so we can continue to make

1294
01:40:50,890 --> 01:40:54,990
strides to make sure that the Selvo Police Department strongly reflects the community

1295
01:40:54,990 --> 01:40:57,250
that we serve and continues to do so.

1296
01:40:59,210 --> 01:41:06,970
But so it isn't a defunct program, it's just on pause or?

1297
01:41:09,170 --> 01:41:15,130
through the chair it's not it's not funded at this time okay and then we're

1298
01:41:15,130 --> 01:41:21,640
hoping they'll find funding for that in the future thank you chief found I had

1299
01:41:22,100 --> 01:41:27,560
one more question does the does the city of Somerville did the police

1300
01:41:27,560 --> 01:41:33,460
officers carry tasers I threw the cheer to count of special thank you for the

1301
01:41:33,460 --> 01:41:38,380
question ma'am we do not carry tasers you do not carry tasers okay those are

1302
01:41:38,380 --> 01:41:43,520
all my questions and thank you very much chief on and thank you very much Mr. Chair.

1303
01:41:46,330 --> 01:41:54,750
All right thank you counselors I do see several folks wanting to jump in on this unless people

1304
01:41:55,970 --> 01:42:00,650
are directly addressed what I'd like to do is just to continue to cycle through and

1305
01:42:00,650 --> 01:42:03,870
once we get to the end of people who are asking questions for first time

1306
01:42:04,630 --> 01:42:08,770
to ask follow-up questions based on what you're hearing so please just

1307
01:42:08,770 --> 01:42:12,170
Just make a note of your question and we'll try to come back to it.

1308
01:42:13,710 --> 01:42:17,450
We will absolutely come back to you because we'll make sure you can remember it.

1309
01:42:18,370 --> 01:42:26,770
Up next we have Councilor Davis and then I see Councilor Niedergang and unless there

1310
01:42:26,770 --> 01:42:31,590
is more Councillors who haven't spoken yet who would like to speak then we'll start

1311
01:42:31,590 --> 01:42:32,230
back through.

1312
01:42:33,190 --> 01:42:34,510
So Councilor Davis, you have the floor.

1313
01:42:37,130 --> 01:42:38,530
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

1314
01:42:39,270 --> 01:42:39,730
Thank you.

1315
01:42:39,730 --> 01:42:46,530
she found Ms. Contente and Mr. Mayor for the presentation. Several of my

1316
01:42:46,530 --> 01:42:50,110
questions have been answered or at least the general issue has been addressed. I

1317
01:42:50,110 --> 01:42:56,950
don't want to belabor some of those points. I thought I might focus really on

1318
01:42:56,950 --> 01:43:04,070
the the timeline as in the very last slide that was presented by the mayor

1319
01:43:04,070 --> 01:43:08,690
there, and ask a few questions there, I'm trying to scroll towards here.

1320
01:43:10,970 --> 01:43:19,890
So Mr. Mayor, you mentioned that you and I had a conversation about what might work,

1321
01:43:20,070 --> 01:43:28,190
what might be the kind of thing that would be responsive to the calls for a commitment

1322
01:43:28,190 --> 01:43:35,850
it to significant change in the way that we envision policing in this city. That is, you

1323
01:43:35,850 --> 01:43:43,930
know, something other than a, you know, significant, something other than making those significant

1324
01:43:43,930 --> 01:43:54,970
changes in a week or two weeks. And I was, I was driven by, so let me take a step back.

1325
01:43:54,970 --> 01:44:02,130
I am fully committed to answering the calls of the thousands of people who have reached

1326
01:44:02,130 --> 01:44:11,050
out to us in various ways to see the way that we envision law enforcement in this city completely

1327
01:44:11,770 --> 01:44:19,890
changed, completely reworked and effectively breaking down the system we have and rebuilding

1328
01:44:19,890 --> 01:44:20,290
it.

1329
01:44:23,550 --> 01:44:28,610
That's an end goal and I believe, I think that we share that goal.

1330
01:44:30,250 --> 01:44:42,710
I am compelled by some of the voices and particularly, you know, a comment made by the Executive Director

1331
01:44:42,710 --> 01:44:49,410
of the largest organization that represents people of color in this community to caution

1332
01:44:49,410 --> 01:44:54,950
us to make sure that we have something to put in place or at least something close to

1333
01:44:54,950 --> 01:44:58,050
an idea of what to put in place before we rip out what's there.

1334
01:45:00,910 --> 01:45:07,910
I think that's wise, and I think that we can honor the calls of everyone in the community

1335
01:45:09,830 --> 01:45:17,250
by doing both, right? The specific petition that was mentioned many, many times was, you

1336
01:45:17,250 --> 01:45:22,410
know, at least 10% and calling for 60%. You know, those are numbers that were based on,

1337
01:45:22,470 --> 01:45:27,710
as I understand it, were based on, you know, averaging out what folks responded to, and

1338
01:45:27,710 --> 01:45:32,570
And that's, you know, that's not necessarily the wrong way of coming to a target point,

1339
01:45:32,730 --> 01:45:36,390
but it's only, you know, it's very least only part of the process.

1340
01:45:37,970 --> 01:45:44,910
I certainly feel that the folks in our community who have said that we need to be led by

1341
01:45:44,910 --> 01:45:51,010
those most directly impacted by policing, you know, that's the way to do this.

1342
01:45:51,290 --> 01:45:55,970
And you said that, Mr. Mayor, as well, and I'm with you on that.

1343
01:45:56,970 --> 01:45:59,090
So, thank you for including a timeline.

1344
01:46:00,450 --> 01:46:01,770
I want to be clear.

1345
01:46:02,150 --> 01:46:09,470
I want to ask some questions about what you see this as constituting, because it's my

1346
01:46:09,470 --> 01:46:14,370
anticipation that we will – I've already seen proposals from some of my colleagues

1347
01:46:14,370 --> 01:46:20,590
that look like they make sense to me that will result in deeper cuts right now to

1348
01:46:20,590 --> 01:46:21,270
the police budget.

1349
01:46:21,270 --> 01:46:27,150
of course going to continue to listen to the conversation before ultimately, you know, we

1350
01:46:27,150 --> 01:46:32,390
take a vote on one thing or another, but I think it's really important that we dig in

1351
01:46:32,390 --> 01:46:39,610
a little bit into this timeline that you have here because it, you know, so it lays

1352
01:46:39,610 --> 01:46:45,110
out across the top, and I'm looking at, I guess it's slide second to last slide,

1353
01:46:45,110 --> 01:46:51,890
slide 24, there's sort of the timeline is really across the top right there's

1354
01:46:51,890 --> 01:46:55,950
sort of four phases and they and they certainly overlap right so there's the

1355
01:46:55,950 --> 01:47:02,910
there's the role of the RSJ director the project on reimagining policing which

1356
01:47:02,910 --> 01:47:06,990
has two phases one civilian oversight and to a new public safety model and

1357
01:47:06,990 --> 01:47:12,090
then the funding as you mentioned we in the in the committee on legislative

1358
01:47:12,090 --> 01:47:16,250
of matters are already working on a civilian oversight process.

1359
01:47:17,010 --> 01:47:25,150
For the record, I just today canceled the meeting that was to happen Thursday, the reason

1360
01:47:25,150 --> 01:47:28,410
being that because we will be going into a recess this summer, I think it's important

1361
01:47:28,410 --> 01:47:32,030
for us to listen to the community over the course of the summer and then come back

1362
01:47:32,030 --> 01:47:36,430
to restart that legislative process as soon as we're back.

1363
01:47:36,430 --> 01:47:40,970
and, you know, so maybe a little earlier than you have in the timeline here, you know,

1364
01:47:41,090 --> 01:47:47,390
in October, but I hope that the Committee on Legislative Matters will, in cooperation

1365
01:47:47,390 --> 01:47:52,290
with the administration, will begin to undertake that process again in August and September.

1366
01:47:53,470 --> 01:47:57,950
I think the key here, though, for the purposes of the budget is, you know, the green

1367
01:47:57,950 --> 01:48:00,570
column here, right, the new public safety model.

1368
01:48:00,570 --> 01:48:05,970
Because if you look at, there was another document that was provided to us, and you

1369
01:48:05,970 --> 01:48:10,350
mentioned this in your comments that the project on reimagined policing is two primary

1370
01:48:10,350 --> 01:48:15,670
areas that mentioned the Civilian Oversight Committee, but also developing a new public

1371
01:48:15,670 --> 01:48:18,950
safety model that includes civilian response, holistic thinking, and other approaches.

1372
01:48:20,090 --> 01:48:26,430
And to me, that's really the key and, you know, I want to know, I would like to know

1373
01:48:26,430 --> 01:48:30,350
from you on – I'll try to keep this simple so we don't get into too much detail

1374
01:48:30,350 --> 01:48:30,790
right now.

1375
01:48:30,790 --> 01:48:36,390
We're just at a very basic level, and I'd actually like to hear a response from both

1376
01:48:36,390 --> 01:48:39,310
the mayor and the chief on these questions.

1377
01:48:39,870 --> 01:48:45,530
With regards to the Civilian Oversight Committee, are you committed to a civilian oversight process

1378
01:48:45,530 --> 01:48:47,650
that has actual authority?

1379
01:48:48,350 --> 01:48:53,750
So that would include things like, in all likelihood, not necessarily because this

1380
01:48:53,750 --> 01:48:58,610
is going to be a process, but in all likelihood, subpoena power, outside counsel, ultimately

1381
01:48:58,610 --> 01:49:07,670
enforcement and discipline power in policy setting. So my question to the

1382
01:49:07,670 --> 01:49:10,450
Mayor first and then to the Chief, are you committed to an oversight committee

1383
01:49:10,450 --> 01:49:14,870
that actually has those types of things that constitute the actual power that

1384
01:49:17,390 --> 01:49:21,750
folks tell us that proper effective oversight committees need to have?

1385
01:49:22,390 --> 01:49:27,350
Through you, Mr. Chairman, to Council Davis. Yes, I am. Absolutely.

1386
01:49:28,770 --> 01:49:32,450
Okay. Chief Fallon, is that consistent with your vision of what this process will look like?

1387
01:49:34,800 --> 01:49:40,180
Yeah, to the chair of Council Davis, 100 percent behind this initiative.

1388
01:49:40,420 --> 01:49:45,520
I think you've spoken in the past about, you know, needing to have some substance behind it.

1389
01:49:45,620 --> 01:49:49,200
And I think what the community is calling for, that what the community deserves,

1390
01:49:49,360 --> 01:49:51,000
and I think it's what we should bring to the community.

1391
01:49:52,280 --> 01:49:57,980
Okay. Thank you both for that. I'm glad to hear it. It is certainly my intent and I believe

1392
01:49:57,980 --> 01:50:03,840
our intent that that's what this process will open result in. Of course, as I said from

1393
01:50:03,840 --> 01:50:09,600
the chair of the committee on legislative matters, we will do this together, walking

1394
01:50:09,600 --> 01:50:15,380
stride by stride with the community so that we are listening to them and being guided

1395
01:50:15,380 --> 01:50:20,020
by them as well. So I look forward to working with you all on that. As to the new public

1396
01:50:20,020 --> 01:50:28,420
safety model, you know, Mr. Mayor, you correctly pointed out that there are legal hurdles to

1397
01:50:28,420 --> 01:50:35,420
doing a number of the things that I think ultimately need to be done and that I think any sort of

1398
01:50:35,420 --> 01:50:41,840
rational interpretation of the second prong of the reimagining model that you laid out,

1399
01:50:42,520 --> 01:50:46,560
you know, developing a new public safety model that includes civilian

1400
01:50:46,560 --> 01:50:48,440
in response, holistic thinking and other approaches.

1401
01:50:50,320 --> 01:50:56,240
We will have to address the fact that there is collective bargaining rights.

1402
01:50:57,800 --> 01:51:04,420
And I know you and others, and certainly my colleagues on the Council, recognize the

1403
01:51:04,420 --> 01:51:09,100
need to be careful that we don't set precedent that could be used in union busting and

1404
01:51:09,100 --> 01:51:09,880
other situations.

1405
01:51:11,480 --> 01:51:14,800
That's certainly a concern that we have to be cognizant of as we go through this.

1406
01:51:14,800 --> 01:51:35,500
But my question ultimately is, when you say a new public safety model and remathing in policing, in your mind does that likely include a much smaller police force and civilian first responders to many of the things that our current police officers do right now?

1407
01:51:36,680 --> 01:51:41,300
Through you, Mr. Chairman, at a good council, yes, and I think there should be no limit

1408
01:51:41,300 --> 01:51:49,220
to what we imagine and what practices we learn from even our own where we feel here locally,

1409
01:51:49,360 --> 01:51:53,280
we've set an incredible standard where we feel we've hit a wall because maybe that's

1410
01:51:53,280 --> 01:51:57,440
not where a service belongs or we're not fully equipped to address a particular problem

1411
01:51:57,440 --> 01:51:59,060
of what's happening around the world.

1412
01:51:59,060 --> 01:52:05,540
So, yeah, in short, yes, and our imagination of this should not be limited by any means

1413
01:52:05,540 --> 01:52:06,200
and I'm going to support.

1414
01:52:06,780 --> 01:52:07,060
Okay.

1415
01:52:07,560 --> 01:52:08,640
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

1416
01:52:08,900 --> 01:52:09,680
I appreciate hearing that.

1417
01:52:10,000 --> 01:52:14,540
Chief Fallon, is that consistent with where you see this ultimately going?

1418
01:52:17,270 --> 01:52:20,010
You know, Mr. Counselor, I just don't know.

1419
01:52:20,270 --> 01:52:23,550
To be fully honest with you, I just have to say I just don't know.

1420
01:52:23,750 --> 01:52:27,070
I think we really have to take a good look at other models.

1421
01:52:27,070 --> 01:52:31,370
You know, I think we have a very positive model with our call office.

1422
01:52:32,070 --> 01:52:36,630
I think other models are very dependent on what services are available in the community.

1423
01:52:36,950 --> 01:52:41,790
I'm looking at these departments around the country, some that have the Kahootz program

1424
01:52:42,390 --> 01:52:47,350
and, you know, that lessen the police officer, but the call, the response time, the general

1425
01:52:47,350 --> 01:52:49,290
response time is sometimes 20 minutes.

1426
01:52:50,090 --> 01:52:55,670
So I think we just really, you know, I'm interested in finding out, but I just

1427
01:52:55,670 --> 01:52:56,710
really have to say it.

1428
01:52:56,710 --> 01:53:04,890
this time, I just don't know. I think we have to be so nuanced, so reflective, so forward-thinking

1429
01:53:04,890 --> 01:53:11,850
that I don't know if the model, a successful model is there yet. But I look forward to going

1430
01:53:11,850 --> 01:53:15,530
down that road with everybody. But honestly, I just don't know at this point.

1431
01:53:16,690 --> 01:53:24,270
Okay. Well, I appreciate the candid nature of your answer. I agree. I haven't seen a good

1432
01:53:24,270 --> 01:53:30,010
model either. You know, Camden, New Jersey is one that seems to come up quite frequently,

1433
01:53:30,010 --> 01:53:36,450
but when you dig into that, not only did they have another plan in place and ready to go

1434
01:53:36,450 --> 01:53:42,090
when they disbanded the city police department, you know, they had the replacement ready,

1435
01:53:42,970 --> 01:53:47,810
that actually resulted by design in far more police officers, many more police officers

1436
01:53:47,810 --> 01:53:51,550
on the streets, which is what they wanted at the time, but it's just a different

1437
01:53:51,550 --> 01:53:57,910
So, I agree that I have yet to see a perfect model and my expectation is that we are fully

1438
01:53:57,910 --> 01:54:03,330
capable of being the ones to come up with what will be the best model out there once

1439
01:54:03,910 --> 01:54:05,630
we are through the process.

1440
01:54:07,070 --> 01:54:08,930
So thank you both for that.

1441
01:54:09,610 --> 01:54:18,310
You know, I won't ask any more questions, I would just say that I am fully convinced

1442
01:54:18,310 --> 01:54:24,810
and fully committed to doing the things that we're talking about, I think that the time

1443
01:54:24,810 --> 01:54:32,690
has come because as many wonderful individuals that might be in an institution when the institution

1444
01:54:32,690 --> 01:54:38,550
is designed to do something that is not consistent with what we as a society wanted to do anymore,

1445
01:54:40,070 --> 01:54:43,190
it's time to reimagine that institution.

1446
01:54:43,190 --> 01:54:46,410
And I think that's what policing writ large is.

1447
01:54:47,570 --> 01:54:55,530
You know, as my colleague at large, Councilor Baugh has said, you know, the system is what

1448
01:54:55,530 --> 01:54:56,190
isn't working.

1449
01:54:56,350 --> 01:54:57,170
The system is racist.

1450
01:54:57,370 --> 01:54:59,430
It's not the question of the individual.

1451
01:54:59,670 --> 01:55:07,990
So we need to recognize that and look for a system that is more reflective of our

1452
01:55:07,990 --> 01:55:08,730
society today.

1453
01:55:09,170 --> 01:55:10,470
So I look forward to doing that.

1454
01:55:10,470 --> 01:55:19,970
as soon as possible, I will note that the timeline that is here is, you know, it's, I think it's

1455
01:55:19,970 --> 01:55:25,970
fair to say it's aggressive. It's also very much not aggressive because the, you know, the new

1456
01:55:25,970 --> 01:55:31,870
public safety model attracts out to implementation beginning a year from now. That might end up

1457
01:55:31,870 --> 01:55:36,870
being what's realistic. I'd like to see that happen a lot more quickly. I think legal

1458
01:55:36,870 --> 01:55:40,950
challenges will probably be unavoidable and so those are going to be the things

1459
01:55:40,950 --> 01:55:45,510
that we really that end up costing us time but it is important to listen to

1460
01:55:45,510 --> 01:55:51,090
community and I hope that we begin doing that you know the second we have a

1461
01:55:51,090 --> 01:55:55,710
moment after the budget process and throughout the summer and into the fall.

1462
01:55:56,510 --> 01:56:00,610
So thank you both for your answers on that and I will leave it there Mr.

1463
01:56:00,690 --> 01:56:04,350
Chair thank you for the time. Thank you Councillor Davis.

1464
01:56:05,270 --> 01:56:11,050
Mr. Mayor, since we did hear from our existing Chief, but this is a plan that's timeline

1465
01:56:11,050 --> 01:56:18,310
as you propose, fans, as Councillor Favis just said, well into next year, perhaps you'd

1466
01:56:18,310 --> 01:56:24,610
like to comment on the charter or the process of hiring a new Chief as it would perhaps

1467
01:56:24,610 --> 01:56:27,490
impact that new policing rematch.

1468
01:56:28,010 --> 01:56:34,090
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It's a good question. I appreciate it. We've hit COVID-19's

1469
01:56:34,090 --> 01:56:41,930
done a lot of things to our society, to our health, to our livelihood, to the timing of

1470
01:56:41,930 --> 01:56:42,610
things in life.

1471
01:56:44,850 --> 01:56:49,750
So we've been delayed in a couple of things, which now may be proved to be advantageous.

1472
01:56:49,930 --> 01:56:55,030
One, the hiring process for new chief, and we will put that information out for counselors.

1473
01:56:55,290 --> 01:56:58,930
It's one of the most robust public processes anywhere in the country for hiring a chief.

1474
01:56:59,570 --> 01:57:02,810
It was part of the major changes we made within 15 years ago when we removed the

1475
01:57:02,810 --> 01:57:08,590
chief position from the civil service and how we got talented people like Dave Fallon

1476
01:57:08,590 --> 01:57:12,890
to become chief because that type of talent never had a chance to rise to the top.

1477
01:57:13,710 --> 01:57:19,050
That being said, so that process I'd submit will align well as we move forward re-imagining

1478
01:57:19,050 --> 01:57:25,090
the police department and as we learned when we, almost 15 years ago, restructured the

1479
01:57:25,090 --> 01:57:29,090
police department and instituted a new organization on deployment plan based on community

1480
01:57:29,090 --> 01:57:36,310
We not only had candidates who wanted to come to Somerville to do the job, but they were passionate about instituting the changes.

1481
01:57:36,470 --> 01:57:38,450
So I submit that opportunity is going to be here and aligned well.

1482
01:57:38,970 --> 01:57:46,410
And then if you recall, Mr. Chairman, you know, President McLaughlin and I mentioned charter reform at the inauguration.

1483
01:57:46,710 --> 01:57:56,930
That time it's also been slowed that process down, but that will also align well in an opportunistic way because inevitably whatever we do will have some charter impact.

1484
01:57:56,930 --> 01:58:00,790
And this is not meant to put out there like there's a lot of stuff to do. There is a lot of stuff to do

1485
01:58:00,790 --> 01:58:06,970
It'll work out well and we'll be working closely with the council community how those processes align with this process moving forward

1486
01:58:06,970 --> 01:58:12,730
So I appreciate the question. Yeah, that's important information to put out there. Thank you. Oh

1487
01:58:12,730 --> 01:58:18,410
Right up next. We have a councilor need again and then council of Valentine

1488
01:58:18,410 --> 01:58:23,610
And then unless others who haven't spoken would like to we'll go back to the start of line

1489
01:58:26,090 --> 01:58:30,310
Good evening, Mr. Chair, you and others will be pleased to hear that I'm going to hold

1490
01:58:30,310 --> 01:58:31,430
my comments till later.

1491
01:58:32,090 --> 01:58:36,530
I just decided I'm going to be presenting some cuts later on when we get to that point.

1492
01:58:37,190 --> 01:58:41,410
And I think rather than say some things now relevant to that, I'll just hold everything

1493
01:58:41,410 --> 01:58:41,990
till later.

1494
01:58:42,070 --> 01:58:43,150
So I'll pass at this point.

1495
01:58:43,430 --> 01:58:44,170
Thank you.

1496
01:58:45,130 --> 01:58:49,350
All right, Councilor Neidegain, that means Councilor Valentine, you're up.

1497
01:58:56,860 --> 01:58:58,280
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

1498
01:58:58,280 --> 01:59:05,180
So, thank you to my colleagues. A lot of my questions or most of my questions were asked.

1499
01:59:06,120 --> 01:59:10,900
So, I will refer to just, I would like to make a comment.

1500
01:59:11,820 --> 01:59:23,420
Ward 7 is, has the largest number of housing units for low income and public housing in the city.

1501
01:59:23,420 --> 01:59:26,500
We have about a third of the population.

1502
01:59:27,680 --> 01:59:34,040
And I noticed during the public hearing portion, that's only one way in which the community

1503
01:59:34,620 --> 01:59:45,360
shares feedback with us that only one resident from that one of the public housings spoke.

1504
01:59:45,360 --> 01:59:55,100
So needless to say, I reached out to one of the larger housing units which houses about

1505
01:59:55,100 --> 01:59:59,400
1200 people, it's 501 housing units at Clarendon Hill.

1506
02:00:00,340 --> 02:00:15,500
And they were concerned about drastic cuts. And they asked me, these are people of color who live in

1507
02:00:15,500 --> 02:00:28,460
those housing units. And the manager and her team who deals with resident services asked me to express

1508
02:00:28,460 --> 02:00:37,520
is that they don't mind the idea of working on a restructure and change.

1509
02:00:38,420 --> 02:00:45,620
However, they are completely and their words were panicked at the idea that

1510
02:00:45,620 --> 02:00:53,620
there would be a change immediately without understanding the impact to

1511
02:00:53,620 --> 02:01:03,020
to their community. Specifically, a lot of what they were concerned about was the uptick

1512
02:01:03,020 --> 02:01:10,520
in domestic violence, in child molestations, in rapes, in mental health.

1513
02:01:12,720 --> 02:01:15,940
But understanding

1514
02:01:15,940 --> 02:01:31,120
understanding and they do feel that taking a pause and really being intentional about making

1515
02:01:31,120 --> 02:01:39,980
change and hopefully being able to be part of the process was important to them.

1516
02:01:40,560 --> 02:01:43,760
So I said I would share those comments.

1517
02:01:43,760 --> 02:01:51,820
And I just had a couple of pointed questions now, and those were, they might be directed

1518
02:01:51,820 --> 02:02:01,580
to the mayor, but you know, on this reimagining of the police, I wonder whether that reimagining

1519
02:02:01,580 --> 02:02:10,620
would include maybe public health department having officials that handle the homeless

1520
02:02:10,620 --> 02:02:19,040
us people who live in our community. Because I know I get a call as award counselor to have

1521
02:02:19,540 --> 02:02:27,380
the police respond to that. So that's sort of one of the questions I have. Would you

1522
02:02:27,380 --> 02:02:37,400
consider public health department having officers checking in on the most vulnerable in our

1523
02:02:37,400 --> 02:02:43,140
community. For you, Mr. Chairman, to Council Ballantyne, good evening, and thank

1524
02:02:43,140 --> 02:02:47,520
you for the question. No, I agree. And as I mentioned earlier, there should be no

1525
02:02:47,520 --> 02:02:52,720
limit to how we reimagine using that term what policing should look like and

1526
02:02:52,720 --> 02:02:59,300
how we respond to these more human issues. And yeah, I absolutely foresee

1527
02:02:59,300 --> 02:03:02,640
that. I think we all, they'll be part of the conversation and the community

1528
02:03:02,640 --> 02:03:08,240
anything demands that so yeah I would hope that's part of it. And so then thank

1529
02:03:08,240 --> 02:03:13,980
you Mr. Chair through you to Mr. Mayor another opportunity I guess would say

1530
02:03:13,980 --> 02:03:21,960
the facial masks that we are required to wear and that there is a $300 fine if

1531
02:03:21,960 --> 02:03:23,780
If they're not being warned,

1532
02:03:28,180 --> 02:03:36,420
the enforcer is the police and needless to say, you know,

1533
02:03:36,480 --> 02:03:43,760
the entire council panics, like who's going to be, you know, how is that enforcement going

1534
02:03:43,760 --> 02:03:44,240
to happen?

1535
02:03:44,240 --> 02:03:57,880
But I wonder, in the community, the police has a certain power advantage to us, is that

1536
02:03:57,880 --> 02:04:05,900
whether that should also be a way to reimagine that that is not having to be implemented

1537
02:04:05,900 --> 02:04:09,840
by the police, but maybe the public health inspectors that we have.

1538
02:04:11,280 --> 02:04:13,080
Is that an opportunity?

1539
02:04:15,000 --> 02:04:17,200
Through you again, Mr. Chairman, to the good council.

1540
02:04:17,360 --> 02:04:22,020
It's interesting because this very topic came up in this morning's daily check-in on COVID.

1541
02:04:23,080 --> 02:04:28,080
I think you bring up a point that re-emphasizes that police officers are asked to do a lot

1542
02:04:28,080 --> 02:04:29,780
and probably more than they should have to,

1543
02:04:29,880 --> 02:04:37,820
and that image of an officer potentially taking on another punitive action is not a good image for the community.

1544
02:04:37,820 --> 02:04:42,200
although they have been lauded and being out there giving out masks so yes I believe that

1545
02:04:42,200 --> 02:04:47,460
it should be an opportunity but you should know narrowly in terms of today we are talking about

1546
02:04:47,460 --> 02:04:53,680
Ken to be COVID ambassadors out there educating folks or other individuals finding those

1547
02:04:53,680 --> 02:04:59,940
willfully don't comply but we agree we should really think about are these different types of

1548
02:05:00,540 --> 02:05:06,540
daily violations or code issues things we want our police officers doing or not so I hope that

1549
02:05:06,540 --> 02:05:08,120
that many more like it a part of this conversation.

1550
02:05:09,260 --> 02:05:11,040
Okay, thank you.

1551
02:05:11,180 --> 02:05:12,240
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

1552
02:05:12,640 --> 02:05:17,040
You know, I'd just like to say that I heard

1553
02:05:17,040 --> 02:05:21,120
the constituents that spoke at the public hearing.

1554
02:05:21,400 --> 02:05:26,340
I've also heard and reached out to my residents.

1555
02:05:27,660 --> 02:05:33,240
I noticed in the data of those people

1556
02:05:33,240 --> 02:05:41,240
who identified which ward that they were from, that wards 1, 4, and 7 were the

1557
02:05:41,240 --> 02:05:49,580
least represented, and that those tend to be the neighborhoods that have the

1558
02:05:49,580 --> 02:06:00,600
largest or more vulnerable populations. So as the Executive Director of the

1559
02:06:00,600 --> 02:06:10,500
project mentioned that we have to or he's encouraging that the good

1560
02:06:10,500 --> 02:06:21,260
intentions of everybody is not at a way that it eliminates the voice of those

1561
02:06:21,260 --> 02:06:29,900
who need the services of the police in our community. Thank you. Thank

1562
02:06:34,700 --> 02:06:34,860
you

1563
02:06:34,860 --> 02:06:39,600
Councilor, we are just about ready to loop around on this.

1564
02:06:40,000 --> 02:06:42,340
At which point we'd be going to Councilor Bonn,

1565
02:06:42,340 --> 02:06:44,860
Councilor Davis, I see who'd like to come back,

1566
02:06:45,000 --> 02:06:47,000
but Councilor Klingon, you haven't yet spoken?

1567
02:06:47,500 --> 02:06:47,560
Yeah.

1568
02:06:48,860 --> 02:06:50,400
Thank you, Mr. Chair, through you,

1569
02:06:50,540 --> 02:06:53,660
I don't have any specific questions for the panelists

1570
02:06:53,660 --> 02:06:56,940
as I know most of the information

1571
02:06:56,940 --> 02:06:58,160
I was presented here tonight

1572
02:06:58,160 --> 02:06:59,760
as someone who has worked with

1573
02:07:00,120 --> 02:07:02,020
the Sunwill Police Department through the years

1574
02:07:02,020 --> 02:07:07,080
is to improve the way we interact with the community.

1575
02:07:07,460 --> 02:07:09,640
And through the core program where, you know,

1576
02:07:09,920 --> 02:07:14,180
through my work on addiction reforms and harm reduction,

1577
02:07:14,740 --> 02:07:16,320
when they brought that program in,

1578
02:07:16,400 --> 02:07:18,540
and when they stopped basically, you know,

1579
02:07:18,940 --> 02:07:20,500
when the Sunwell Police were the first ones

1580
02:07:20,500 --> 02:07:27,120
to enact many of the radical at the time reforms

1581
02:07:27,120 --> 02:07:29,360
that the Gloucester Police Chief had, you know,

1582
02:07:29,360 --> 02:07:38,380
called out to be enacted. And so, you know, for me, I'm well aware of the police force

1583
02:07:38,380 --> 02:07:44,280
that we have out there. I agree with my good colleague from Ward 7. I believe the breakdown

1584
02:07:44,280 --> 02:07:50,320
was a very small percentage from Ward 4 who testified the other night. I've been out

1585
02:07:50,320 --> 02:07:55,660
on the streets talking to folks. I'm hard pressed to find a negative interaction. Every

1586
02:07:55,660 --> 02:08:02,560
Every time I speak to folks, this one woman told me about how she got pulled over and she,

1587
02:08:03,020 --> 02:08:08,420
you know, was fighting with the cop that, no, my registration hasn't run out.

1588
02:08:08,660 --> 02:08:12,160
This is a woman of color with her husband arriving home late at night from work.

1589
02:08:13,740 --> 02:08:15,820
Then she goes, well, lo and behold, it turns out it was.

1590
02:08:16,040 --> 02:08:21,200
My registration had lapsed and the officer was extremely nice and he gave me a ride home.

1591
02:08:21,580 --> 02:08:23,460
And I'm just like, okay, well, that's it.

1592
02:08:23,460 --> 02:08:28,000
in the past 15 years you've been in Somerville. So I'm really having a hard time. I'm all about

1593
02:08:28,000 --> 02:08:36,460
reform and I understand that we, you know, if you all want to work on a new system that is less

1594
02:08:36,460 --> 02:08:42,700
law enforcement involved, we're going to do that. And I look forward to that. I look forward to

1595
02:08:42,700 --> 02:08:48,380
those discussions, everybody said. I'm in this meeting right now with an open mind. I'm open

1596
02:08:48,380 --> 02:08:57,580
to reasonable cuts, but I am sad to hear that, you know, however the cuts are enacted by the

1597
02:08:57,580 --> 02:09:03,620
administration, they could very well affect people of color and some of the programs that we've been

1598
02:09:03,620 --> 02:09:10,600
working towards to change the face of our police force. And, you know, as most of you know,

1599
02:09:10,640 --> 02:09:15,260
I grew up in the city, I was born and raised here, and I've seen the changes through the

1600
02:09:15,260 --> 02:09:20,440
years. And I think there's always room for improvement, but I do want to say that our

1601
02:09:20,440 --> 02:09:27,420
police force is highly progressive. And I do look forward to, I'm definitely in favor

1602
02:09:27,420 --> 02:09:33,420
of a civilian oversight commission with teeth. So I'm committed to some of these major reforms,

1603
02:09:33,520 --> 02:09:39,100
but I'm not committed to just cutting, just to cut, because people want us to cut.

1604
02:09:39,100 --> 02:09:46,680
when, in fact, we've been cutting the police budget for some time now, and I do think that

1605
02:09:47,260 --> 02:09:54,800
we need to at least have something in its place before we move to just take public safety

1606
02:09:54,800 --> 02:09:56,120
officers off the street.

1607
02:09:56,440 --> 02:09:58,560
So I'm here, you know, that's it.

1608
02:09:58,680 --> 02:09:59,840
I just want to make those comments.

1609
02:10:00,120 --> 02:10:01,640
I appreciate all the panelists' time.

1610
02:10:02,240 --> 02:10:07,000
I really appreciate Patty Contente who probably could be making more money in another city

1611
02:10:07,000 --> 02:10:11,780
based on the fact that most people want this model and that we've been on the cutting edge

1612
02:10:11,780 --> 02:10:16,000
but she stays here with us because she's been committed to the city since early 2000s

1613
02:10:16,000 --> 02:10:21,380
when we went through a bunch of different suicides and overdoses.

1614
02:10:22,220 --> 02:10:25,740
And so, you know, these are the things that I know from my personal history in the city

1615
02:10:26,480 --> 02:10:31,240
and I just want to thank the officers that are on the street

1616
02:10:31,240 --> 02:10:35,880
that are doing the hard work of being more compassionate, more empathetic

1617
02:10:35,880 --> 02:10:40,740
And, but, you know, and to the bad ones, if there are, you know, they're on notice.

1618
02:10:40,980 --> 02:10:45,740
I mean, we just, we have to make it so that there's accountability, real accountability.

1619
02:10:46,460 --> 02:10:48,360
And, and that's what I'm committed to.

1620
02:10:49,260 --> 02:10:50,960
So that's what I'm going to do tonight.

1621
02:10:51,140 --> 02:10:52,860
And I will yield.

1622
02:10:53,060 --> 02:10:53,320
Thank you.

1623
02:10:56,070 --> 02:10:56,810
All right.

1624
02:10:56,950 --> 02:10:58,990
Thank you, Councillor Klingin.

1625
02:11:00,310 --> 02:11:02,270
Seeing nobody else who hasn't spoken yet.

1626
02:11:02,430 --> 02:11:03,530
I'm going to go back to start online.

1627
02:11:03,530 --> 02:11:09,170
councillor Mba, you had some follow-up questions. I believe about the cadets, but possibly better.

1628
02:11:09,410 --> 02:11:17,970
There's your thing. Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. And I really appreciate, you know, like everyone's

1629
02:11:17,970 --> 02:11:26,690
input. Thank you, Councillor Klingon. You know, like, that was like well put. I think

1630
02:11:27,470 --> 02:11:31,410
for the cadet program, thank you, Councillor Strezzel, for bringing that up, because

1631
02:11:31,410 --> 02:11:38,310
But one of the things I heard about the cadet program was to diversify, provide opportunity

1632
02:11:38,310 --> 02:11:46,210
for minority kids at the high school and other kids that were interested in being in

1633
02:11:46,210 --> 02:11:46,570
the first.

1634
02:11:46,990 --> 02:11:52,390
And so now that it's been—I'm glad that it's not completely eliminated, but is

1635
02:11:52,390 --> 02:11:59,010
it possible to take it and put it under the Racial and Social Justice Bureau?

1636
02:12:00,210 --> 02:12:06,010
We can speak to that so that we know that this is something that we can still keep working

1637
02:12:06,010 --> 02:12:11,510
on it and not try to move backward instead of trying to move ahead.

1638
02:12:13,480 --> 02:12:18,690
Can that cadet program be rerouted to this new department that we just created?

1639
02:12:22,350 --> 02:12:25,150
We can speak to that, maybe the mayor or the chief.

1640
02:12:26,870 --> 02:12:31,330
I'm, to you, Mr. Chairman, I'm happy to start the answer, if that's okay.

1641
02:12:31,570 --> 02:12:36,290
And I think one part of the sheet may have to chime in, if it's okay for you.

1642
02:12:36,410 --> 02:12:37,990
Thank you, Councilman Baer, for the question.

1643
02:12:39,230 --> 02:12:46,970
Perhaps some aspects of it, but I'd submit, because there's a, if you recall, we were

1644
02:12:46,970 --> 02:12:51,330
seeking a way, some context that's important in my answer, to get more candidates to

1645
02:12:51,330 --> 02:12:57,050
take the civil service exam so we can diversify and make the department really reflect the

1646
02:12:57,050 --> 02:12:59,110
demographics of the community and represent that.

1647
02:12:59,690 --> 02:13:04,870
And then the current civil service system, we've been lucky in recent years, but we still

1648
02:13:04,870 --> 02:13:08,770
haven't been able to push that diversification of the department to the levels we all want.

1649
02:13:08,990 --> 02:13:12,390
That's another conversation we can have with the community as we reimagine the

1650
02:13:12,390 --> 02:13:15,350
department all aspects of it, including hiring and promotion.

1651
02:13:16,930 --> 02:13:34,110
So, I'd submit we'd want the racial and social justice department to have input on this and help make sure that it is done in a way that it is not embedding any systemic racism and that it is promoting social and racial justice in policing in the city.

1652
02:13:34,530 --> 02:13:41,630
However, there is going to be a certain training or exposure aspect to policing that's going

1653
02:13:41,630 --> 02:13:44,890
to have to be on the purview of the department unless the chief disagrees with me.

1654
02:13:53,850 --> 02:13:55,730
I appreciate that the mayor's comment.

1655
02:13:55,950 --> 02:14:01,250
I think a programmer like this could really be a big part of the reimagining policing

1656
02:14:01,250 --> 02:14:01,770
project.

1657
02:14:02,450 --> 02:14:06,090
Let's take a second now that we have it to really vet this project out.

1658
02:14:06,690 --> 02:14:11,130
Let's see the impact it will have on our community, the impact it will have on

1659
02:14:11,130 --> 02:14:15,530
the police department, and if it's, you know, the positive step forward that I think it's

1660
02:14:15,530 --> 02:14:20,590
going to be, and that's what the reimagining project points out, and I say with full steam

1661
02:14:20,590 --> 02:14:25,890
ahead, I think it's a good point for us to really take a look at that and vet the project

1662
02:14:25,890 --> 02:14:26,530
out even further.

1663
02:14:27,890 --> 02:14:34,090
Thank you, because I would hate to see any program that would diversify the police

1664
02:14:34,090 --> 02:14:37,510
force, you know, being moved away.

1665
02:14:38,210 --> 02:14:44,210
And then another comment is also, I want to also thank Councillor Davis for emphasizing

1666
02:14:44,210 --> 02:14:49,150
on the civilian of a sideboard, you know, and also seeing the full support of the chief

1667
02:14:49,150 --> 02:14:54,490
and the mayor, because if you had objected to anything, then that would have been a

1668
02:14:54,490 --> 02:14:59,890
red flag for me, because why, why object, you know, for all the, the, the requirements

1669
02:14:59,890 --> 02:14:59,970
Bye.

1670
02:15:00,000 --> 02:15:06,380
If you are trying to hide something, then you will fight us. But if you support all what

1671
02:15:06,380 --> 02:15:12,420
we are trying to do, then let's take this thing, Councillor Davis, chair of legislative matters,

1672
02:15:13,060 --> 02:15:18,600
get this thing done as soon as possible so we can impact our community. Thank you, Mr.

1673
02:15:18,760 --> 02:15:18,880
Chair.

1674
02:15:21,950 --> 02:15:28,690
Thank you, Councillor Mba. Next up, coming around the loop, I see Councillor Nida Gang.

1675
02:15:28,690 --> 02:15:30,670
Councilor Knudegang, you had some follow-up questions.

1676
02:15:33,330 --> 02:15:35,350
No, actually, you said you were all set.

1677
02:15:35,990 --> 02:15:42,270
I'm all set for now. I want to present later on my cuts and the rationale for them,

1678
02:15:42,670 --> 02:15:46,170
but I'll hold them until we get to that part of the program. Thank you.

1679
02:15:46,170 --> 02:15:50,450
All right. Sorry, I was able to keep 150 people straight in a public hearing,

1680
02:15:50,630 --> 02:15:54,430
but a dozen here and I'm lost. All right, Councilor Davis, I believe,

1681
02:15:54,830 --> 02:15:57,150
you had some follow-ups.

1682
02:15:58,570 --> 02:16:05,690
Thank you, Mr. Chair. You've certainly earned a little bit of leeway after your skillful

1683
02:16:06,710 --> 02:16:12,330
navigating of six plus hours of commentary last week. I'll be very brief. I just wanted

1684
02:16:12,330 --> 02:16:19,350
to point out, and I do so because I think it's worth bearing in mind as we consider

1685
02:16:19,950 --> 02:16:26,630
next steps forward, you know, to play off of what Councillor Ballantyne noted, you

1686
02:16:26,630 --> 02:16:32,170
know, so in terms of, you know, rather than having police be, you know, the first

1687
02:16:32,170 --> 02:16:37,930
response to this or that, we already do this to some extent. And I'm certain I'm

1688
02:16:37,930 --> 02:16:42,210
not the only one of the ward councillors or a large councillors that, you know,

1689
02:16:42,270 --> 02:16:48,450
when somebody reaches out and says, so the one I get off is David Square,

1690
02:16:48,450 --> 02:16:54,090
that folks who are experiencing homelessness are congregating here or causing a problem

1691
02:16:54,090 --> 02:16:54,370
here.

1692
02:16:54,530 --> 02:16:58,770
And my first call was to help Human Services, and they have told me they sent folks down

1693
02:16:58,770 --> 02:17:02,490
there to see what they can do to help those folks.

1694
02:17:03,310 --> 02:17:07,670
How effective that is based on the resources and the way we vote that department, I can't

1695
02:17:07,670 --> 02:17:08,150
say right now.

1696
02:17:08,210 --> 02:17:13,630
I think that's one thing we have to accomplish, we have to have, but in my mind it wouldn't

1697
02:17:13,630 --> 02:17:22,890
take much structure to make that a, you know, more of a policy to help, you know, to be part

1698
02:17:22,890 --> 02:17:30,270
of an immediate shift from some of the resources, from sending police to that call first, to

1699
02:17:30,270 --> 02:17:36,070
having folks from our Health and Human Services or from whatever other department. So just

1700
02:17:36,070 --> 02:17:42,170
to point out that, you know, in my experience is that we will do that. If that first

1701
02:17:42,170 --> 02:17:50,290
call us into the police and we have some capacity to send folks out that have specific training

1702
02:17:50,700 --> 02:17:51,610
in that type of thing.

1703
02:17:51,790 --> 02:17:52,770
So, I hope we'll see more of that.

1704
02:17:53,330 --> 02:17:53,690
Thank you, Chair.

1705
02:17:59,130 --> 02:18:05,210
I'm taking a look for further follow-ups before I exercise my prerogative to chair.

1706
02:18:06,910 --> 02:18:08,630
I see nobody else right now.

1707
02:18:10,170 --> 02:18:15,690
I have a few questions based on the slides and the questions asked by my colleagues

1708
02:18:15,690 --> 02:18:16,030
here.

1709
02:18:18,370 --> 02:18:24,510
And I'll start with ones that have been brought to me by people of color in the community.

1710
02:18:26,270 --> 02:18:33,650
One is a follow-up on one of the the story that Ms. Contente told about the very first

1711
02:18:34,380 --> 02:18:42,150
jail diversion effort, first diversion to further services. Ms. Contente, you referred to

1712
02:18:42,150 --> 02:18:50,810
the process of documenting many contacts, and that was then used to get them into the system

1713
02:18:50,810 --> 02:18:52,210
and access to services.

1714
02:18:54,070 --> 02:18:57,210
Was that documentation in the form of charges that needed to be filed?

1715
02:18:57,350 --> 02:19:01,910
Not necessarily arrests, but charges that needed to be filed in order to document

1716
02:19:01,910 --> 02:19:02,390
interactions?

1717
02:19:03,750 --> 02:19:04,350
No.

1718
02:19:04,710 --> 02:19:05,450
Thank you, Chair.

1719
02:19:06,230 --> 02:19:08,670
No, it was just calls for service.

1720
02:19:08,670 --> 02:19:14,110
So CAD calls come in, and every call that comes into the station is documented.

1721
02:19:14,630 --> 02:19:15,890
And so there were no arrests.

1722
02:19:17,930 --> 02:19:19,670
I wasn't asking about arrests.

1723
02:19:19,930 --> 02:19:21,230
I was speaking of charges.

1724
02:19:21,470 --> 02:19:23,350
You can issue a citation or a charge.

1725
02:19:23,610 --> 02:19:24,790
Other charges, I'm sorry.

1726
02:19:25,190 --> 02:19:26,470
Yes, thank you for the clarification.

1727
02:19:26,770 --> 02:19:28,510
There were no charges in those cases.

1728
02:19:29,330 --> 02:19:29,910
All right.

1729
02:19:30,090 --> 02:19:32,970
Are there circumstances where you're trying to connect people to services

1730
02:19:33,890 --> 02:19:35,970
to get them into the system as it were,

1731
02:19:35,970 --> 02:19:46,370
where you are in a position where you have to generate charges against somebody in order to get them into a court-mandated or court-provided mental health services?

1732
02:19:48,150 --> 02:19:53,030
No, not necessarily on our end. We do get requests from providers.

1733
02:19:56,890 --> 02:20:05,990
Unfortunately, oftentimes the Department of Mental Health has a case review system when

1734
02:20:05,990 --> 02:20:09,050
someone is struggling with behavior in the community.

1735
02:20:09,870 --> 02:20:14,230
Unfortunately, when those meetings come up and we are invited, what they are asking for

1736
02:20:14,230 --> 02:20:25,310
is for an arrest because, again, all engagement in services is voluntary. And so, you know,

1737
02:20:25,370 --> 02:20:34,750
to speak to Councillor Lance's, Davis, I'm sorry, point around homelessness, you can

1738
02:20:34,750 --> 02:20:40,590
put all the homeless outreach people in the world out on the street. If we do not have

1739
02:20:40,590 --> 02:20:49,010
a system of an alternative placement and housing, immediate housing, the shelters are all full.

1740
02:20:49,970 --> 02:20:57,390
Some of the most creative programs have a type of restoration center in San Antonio and

1741
02:20:57,390 --> 02:21:03,370
so forth where they actually have, you know, stages from an outdoor and closed area to

1742
02:21:03,370 --> 02:21:10,770
dormitory, to health care and employment resources. Those are things that we simply

1743
02:21:10,770 --> 02:21:14,550
do not have access to in this area.

1744
02:21:15,190 --> 02:21:21,290
I understood. There's failings throughout our system. I guess, so what I heard there

1745
02:21:21,290 --> 02:21:25,990
though, Ms. Contendi, just to make sure I heard it correctly, is that mental health

1746
02:21:25,990 --> 02:21:32,530
service provider organizations that you work with, but the court department, sometimes

1747
02:21:32,530 --> 02:21:38,610
ask the Somerville Police Department to place charges on people to enable them to deliver services.

1748
02:21:39,450 --> 02:21:46,590
Yeah, because someone's biting an officer, risking that maybe we have those cases. Yeah, so they request it.

1749
02:21:46,630 --> 02:21:50,990
We don't always agree, but they do request it.

1750
02:21:51,790 --> 02:21:53,330
Okay. Thank you, Ms. Quintente.

1751
02:21:53,330 --> 02:22:01,470
going to my next question again, and this is coming directly from our people of color

1752
02:22:01,470 --> 02:22:09,250
here in Somerville, I heard very clearly concern about both the presence of school resource

1753
02:22:09,250 --> 02:22:17,750
officers and about the negative impacts that some people experienced from the steps

1754
02:22:17,750 --> 02:22:18,270
program.

1755
02:22:18,430 --> 02:22:22,150
But we actually heard some testimony about that during our six hours of public hearing

1756
02:22:22,150 --> 02:22:27,090
the other night. So I didn't see that addressed here. I guess I'll ask two

1757
02:22:27,090 --> 02:22:32,610
questions first, which is for the school resource officer that is required, is

1758
02:22:32,610 --> 02:22:36,350
that required to be a sworn officer of the police department to execute that

1759
02:22:36,350 --> 02:22:37,470
job function by law?

1760
02:22:49,530 --> 02:22:53,550
And to the chair, thank you for the question, sir. I

1761
02:22:53,550 --> 02:22:57,910
believe, I will review it, but I believe that it is state law to have one

1762
02:22:57,910 --> 02:23:02,070
officer assigned to the school if they're not specifically say sworn

1763
02:23:02,070 --> 02:23:08,010
police officer, I'll review it and get your response. But I believe it is once one officer

1764
02:23:08,010 --> 02:23:16,990
assigned to the schools. Okay. I would love to get a citation on that because I think there's

1765
02:23:16,990 --> 02:23:20,270
some disagreement and I think there'd be some appetite for that school resource officer to

1766
02:23:20,270 --> 02:23:25,930
not be an armed police officer if that's something that's permissible by law. So I'd

1767
02:23:25,930 --> 02:23:30,150
appreciate some follow-up there. The other question I had is the steps program here

1768
02:23:30,150 --> 02:23:37,370
While I heard some praises of it and I heard very clearly that Superintendent Skipper says

1769
02:23:37,370 --> 02:23:43,290
she's never received a complaint about the steps program or the steps officer, those of

1770
02:23:43,290 --> 02:23:49,210
us who attended the Justice Summer Bowl Rally heard very clearly a complaint about it and

1771
02:23:50,380 --> 02:23:59,630
we heard again in testimony that the startling and negative consequences that parents and

1772
02:23:59,630 --> 02:24:08,770
students recalled from exposure through that. So is there any, and I guess this is a policy

1773
02:24:08,770 --> 02:24:14,150
question for the Chief of the Mayor, is it the intention to continue the steps program

1774
02:24:14,150 --> 02:24:18,250
or is the steps program going to be substantially modified this year?

1775
02:24:26,400 --> 02:24:31,500
I'm happy to start the answer, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for the question. I heard that

1776
02:24:31,500 --> 02:24:36,280
same testimony. And while I can point to all the things I personally found great

1777
02:24:36,280 --> 02:24:42,240
about that program or many others, if it's the perspective or experience of someone else,

1778
02:24:42,320 --> 02:24:47,400
especially those voices closest to the pain or it has a negative impact on them, then I think

1779
02:24:47,400 --> 02:24:52,600
we need to hear those voices. I would submit, though, I would not make a unilateral decision

1780
02:24:52,600 --> 02:24:55,820
here, attempt to. I think we need to bring all those voices to the table, including,

1781
02:24:56,680 --> 02:24:59,540
you know, the other stakeholders in the school community. We've heard a lot of great

1782
02:24:59,540 --> 02:25:03,000
things about the program. So far, it's been fantastic, but maybe there were voices we

1783
02:25:03,000 --> 02:25:06,180
haven't heard where the experience hasn't been and I think we need to hear those.

1784
02:25:06,700 --> 02:25:11,940
One of the things we also heard is, it's not the only one thing we heard, is while they

1785
02:25:11,940 --> 02:25:14,840
find it great why does it have to be an armed officer, why does the officer have to be

1786
02:25:14,840 --> 02:25:17,640
armed in the program, that we need to bring those all to the table.

1787
02:25:17,880 --> 02:25:23,420
So I think we're examining that now and want to hear everyone out and have a conversation

1788
02:25:23,420 --> 02:25:25,340
with all the stakeholders in the community on it.

1789
02:25:28,030 --> 02:25:28,650
All right.

1790
02:25:29,810 --> 02:25:32,830
I think that's, I think I heard the answer clearly there.

1791
02:25:32,950 --> 02:25:33,230
Thank you.

1792
02:25:34,970 --> 02:25:41,810
I also heard a lot about a desire for accountability, transparency, and really making sure that

1793
02:25:42,330 --> 02:25:48,150
the good work that's done by many officers in Summerville isn't tarnished by the negative

1794
02:25:48,150 --> 02:25:54,990
experiences that some people have with Summerville Police Department, and I appreciate a desire

1795
02:25:54,990 --> 02:25:55,970
for accountability.

1796
02:25:56,890 --> 02:26:03,690
I have heard a great deal, I mean, in the straight-private grade incident has been referenced

1797
02:26:03,690 --> 02:26:06,790
multiple times both in testimony and tonight.

1798
02:26:09,230 --> 02:26:15,230
I believe, I'm not certain there's been any discipline or accountability from that incident,

1799
02:26:15,910 --> 02:26:19,550
so I have to ask about where's been the follow-up on that.

1800
02:26:28,180 --> 02:26:32,760
I think, counselor, thank you for your question, and if you allow me, I just weigh in on

1801
02:26:32,760 --> 02:26:39,000
steps program for a second as well. If you're fine with that, the mayor, I think, you know,

1802
02:26:39,260 --> 02:26:43,400
I don't want to reiterate what the mayor said, but I couldn't agree more that we have to listen.

1803
02:26:44,600 --> 02:26:47,820
You know, we have to take action. I understand that there's a need for action,

1804
02:26:48,520 --> 02:26:53,100
but we really have to listen. And as I've been in police office for 20 years, and this I know

1805
02:26:53,100 --> 02:26:58,980
for sure, if somebody fears the police or fears the uniform, there's a problem and

1806
02:26:58,980 --> 02:27:04,180
there's a problem that needs to be fixed because that fear isn't going to go away by not engaging

1807
02:27:04,180 --> 02:27:08,280
in dialogue and conversations and getting to know each other. We've had unbelievable

1808
02:27:08,280 --> 02:27:13,180
cess routine empowerment, a group in the city that works with at-risk youth. When

1809
02:27:13,180 --> 02:27:18,020
I first started routine empowerment, I was a detective at the time. Every year I'd

1810
02:27:18,020 --> 02:27:21,960
go back and they say, what's the issue? And some of them, it's police and youth

1811
02:27:22,720 --> 02:27:27,240
getting along together and talking to each other. Now, every summer police officer

1812
02:27:27,240 --> 02:27:29,220
when they graduate from the Peace Academy,

1813
02:27:29,460 --> 02:27:30,400
meets routine empowerment.

1814
02:27:31,060 --> 02:27:33,340
We walk the community with teen empowerment.

1815
02:27:34,140 --> 02:27:36,640
I mean, we need to break down these barriers

1816
02:27:36,640 --> 02:27:40,440
because we're all in this human endeavor together.

1817
02:27:41,320 --> 02:27:44,280
We're gonna succeed, we're gonna feel together.

1818
02:27:44,740 --> 02:27:47,680
And my opinion is, is that we're gonna succeed.

1819
02:27:48,040 --> 02:27:50,720
We're gonna succeed by listening to every voice.

1820
02:27:51,140 --> 02:27:52,920
But, you know, you're not always gonna agree.

1821
02:27:53,220 --> 02:27:54,240
Let's talk about it.

1822
02:27:54,780 --> 02:27:56,760
And let's work our way through it

1823
02:27:56,760 --> 02:27:59,300
So we get to a point that everybody's comfortable together.

1824
02:28:00,240 --> 02:28:06,320
That's as far as my point on steps and now I have to admit I apologize. I don't remember the second question.

1825
02:28:06,600 --> 02:28:21,620
This was about accountability and follow up from the straight private rate incident. The videotape that was provided from many members community there was a community meeting that happened.

1826
02:28:21,620 --> 02:28:23,600
And I believe in World War II, as I recall.

1827
02:28:25,520 --> 02:28:30,860
So I had to ask where that process of accountability sits today.

1828
02:28:32,760 --> 02:28:36,900
Yeah, I think the talk and the meetings were sidetracked

1829
02:28:36,900 --> 02:28:37,800
due to COVID-19.

1830
02:28:38,560 --> 02:28:41,020
I think we did do a sour after-act report,

1831
02:28:41,300 --> 02:28:44,740
that which was published by the city and posted online.

1832
02:28:45,360 --> 02:28:47,760
We're beginning to discuss that and beginning

1833
02:28:47,760 --> 02:28:49,400
to discuss the next steps.

1834
02:28:49,820 --> 02:28:51,660
There were sidelines by COVID-19.

1835
02:28:51,660 --> 02:28:56,540
but you know and I know there is a lot of angst out there in the community regarding the response but

1836
02:28:56,540 --> 02:29:02,360
the police department received one complaint regarding that incident one written complaint

1837
02:29:02,360 --> 02:29:09,120
regarding that incident so we I've heard I heard many uh at the high school um and we listened we

1838
02:29:09,120 --> 02:29:14,660
need to continue to listen um to put some context to it there was one complaint that came in

1839
02:29:14,660 --> 02:29:19,260
writing to the police department we did a tell after-act report it's been posted online

1840
02:29:20,540 --> 02:29:25,640
Mr. Chairman, may I add to that as well? Because I did receive some complaints, came in for the city's

1841
02:29:25,640 --> 02:29:30,340
emails system and I had some constituents who were kind enough to share photos they took.

1842
02:29:31,720 --> 02:29:35,320
I referred all those person that I have and I'm sure other members of the Council of Public did

1843
02:29:35,320 --> 02:29:39,420
to the police department. I know I won't speak for the Chief, but he conferred to me that they

1844
02:29:39,420 --> 02:29:44,480
looked at every videotape, read every email as part of the after-action report. I do want to

1845
02:29:44,480 --> 02:29:49,440
say thank you for helping us host that meeting what two months ago while we were

1846
02:29:49,440 --> 02:29:52,420
slowed by COVID we have taken action that came out of those meetings and the

1847
02:29:52,420 --> 02:29:56,240
council is working one of those as well which is the oversight committee we

1848
02:29:56,240 --> 02:29:59,840
move to again she's already filed the paperwork to

1849
02:30:00,000 --> 02:30:06,220
We'll take the internal affairs investigation to start away from a uniform officer to civilianize

1850
02:30:06,220 --> 02:30:09,820
that. Again, this would be part of the conversation, reimagining the department as well, but at

1851
02:30:09,820 --> 02:30:16,320
least to start, as well as we've taken a few other steps in the department. So that came

1852
02:30:16,320 --> 02:30:21,880
out of the conversation, as well as the other point was the forfeiture funds came

1853
02:30:21,880 --> 02:30:26,020
out of those conversations with the public. The district attorney's office in Middlesex

1854
02:30:26,020 --> 02:30:29,340
County has already stopped that policy of how they utilize forfeiture funds as well

1855
02:30:29,340 --> 02:30:32,640
as we had done with the federal government, and that came directly from the community

1856
02:30:32,640 --> 02:30:40,260
and the concerns of policing as their concerns and criticisms as to our deployment to the

1857
02:30:40,260 --> 02:30:40,880
straight pride parade.

1858
02:30:41,500 --> 02:30:41,900
Thank you.

1859
02:30:43,120 --> 02:30:43,920
All right.

1860
02:30:44,080 --> 02:30:44,420
Thank you.

1861
02:30:45,320 --> 02:30:45,880
I

1862
02:30:50,970 --> 02:30:56,450
find that answer to be just another reason why the work of creating a civilian oversight

1863
02:30:56,450 --> 02:31:07,210
site commission is absolutely vital and important work that, yeah, the statement that only one

1864
02:31:07,210 --> 02:31:13,550
person went down in person to the police department to file a complaint. I think we need a better

1865
02:31:13,550 --> 02:31:19,670
way and I'm glad that we're working on it. I do have a couple technical questions about

1866
02:31:19,670 --> 02:31:23,730
the statements that were made during the course, the question answer, one of which

1867
02:31:23,730 --> 02:31:30,350
is about this act-feeling vacancies issue, the statement that due to civil service, you

1868
02:31:30,350 --> 02:31:34,370
know, we wouldn't be able to fill these positions, they could be sitting open for a year.

1869
02:31:36,970 --> 02:31:41,890
Factually, every position in the police department isn't assigned necessarily to a name, it's

1870
02:31:41,890 --> 02:31:47,130
assigned to a position, and those positions are funded for the full fiscal year.

1871
02:31:48,810 --> 02:31:55,490
We have a process, a civil service process, we actually participate in the practice of a police

1872
02:31:55,490 --> 02:32:00,030
reserve list, which is actually a vanishingly rare practice. Very few communities of the common

1873
02:32:00,030 --> 02:32:10,170
wealth use it. So, I'm having a hard time reconciling what I know with practical realities of how

1874
02:32:10,170 --> 02:32:15,550
that process can be operated with statement that without funded vacant positions in the

1875
02:32:15,550 --> 02:32:22,430
police department that we would end up with long vacancy waits. Can somebody explain to

1876
02:32:22,430 --> 02:32:27,190
me why the police reserve list wouldn't operate in exactly the manner that it's intended to

1877
02:32:27,190 --> 02:32:31,490
and has operated in the past to ensure that we don't have large gap time there?

1878
02:32:42,160 --> 02:32:46,420
Council Chairman Scott, thank you for the question. I think what I'm referring to

1879
02:32:46,420 --> 02:32:50,720
is being a civil service department there's a process to follow. So when we go to a

1880
02:32:50,720 --> 02:32:57,120
vacant position. They call for a civil service list of hiraries. Those candidates are interviewed.

1881
02:32:57,800 --> 02:33:04,880
They could be put on a reserve list, but if we do do that reserve list, when we get one vacancy,

1882
02:33:05,040 --> 02:33:10,820
two vacancies, we'd start looking for an academy. An academy at that point may, for lucky, start

1883
02:33:10,820 --> 02:33:15,300
the next month. If we're unlucky, a local academy may start two or three months later.

1884
02:33:15,300 --> 02:33:18,460
And then it starts a month or two later, the academy,

1885
02:33:18,780 --> 02:33:22,820
off the top of my head, 24,

1886
02:33:24,930 --> 02:33:25,750
26 weeks.

1887
02:33:26,310 --> 02:33:28,350
Then we have an extensive field training program

1888
02:33:28,350 --> 02:33:31,670
that is vitally necessary, another 16 weeks.

1889
02:33:32,430 --> 02:33:35,850
So it takes a while to go from,

1890
02:33:36,190 --> 02:33:37,430
they're gonna fill this position

1891
02:33:37,810 --> 02:33:42,350
to get the officer in the seat working a cruiser

1892
02:33:42,350 --> 02:33:44,790
or wherever they're working within the department.

1893
02:33:44,970 --> 02:33:46,050
That's what I was referring to.

1894
02:33:46,050 --> 02:33:49,450
So, I said it takes quite a while to fill these vacancies.

1895
02:33:50,830 --> 02:33:51,610
All right.

1896
02:33:51,770 --> 02:33:56,830
So, it's not a function of not having the civil service process ready to go.

1897
02:33:57,050 --> 02:34:03,690
It's a more lay of finding an academy supply, whether that's a new academy or the mass

1898
02:34:05,750 --> 02:34:07,930
freeing academy system.

1899
02:34:08,270 --> 02:34:08,550
All right.

1900
02:34:10,290 --> 02:34:14,850
I also have to ask about the statement that's been made several times tonight by both the

1901
02:34:14,850 --> 02:34:20,030
Chief and the Mayor that staffing levels have been reduced over the last decade in the memo

1902
02:34:20,030 --> 02:34:22,030
that was provided to us.

1903
02:34:22,650 --> 02:34:29,070
I believe it was based on a question from Councillor Neat again, asking for the historical

1904
02:34:29,070 --> 02:34:31,730
staffing levels of the department over the last 20 years.

1905
02:34:34,110 --> 02:34:42,490
Ms. Laws, I'm not sure if you have that at your fingertips here, but as I look at that

1906
02:34:42,490 --> 02:34:49,190
chart, I don't see a dramatic reduction in staff over the last 10 years or even 20 years.

1907
02:34:50,070 --> 02:34:52,710
So maybe I'm getting my math wrong here.

1908
02:34:53,730 --> 02:34:54,290
Yeah.

1909
02:34:56,210 --> 02:34:58,870
I apologize to the Chair if my mic's on.

1910
02:34:58,870 --> 02:35:01,650
I guess I think we're looking at the same data.

1911
02:35:02,870 --> 02:35:05,790
I'm looking at, so I think I'll take an example of 1998,

1912
02:35:06,550 --> 02:35:08,250
the year I joined the summer police department.

1913
02:35:08,810 --> 02:35:12,950
There's one chief, seven captains, 11 lieutenants,

1914
02:35:13,490 --> 02:35:16,570
18 sergeants, and 106 patrolmen.

1915
02:35:17,110 --> 02:35:18,010
That's 1998.

1916
02:35:19,830 --> 02:35:24,550
2003, one chief, six captains, 11 lieutenants,

1917
02:35:24,950 --> 02:35:27,630
18 sergeants, and 108 patrolmen.

1918
02:35:28,870 --> 02:35:30,190
Then we go down, we fluctuate.

1919
02:35:30,990 --> 02:35:35,090
After that, 91, 94, 98, 96.

1920
02:35:36,670 --> 02:35:38,410
Captain's Commada Civil Service.

1921
02:35:38,990 --> 02:35:41,750
In 2007, I believe, from this chart.

1922
02:35:42,570 --> 02:35:44,730
And we had six captains at that time.

1923
02:35:44,830 --> 02:35:47,970
So one chief, so in 2007, for example,

1924
02:35:48,990 --> 02:35:52,970
one chief, two deputies, six captains,

1925
02:35:53,650 --> 02:35:58,050
11 lieutenants, 11 sergeants, and 98 patrol officers.

1926
02:35:58,050 --> 02:36:03,890
So 98, 100, 809, 119, 120, 126.

1927
02:36:08,800 --> 02:36:09,840
Is that a reduction?

1928
02:36:10,060 --> 02:36:12,940
I believe I see a reduction in force.

1929
02:36:13,880 --> 02:36:16,280
This year we're proposing 94 patrol officers.

1930
02:36:17,000 --> 02:36:21,580
That's the lowest we've ever proposed.

1931
02:36:21,720 --> 02:36:26,960
I believe a 91 in 2005, 86 in 2004.

1932
02:36:27,300 --> 02:36:30,060
It's fluctuated, but I believe it shows a downward trend.

1933
02:36:32,270 --> 02:36:40,510
All right, well, I know I maybe have a reputation for doing math on the fly here, but certainly

1934
02:36:40,510 --> 02:36:50,590
if we're looking at the year 2000, admittedly, there were 137 officers on the force here

1935
02:36:50,590 --> 02:36:58,350
in 2020 looking at the math, it looks like 132,

1936
02:37:05,320 --> 02:37:07,500
a dramatic reduction, and in fact our

1937
02:37:07,500 --> 02:37:16,940
low-water mark appears to have been in 2004 when there were only about 118 officers on

1938
02:37:16,940 --> 02:37:20,640
the Sunroof Police Department. So that seems like an increase in staffing specifically during

1939
02:37:20,640 --> 02:37:23,500
your tenure, Mr. Mayor. So what am I missing?

1940
02:37:23,960 --> 02:37:29,580
So if I can add some clarification to assist you, because you mentioned early retirement

1941
02:37:30,160 --> 02:37:39,700
And the FY02, FY04, it might have been FY03, FY04 during the two door back-to-back 9C cuts from then Governor Romney.

1942
02:37:40,120 --> 02:37:46,320
There was also an early retirement incentive, so some of that, and that has to come down from the state, came down from the Commonwealth.

1943
02:37:46,980 --> 02:37:54,560
It's also aligned well. This shows really the success of the, what we did with the police advisory group in reforming the department,

1944
02:37:54,560 --> 02:37:58,160
and adopting a new deployment and organizational model

1945
02:37:58,160 --> 02:38:00,600
to embody the principles of community-based policing.

1946
02:38:01,160 --> 02:38:02,500
And that's what happened over time.

1947
02:38:02,940 --> 02:38:04,560
So we're talking now 20 years,

1948
02:38:04,680 --> 02:38:06,620
and there's been no increase, really significant.

1949
02:38:06,760 --> 02:38:08,320
There's been a shifting of resources

1950
02:38:08,840 --> 02:38:11,020
to address some of the other needs in the communities

1951
02:38:11,020 --> 02:38:12,640
and how we think about community policing.

1952
02:38:13,100 --> 02:38:14,500
Until that point, Mr. Chairman,

1953
02:38:14,640 --> 02:38:16,040
just to clarify for you and everyone else,

1954
02:38:16,540 --> 02:38:17,600
it was a reactionary force.

1955
02:38:17,760 --> 02:38:18,900
You called the police, they showed up.

1956
02:38:18,960 --> 02:38:20,580
They weren't out there being proactive in the community.

1957
02:38:20,760 --> 02:38:22,060
We measured success by arrest.

1958
02:38:22,780 --> 02:38:24,280
So although I can agree,

1959
02:38:24,280 --> 02:38:32,140
It's not a significant decrease. It is a downward trend, but it reflects the reorganization principles laid out by that reform effort in the department.

1960
02:38:33,020 --> 02:38:37,120
Well, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Not about the character of the department. I'm sure the character has improved.

1961
02:38:37,380 --> 02:38:47,220
But I thought I had heard multiple times stated that there's been a 10% reduction in the force in the last 20 years or even the last 10 years,

1962
02:38:47,400 --> 02:38:48,780
and the numbers don't bear that out.

1963
02:38:51,630 --> 02:38:53,170
I can't hear you, sir. You're muted.

1964
02:38:53,170 --> 02:38:55,710
Yeah, I believe the chief tried to clarify his point there.

1965
02:38:57,950 --> 02:39:04,830
Okay, so there hasn't been a significant reduction in staffing of the police department over these years. Okay.

1966
02:39:07,210 --> 02:39:09,010
Through the chair, not to believe with the point.

1967
02:39:10,010 --> 02:39:14,110
Just looking at patrol officers alone. I think we talked about the force.

1968
02:39:14,110 --> 02:39:26,850
going back to 98, 98 to 92 were well over 100. 96 and 97 well over 100. 2000, 2001, 2008,

1969
02:39:27,050 --> 02:39:35,150
2003 well over 100, close to 100, 110 patrol officers. So I think we have seen a reduction.

1970
02:39:35,290 --> 02:39:43,370
This year we did go up two sides. I think there was a strategic move that advanced the

1971
02:39:43,370 --> 02:39:51,110
command system. You know, captains historically at seven. We look at the map, but I think

1972
02:39:51,110 --> 02:39:53,610
be trending, you know, in a downward direction.

1973
02:39:55,750 --> 02:40:03,990
All right. Thank you. So, I just, all right. So, I'm going to step back for a comment.

1974
02:40:04,250 --> 02:40:11,590
I see, actually, you know, I'll yield to, I believe, Councillor Mba and Councillor

1975
02:40:11,590 --> 02:40:15,410
and meter gang both had questions on these points. Counselor Mba first please.

1976
02:40:16,330 --> 02:40:21,650
Excuse councillor to the chair. Could I ask you to take a quick restroom break? My apologies.

1977
02:40:24,050 --> 02:40:28,010
Certainly. It's been two hours and 45 minutes. Counselor Mba.

1978
02:40:28,370 --> 02:40:30,610
No, no, no. Mr. Chairman, no. Not for the cheese.

1979
02:40:32,270 --> 02:40:37,290
All right. This committee will stand at recess for five minutes. We will return to open

1980
02:40:37,290 --> 02:40:42,010
session at 8.50 p.m. Thank you to everybody for your attention so far.

1981
02:46:27,280 --> 02:46:34,870
I'm going to call this meeting back to order. Hopefully we've got folks back in the room.

1982
02:46:36,790 --> 02:46:41,610
Councilor Mba, I understand you're eager to ask your questions, but since we're not in

1983
02:46:41,610 --> 02:46:45,690
the City Hall, I can't just look over and see if the Chief's there. Chief, have you

1984
02:46:45,690 --> 02:46:46,450
returned to us?

1985
02:46:54,840 --> 02:46:57,880
I appreciate the request, Chief. I think we could have all used a break.

1986
02:47:00,040 --> 02:47:24,720
So one, Councilor Mba, if I could, just if I could ask just one more question here. I was reminded that a petition of 117 people who most of them were present at the Strait Pire Parade was delivered, 117 Somerville residents was delivered to the police department complaining about Somerville police department's

1987
02:47:24,720 --> 02:47:28,440
behavior on that particular mutual aid deployment.

1988
02:47:29,440 --> 02:47:32,820
Did that constitute the one complaint you received, Chief?

1989
02:47:40,110 --> 02:47:41,010
We can't hear you, Chief.

1990
02:47:41,810 --> 02:47:42,350
I apologize.

1991
02:47:42,650 --> 02:47:45,230
Through the chair, no, I was referring to one written complaint

1992
02:47:45,850 --> 02:47:48,550
that was delivered to the police department.

1993
02:47:49,490 --> 02:47:51,070
You can fire a complaint online.

1994
02:47:51,470 --> 02:47:52,850
You can do it in person.

1995
02:47:53,030 --> 02:47:57,890
But we listened to every person during the high school.

1996
02:47:57,890 --> 02:48:00,690
We had a conference session beforehand.

1997
02:48:01,350 --> 02:48:04,910
We spoke to everybody and we clearly listened as the mayor pointed out.

1998
02:48:05,230 --> 02:48:10,830
We've made some very substantive changes and look forward to more dialogue and more improvements.

1999
02:48:12,350 --> 02:48:12,910
Okay.

2000
02:48:13,230 --> 02:48:13,590
All right.

2001
02:48:13,730 --> 02:48:14,290
Well, thank you.

2002
02:48:14,330 --> 02:48:18,450
That's a good procedural note, I suppose, for folks who are looking for accountability

2003
02:48:18,450 --> 02:48:19,130
in the future.

2004
02:48:19,850 --> 02:48:21,170
Councilor Mba, thank you for your patience.

2005
02:48:21,690 --> 02:48:24,170
I see Councilor Mba and Councilor Neider-Ding have questions.

2006
02:48:26,370 --> 02:48:26,930
Councilor.

2007
02:48:26,930 --> 02:48:33,610
No, thank you, Mr. Chairman. This is with the point that you mentioned. This is a comment

2008
02:48:33,610 --> 02:48:40,490
around the school results officer that you brought up because I would love to understand

2009
02:48:40,490 --> 02:48:49,110
more about these individuals and what kind of contract they operate under because they

2010
02:48:49,110 --> 02:48:55,050
could be there perpetuating this school to prison pipeline. So we know, you know,

2011
02:48:55,050 --> 02:48:57,550
why they are there, the contract governing them,

2012
02:48:58,030 --> 02:49:01,350
we can interrupt that process.

2013
02:49:01,970 --> 02:49:05,070
I just wanted to just commend you for bringing that up

2014
02:49:05,070 --> 02:49:07,030
and having that conversation.

2015
02:49:07,890 --> 02:49:08,890
So I appreciate it.

2016
02:49:09,510 --> 02:49:10,410
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

2017
02:49:11,510 --> 02:49:15,970
Or maybe the chief, do you know the contract governing

2018
02:49:15,970 --> 02:49:17,230
the school resource officers?

2019
02:49:17,930 --> 02:49:19,290
I know there are multiple ones.

2020
02:49:19,790 --> 02:49:21,750
They're probably, they may just say this one

2021
02:49:21,750 --> 02:49:22,870
from the AG's office.

2022
02:49:22,870 --> 02:49:30,190
So, it could be which, like, how do you, and for the past few years, like, how many of

2023
02:49:30,190 --> 02:49:34,710
them, you know, how many of these folks have sent kids to prison instead of trying to help

2024
02:49:34,710 --> 02:49:35,130
them out?

2025
02:49:39,620 --> 02:49:43,440
To the chair, thank you, Councillor Ambar, for that question.

2026
02:49:45,020 --> 02:49:50,280
School resource officers are there to assist, and for any police officer, whether a school

2027
02:49:50,280 --> 02:49:56,920
resource officer, our Assemble Police Officer, response to a public school in this city,

2028
02:49:57,360 --> 02:50:02,060
we have a conversation with the school administration. Usually it's Mary Skipper,

2029
02:50:02,740 --> 02:50:08,180
Rich Berlillo, Liz Dawn-Casta, and that conversation is about what is in the best

2030
02:50:08,180 --> 02:50:14,260
interest of this student. Our school resource officers, I believe, are very well respected

2031
02:50:14,260 --> 02:50:19,000
in the school. It transitioned over time into some of our high school action officers of color

2032
02:50:19,000 --> 02:50:22,580
I want to go back and say, I want to get back to some high school.

2033
02:50:22,880 --> 02:50:28,260
I left some high school, I went on the college, I played basketball, I'm giving you one example

2034
02:50:28,260 --> 02:50:28,960
of one of the offices.

2035
02:50:29,580 --> 02:50:34,280
If I played basketball in college at a successful college basketball career, I want to go back.

2036
02:50:34,600 --> 02:50:37,800
I want to mentor students, young students of color, and say, look at, stay on the

2037
02:50:37,800 --> 02:50:42,060
right track, stay in school, get an education, become, let's all become productive members

2038
02:50:42,060 --> 02:50:43,240
of our community.

2039
02:50:44,600 --> 02:50:50,360
It's just a grand example of what the officers do in the school, but there's no action taken

2040
02:50:50,850 --> 02:50:55,840
by several police officers against a student in any several public schools without first

2041
02:50:55,840 --> 02:50:59,440
consulting the school on what's on the best interests of that student.

2042
02:51:00,060 --> 02:51:07,000
And I thank you for that question, because those conversations take place daily with

2043
02:51:07,000 --> 02:51:07,720
the school department.

2044
02:51:08,120 --> 02:51:12,480
And that's how a police department, a school department in a city should interact with

2045
02:51:12,480 --> 02:51:18,720
each other, constant ongoing communication. We've taken a talk about progressive policing

2046
02:51:19,190 --> 02:51:23,740
and a serious event takes place in the city. The school department is notified. Mary Skipper,

2047
02:51:24,320 --> 02:51:30,260
this John Caster, they're notified of what's going on because we want them to know if it

2048
02:51:30,260 --> 02:51:35,560
involves a student at the summer high school that's in need of services, a family member

2049
02:51:35,950 --> 02:51:39,800
or there's something going on, some underlining issue at the school that they don't

2050
02:51:39,800 --> 02:51:41,340
about we want the schools to know that.

2051
02:51:42,560 --> 02:51:48,040
No, thank you, chief. I have a lot of confidence in superintendent Skiper, you know, and all

2052
02:51:48,040 --> 02:51:53,340
the work she's doing for the school. So, I appreciate that as well. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

2053
02:51:54,580 --> 02:52:01,340
All right. Thank you. And Councilor Newt again, you had a further comment on that.

2054
02:52:01,360 --> 02:52:08,280
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I'm very encouraged by the general direction of the discussion

2055
02:52:08,280 --> 02:52:13,040
That's happening tonight between the council and the chief and the mayor.

2056
02:52:13,500 --> 02:52:22,440
But I really wanted to focus tonight myself on the staffing of the police department and the money that we spend on it.

2057
02:52:23,380 --> 02:52:27,040
This meeting tonight is about the budget. It's a finance committee meeting.

2058
02:52:27,240 --> 02:52:34,480
It's great that we're discussing big issues of policy and transformation of the police department.

2059
02:52:34,480 --> 02:52:38,000
department, but I've been looking at the staffing and the police department.

2060
02:52:38,780 --> 02:52:47,720
And in the context, Mr. Chair, of the chart that you referred to, what's clear is we had

2061
02:52:47,720 --> 02:52:50,780
152 officers in 1988.

2062
02:52:51,760 --> 02:52:52,800
Today we have 130.

2063
02:52:53,360 --> 02:52:55,760
That's a drop of 15%.

2064
02:52:56,840 --> 02:53:04,760
During the years, 40 years or so, between 1988 and today, the numbers have fluctuated.

2065
02:53:05,440 --> 02:53:15,540
It was still up at 144 in 2003, but then in 2004, 2005, it was down around 120.

2066
02:53:16,100 --> 02:53:21,380
It gradually went back up to about 130 in 2008, and that's where we've been since.

2067
02:53:21,380 --> 02:53:24,740
It's basically the number of police officers we have

2068
02:53:24,740 --> 02:53:26,540
has been stable since 2008.

2069
02:53:27,440 --> 02:53:32,840
But our job here isn't just to look at policy

2070
02:53:33,740 --> 02:53:36,100
in the police department, our job as a council

2071
02:53:36,860 --> 02:53:39,280
is to look at this department's budget

2072
02:53:39,280 --> 02:53:41,660
in the context of our city's needs

2073
02:53:42,220 --> 02:53:45,900
and in the context of overall public safety

2074
02:53:45,900 --> 02:53:47,580
and public health and summer of all.

2075
02:53:48,000 --> 02:53:50,300
The police department doesn't operate in a vacuum

2076
02:53:50,300 --> 02:53:57,880
And it's our job to allocate money wisely, as it is the mayor's, in terms of dealing

2077
02:53:57,880 --> 02:53:58,840
with public safety.

2078
02:53:59,900 --> 02:54:02,940
So we have to look at the police department budget in context.

2079
02:54:03,760 --> 02:54:07,400
The numbers of officers are not in a vacuum.

2080
02:54:08,440 --> 02:54:11,780
Crime has been going down dramatically insurmountable.

2081
02:54:12,680 --> 02:54:18,080
A lot of that credit goes to the several police department, but most U.S. cities

2082
02:54:18,080 --> 02:54:25,000
have been having dramatic decreases in crime. So in some revolt over the last since 1988 crime

2083
02:54:25,000 --> 02:54:33,360
has gone down 69%. 69%. One would think with such a dramatic drop in crime, even with the

2084
02:54:33,360 --> 02:54:39,200
other missions that the police department has subsequently taken on, a mission that I support

2085
02:54:39,200 --> 02:54:45,840
and which are very important. One would think that we could do with your officers. We have

2086
02:54:45,840 --> 02:54:51,740
have gone down somewhat, 15%, but crime has dropped 69%.

2087
02:54:52,360 --> 02:54:57,100
And I think that's the context in which we need to look at police department staffing.

2088
02:54:58,220 --> 02:55:03,400
I spent a lot of time over the last couple of weeks looking at the staffing.

2089
02:55:04,340 --> 02:55:09,640
And later on, when we get to the cuts portion of the evening, I'm going to present some

2090
02:55:09,640 --> 02:55:13,040
cuts that I think can safely be made without harming public safety.

2091
02:55:13,040 --> 02:55:18,060
In fact, if the mayor is willing to spend this money on other things, like drug counseling

2092
02:55:18,680 --> 02:55:23,640
and traffic calming, I think it could actually enhance public safety more than it does in

2093
02:55:23,640 --> 02:55:24,400
the police department.

2094
02:55:26,040 --> 02:55:32,400
And I will be arguing that these cuts could be made without laying off the risk of jumping

2095
02:55:32,400 --> 02:55:37,900
off versus that we've just hired that nobody wants to lay off, and I'll try to explain

2096
02:55:37,900 --> 02:55:38,760
how that can be done.

2097
02:55:38,760 --> 02:55:42,060
but I think we have to look at staffing numbers in context.

2098
02:55:44,160 --> 02:55:47,020
I came here in Somerville to 1975.

2099
02:55:47,020 --> 02:55:51,640
This is a very different city from then and even from 20 years ago.

2100
02:55:52,060 --> 02:55:53,320
Crime has gone down tremendously.

2101
02:55:54,520 --> 02:55:56,720
There are other needs in our community.

2102
02:55:57,080 --> 02:56:01,160
Last year, for example, as far as I know, nobody died from the violent crime,

2103
02:56:01,160 --> 02:56:03,480
but three pedestrians were hit by cars and killed.

2104
02:56:04,220 --> 02:56:11,080
yet our budget for the mobility department, who is charged with changing our streets to make them

2105
02:56:11,080 --> 02:56:19,780
safer, is $569,000 a year, while the police department gets $17 million. Excuse me. So,

2106
02:56:20,100 --> 02:56:23,280
you know, what are our priorities? I think these are the questions we need to ask,

2107
02:56:23,620 --> 02:56:30,560
and where is our money going? As we'll see when I go through my proposed cuts later on,

2108
02:56:30,560 --> 02:56:35,720
many of the top officers in the department and I think this is a very top

2109
02:56:35,720 --> 02:56:45,160
heavy department are making between 120, 140, $190,000 a year. For $190,000 a

2110
02:56:45,160 --> 02:56:48,920
year you could hire three social workers or three you know regular staff

2111
02:56:48,920 --> 02:56:52,920
people in another city department. So you know I'll argue that we need to

2112
02:56:52,920 --> 02:56:57,480
look at these numbers in context and not just you know do we have fewer or

2113
02:56:57,480 --> 02:57:00,540
less than we did 40 years ago.

2114
02:57:00,700 --> 02:57:02,880
We have fewer, but we also have a lot less crime.

2115
02:57:03,380 --> 02:57:04,540
All right, thank you.

2116
02:57:04,640 --> 02:57:05,860
Thank you, Councilor Nader-Gang.

2117
02:57:06,060 --> 02:57:09,040
And I'll say that's probably a good segue.

2118
02:57:09,420 --> 02:57:16,900
I do want to make sure that we get everybody's questions

2119
02:57:18,560 --> 02:57:21,300
regarding the presentations done

2120
02:57:21,300 --> 02:57:24,540
and then begin to entertain those.

2121
02:57:24,540 --> 02:57:30,480
and I think I'll be using my prerogative to step down from the chair and offer some observations

2122
02:57:31,860 --> 02:57:32,960
on that moment.

2123
02:57:33,520 --> 02:57:35,660
Councillor White, you had a procedural question.

2124
02:57:41,930 --> 02:57:44,110
Councillor White, we can't hear you.

2125
02:57:44,270 --> 02:57:44,350
I

2126
02:57:53,630 --> 02:57:57,290
think we're going to be held off to a later meeting because for me,

2127
02:57:59,940 --> 02:58:00,940
Mr. Bean here, because

2128
02:58:01,360 --> 02:58:04,740
it is my understanding that you cannot cut positions.

2129
02:58:05,040 --> 02:58:07,660
You can only cut amounts, acted

2130
02:58:13,230 --> 02:58:14,210
by any layoffs.

2131
02:58:14,210 --> 02:58:18,990
I'm really going to need that information in order for me to make the decision.

2132
02:58:19,330 --> 02:58:23,950
So I guess if the votes on the cuts are going to be made tonight, you know, I'll have to

2133
02:58:23,950 --> 02:58:24,610
vote accordingly.

2134
02:58:26,540 --> 02:58:27,020
Understood.

2135
02:58:27,940 --> 02:58:32,800
There are actually a couple procedural questions there, one of which is that we held open

2136
02:58:32,800 --> 02:58:39,260
the record on the public hearing until, I believe tomorrow morning, just to give

2137
02:58:39,260 --> 02:58:47,520
to observe this meeting. And that being said, if there are significant cuts that have sporked

2138
02:58:47,520 --> 02:58:53,900
the board, especially in light of Councilor Mutigang's comments about requesting that

2139
02:58:53,900 --> 02:58:59,940
the mayor go back and reallocate those funds towards important social justice causes and

2140
02:59:00,740 --> 02:59:05,400
priorities of the City Council and the people of Summerville, that would obviously need

2141
02:59:05,400 --> 02:59:11,600
a resubmission, a refactoring budget. So I would, I am interested in getting that feedback

2142
02:59:11,600 --> 02:59:17,260
back to the mayor and the administration as soon as possible, but I also understand there

2143
02:59:17,260 --> 02:59:23,100
are a couple of procedural things that we have to, that we have to cope with to make

2144
02:59:23,100 --> 02:59:27,380
sure that we do that and have time to hear from members of the public. As I said, the

2145
02:59:27,380 --> 02:59:32,160
record's still open until tomorrow morning. So I don't know if that answered your question,

2146
02:59:32,160 --> 02:59:37,640
but I understand what you're expressing here sir. Right I guess it through the

2147
02:59:37,640 --> 02:59:41,980
chair if the record is kept open are we gonna be voting on cuts this evening

2148
02:59:41,980 --> 02:59:43,160
before the record is closed?

2149
02:59:45,370 --> 02:59:51,270
Well that's let's we have that option but again I'll

2150
02:59:51,270 --> 02:59:55,290
hold that discussion until until a moment later. Oh okay thank you Mr. Chair.

2151
02:59:58,860 --> 02:59:59,920
So I

2152
03:00:00,000 --> 03:00:06,280
I would just like to, before we go further into that, I'd like to thank everybody for their

2153
03:00:06,280 --> 03:00:16,060
comments tonight. It's very helpful. I'd especially like to thank councillors like Councillor Ballantyne

2154
03:00:16,060 --> 03:00:21,680
and Klingen who specifically talked about going out to reach out to their constituents and

2155
03:00:21,680 --> 03:00:25,440
the constituents that didn't show up to the public hearing. I think that's an important

2156
03:00:25,440 --> 03:00:30,520
part of award councillor's job and really of any councillor because even the out-large

2157
03:00:30,520 --> 03:00:33,620
councillors have constituencies that feel comfortable contacting them.

2158
03:00:35,100 --> 03:00:42,580
I'd also like to thank specifically councillor and Bob for your insightful question regarding

2159
03:00:42,580 --> 03:00:43,380
the cadet program.

2160
03:00:44,520 --> 03:00:49,980
You know, at the Just Us Summerville rally, they asked very clearly why the city was

2161
03:00:49,980 --> 03:00:55,620
so eager to offer opportunities for people who have been victimized by a system to be

2162
03:00:55,620 --> 03:01:01,940
incorporated into that system. And, you know, feel as you will about that framing, I think

2163
03:01:01,940 --> 03:01:10,640
the prospect of creating a hiring program, a youth employment program that follows

2164
03:01:10,640 --> 03:01:15,260
a new path is one that's a very exciting, so I thought that was an insightful and

2165
03:01:15,260 --> 03:01:23,700
helpful question. I appreciate it. I would like to step down from the chair for a moment

2166
03:01:23,700 --> 03:01:31,040
and hand the chair to Councillor Valentine the intention to address some of the feedback,

2167
03:01:31,340 --> 03:01:39,240
some of the extensive feedback I received and then to just offer that to the council

2168
03:01:39,240 --> 03:01:45,940
And then I can step back into the chair after discussion there and go on to the council meeting.

2169
03:01:46,380 --> 03:01:48,000
So, Councillor Valentine, would you take the chair?

2170
03:01:48,540 --> 03:01:56,400
I will. Thank you. So, Councillor Scott, your next step to...

2171
03:01:57,840 --> 03:02:08,080
Thank you, Madam Chair. So, this is on the screen right now is something that I've written and sent to...

2172
03:02:08,760 --> 03:02:14,320
I sent to the clerks for distribution at the City Council, and I want to make it very clear

2173
03:02:15,080 --> 03:02:24,000
that I heard the testimony, and I heard that more people from Ward 2 testified demanding

2174
03:02:24,000 --> 03:02:27,960
a 60% reduction in the Somerville Police Department than from any other ward.

2175
03:02:29,790 --> 03:02:37,750
So I wanted to, in the spirit of that imagination that was referenced by our Mayor in terms

2176
03:02:37,750 --> 03:02:44,070
of rethinking what a police department could look like, I wanted to have a first pass at

2177
03:02:44,070 --> 03:02:52,050
what an actual 60% reduction in the fiscal year 21 budget would look like. I want to be clear.

2178
03:02:52,630 --> 03:02:58,890
I think this is a thought experiment. This is something that, as you'll see, in order to

2179
03:02:58,890 --> 03:03:05,410
achieve a 60% reduction this year would require drastic and very rapid action.

2180
03:03:06,350 --> 03:03:15,210
It would, I think it would probably be inappropriate to go for the city council to pursue this

2181
03:03:15,210 --> 03:03:23,230
in a vacuum and honestly without the formal public and paid engagement from the affected

2182
03:03:23,230 --> 03:03:24,310
communities in particular.

2183
03:03:24,930 --> 03:03:28,650
So this is a draft to spark discussion, not a proposal.

2184
03:03:28,910 --> 03:03:34,870
And it heartens me to hear so much in the mayor's presentation tonight that's dedicated

2185
03:03:34,870 --> 03:03:36,210
it into that kind of reimagining.

2186
03:03:37,690 --> 03:03:41,430
So to be clear, and I think you kind of scroll past it,

2187
03:03:42,010 --> 03:03:46,130
in order to get a 60% reduced budget this year,

2188
03:03:47,410 --> 03:03:49,410
what it would mean is that we would

2189
03:03:49,410 --> 03:03:52,490
have to commit to making overall a wholesale change

2190
03:03:52,490 --> 03:03:53,990
of the Somerville Police Department

2191
03:03:54,710 --> 03:03:57,810
in the next three months, that we

2192
03:03:57,810 --> 03:04:00,530
would only be able to find the current staffing

2193
03:04:00,530 --> 03:04:03,110
levels for three months, at which point

2194
03:04:03,110 --> 03:04:08,410
we would need to drop down to a force that is only 20 percent of its current

2195
03:04:08,410 --> 03:04:13,950
staffing levels. And as Councilor Valentine referenced, for communities that,

2196
03:04:15,070 --> 03:04:18,590
despite whatever mixture of feelings they may have about Somerville Police

2197
03:04:18,590 --> 03:04:22,770
Department or about police in general, it can be a terrifying prospect,

2198
03:04:23,250 --> 03:04:30,210
certainly unsettling. So in order to achieve a 60% cut, what would that

2199
03:04:30,210 --> 03:04:38,290
that require. And it really would require a complete restructuring. Now, I think it's

2200
03:04:38,290 --> 03:04:44,130
been made clear from all of our colleagues' comments about it that the ability to look

2201
03:04:44,130 --> 03:04:48,230
at a reimagined police force, like it's Councilor Davis' reference, it's Councilor Campin'

2202
03:04:48,250 --> 03:04:55,810
of reference, would transfer a lot of those services out of necessarily armed sworn

2203
03:04:55,810 --> 03:05:01,270
officers into other ways of delivering those services and, you know, that model may not

2204
03:05:01,270 --> 03:05:01,830
exist yet.

2205
03:05:01,930 --> 03:05:06,630
But again, you know, if someone was going to lead the way, I think it would have been

2206
03:05:06,630 --> 03:05:13,690
a disservice for one of us on the Council to not offer an imagined experiment of what

2207
03:05:13,690 --> 03:05:16,890
that would look like to achieve that 60% that's been discussed.

2208
03:05:18,310 --> 03:05:23,130
So with that said, what does a 60% reduced police department look like?

2209
03:05:23,130 --> 03:05:32,010
Well, you know, this thought experiment, not a proposal, just draft a spark discussion,

2210
03:05:32,550 --> 03:05:37,010
is going to be online, it should be attached to this item or to this meeting.

2211
03:05:38,780 --> 03:05:43,530
But I went through the different divisions of the police department and looked at how

2212
03:05:44,950 --> 03:05:49,150
the current staffing is and what an imagined new staffing would be.

2213
03:05:49,150 --> 03:05:55,490
Now, I don't believe that I have the answer here, but I believe this is the shape of one

2214
03:05:55,490 --> 03:05:56,290
possible answer.

2215
03:05:56,830 --> 03:06:02,790
Ultimately, what I would like to see is that we approach this less in terms of a cliff,

2216
03:06:03,830 --> 03:06:11,690
just immediately chopping budget by 60% this year, and more in terms of a ramp, a pathway

2217
03:06:11,690 --> 03:06:12,350
to get there.

2218
03:06:12,850 --> 03:06:18,530
The urgency is really a question of how much do we believe our house is on fire.

2219
03:06:19,570 --> 03:06:26,520
And I think that is one that different members of our community have different opinions on.

2220
03:06:28,320 --> 03:06:31,440
So I'm not going to take the time to step through all of this.

2221
03:06:31,580 --> 03:06:36,720
I know my colleagues here have read it for the members of the public who are watching,

2222
03:06:36,900 --> 03:06:38,560
and that is well over 100 of you.

2223
03:06:39,100 --> 03:06:41,260
Thank you for your dedication and attention.

2224
03:06:42,380 --> 03:06:48,380
What this does, as we scroll through, would show that, for example, the traffic investigations

2225
03:06:49,140 --> 03:06:53,200
would, could, in this scenario, potentially shrink dramatically.

2226
03:06:53,440 --> 03:06:59,120
The number of sworn officers that would be on hand to perform those investigations of accidents,

2227
03:06:59,480 --> 03:07:04,260
the follow-up on criminal infractions, the series of accidents, including the three of the

2228
03:07:04,260 --> 03:07:11,220
game resulted in loss of life here in Somerville would still be intact. That service, that function

2229
03:07:11,220 --> 03:07:17,620
would still be there as a necessary interface to larger criminal justice system. But the ability

2230
03:07:17,620 --> 03:07:24,620
to replace, if you could just scroll up a couple lines there, so many sworn officers with a civilian

2231
03:07:24,620 --> 03:07:32,380
traffic enforcement division would actually result in a significant increase of traffic control

2232
03:07:32,380 --> 03:07:39,440
officers and an ability for us to service those very many directed service calls that

2233
03:07:39,440 --> 03:07:45,780
the chief discussed in his presentation, because we know that there is a desire for that.

2234
03:07:46,460 --> 03:07:53,900
And at least in my personal experience, I have found a decreased level of that this

2235
03:07:53,900 --> 03:08:01,460
year as people find more and more reluctance to call upon the police department.

2236
03:08:01,460 --> 03:08:07,500
I think take the chief's comments to heart very much when he says, you know,

2237
03:08:07,540 --> 03:08:12,260
if somebody's afraid of this unit or that it's a problem we need to resolve,

2238
03:08:12,700 --> 03:08:19,780
it's a problem that we've got to get to together. So this theme is repeated throughout

2239
03:08:19,780 --> 03:08:28,820
this reimagining. It shows how in patrol the possibility of replacing significant chunks

2240
03:08:28,820 --> 03:08:36,420
of patrol officers, functions with civilian response teams, whether that's just public

2241
03:08:36,420 --> 03:08:42,920
safety mediators, social workers, people who are tasked with the enforcement of laws, who

2242
03:08:42,920 --> 03:08:51,020
are not necessarily armed and sworn officers. I think it's important to note that law enforcement

2243
03:08:51,020 --> 03:08:57,760
and policing are not the same thing, even though we have come to synonymize them. We've

2244
03:08:57,760 --> 03:09:04,560
come to directly interconnected, from my colleagues, I was struck when reviewing the

2245
03:09:04,560 --> 03:09:10,000
Inspectional Services Department, their budget and their mission statement says very clearly

2246
03:09:10,000 --> 03:09:15,540
that their primary role in the City of Somerville is law enforcement. They enforce all the

2247
03:09:15,540 --> 03:09:25,040
laws related to public safety, life safety around buildings, around health, all of the

2248
03:09:25,040 --> 03:09:30,260
codes and laws that we have to manage those things are enforced by that vision. And so

2249
03:09:31,180 --> 03:09:38,160
that law enforcement, despite a few complaints here and there, doesn't have the same level

2250
03:09:38,160 --> 03:09:43,500
of dissatisfaction and doesn't also provide the same little anxiety in the general community.

2251
03:09:43,700 --> 03:09:53,720
So I think there is a model that can be found that gets us to a new way of interacting

2252
03:09:53,720 --> 03:10:00,400
interacting in our community, interacting with the criminal justice system, or a

2253
03:10:04,110 --> 03:10:04,270
better

2254
03:10:04,270 --> 03:10:04,890
world as possible.

2255
03:10:05,630 --> 03:10:11,310
And so all the numbers here, I'm not going to go into them, are simply to lay out that

2256
03:10:11,970 --> 03:10:13,750
this is one possibility.

2257
03:10:14,810 --> 03:10:21,030
But if we're going to get there this year, it would require staffing our current police

2258
03:10:21,030 --> 03:10:26,710
department for only three months, and that we would have to have the alternatives staffed

2259
03:10:26,710 --> 03:10:35,810
ready, ready to go in place in October and that seems like a heavy lift. So I'm

2260
03:10:35,810 --> 03:10:43,950
not certain what the correct amount of urgency is there, but a way forward is

2261
03:10:43,950 --> 03:10:49,050
possible there. So we cannot do this reallocation. The only thing we could

2262
03:10:49,050 --> 03:10:54,130
possibly do is to chop it off and force that cliff and force our city to

2263
03:10:54,130 --> 03:11:00,310
respond. I'm happy to hear the mayor talk about building roadmap there and I

2264
03:11:00,310 --> 03:11:03,130
look forward to building that roadmap together. So again I do not have a

2265
03:11:03,130 --> 03:11:09,310
proposal for a 60% cut tonight. I just felt it was my responsibility as the

2266
03:11:09,310 --> 03:11:12,430
ward 2 councillor having heard so strongly from so many and ward 2 and

2267
03:11:12,430 --> 03:11:19,290
around the city that serious look be given to what that possibility is. If

2268
03:11:19,290 --> 03:11:21,770
anybody has any thoughts or questions about the proposal that I did

2269
03:11:21,770 --> 03:11:29,070
circulate I'd be happy to hear them feel questions but madam chair thank you for

2270
03:11:29,070 --> 03:11:35,530
your time and forbearance allow me to present that yes so councillor Scott so

2271
03:11:35,530 --> 03:11:41,950
I would suggest that I ask any of our colleagues if they have any comments on

2272
03:11:41,950 --> 03:11:48,870
your statement and then allow you the opportunity to respond back is is that

2273
03:11:48,870 --> 03:11:51,230
okay or are you finished talking?

2274
03:11:53,500 --> 03:11:55,520
I mean on this point so I'll invite the

2275
03:11:55,520 --> 03:11:56,380
colleagues to speak.

2276
03:11:58,780 --> 03:12:07,120
Okay thank you so I am looking in the chat box to Councilor

2277
03:12:07,120 --> 03:12:08,660
Niedergang please.

2278
03:12:13,240 --> 03:12:17,100
Thank you Madam Chair. I just want to say briefly that I

2279
03:12:17,100 --> 03:12:22,840
welcome and appreciate the work that Councilor Scott has done. I think this

2280
03:12:22,840 --> 03:12:33,180
This is too much, too soon, but as a thought experiment, as a very hastily sketched, but

2281
03:12:33,180 --> 03:12:37,980
I think really interesting and stimulating guide to thinking about where we might want

2282
03:12:37,980 --> 03:12:39,840
to go, I think it's extremely valuable.

2283
03:12:41,220 --> 03:12:44,640
If you don't have a goal, if you don't know where you're going, you're probably not

2284
03:12:44,640 --> 03:12:45,320
going to get there.

2285
03:12:45,580 --> 03:12:49,680
So this is the beginning, and he's just taken a stab at it, and I think it's great

2286
03:12:49,680 --> 03:12:50,400
that he's done so.

2287
03:12:50,400 --> 03:12:55,100
this is the beginning of thinking about where are we heading and I don't have

2288
03:12:55,100 --> 03:13:00,280
an opinion as to his proposal I have read it over carefully but you know

2289
03:13:00,280 --> 03:13:04,760
there's there's so much in it to to discuss and think about and I look

2290
03:13:04,760 --> 03:13:09,380
forward to that process working with the mayor and the chief of police and the

2291
03:13:09,380 --> 03:13:12,960
council so I want to thank Councillor Scott for for putting something

2292
03:13:12,960 --> 03:13:16,800
forward that can help us to think about the future.

2293
03:13:38,490 --> 03:13:40,210
I had myself muted so I

2294
03:13:40,210 --> 03:13:41,170
I don't see any counselors.

2295
03:13:41,470 --> 03:13:45,150
Oh, excuse me, Councilor Rosetti is here.

2296
03:13:45,830 --> 03:13:47,770
And I think, Councilor Scott,

2297
03:13:48,010 --> 03:13:49,210
you're gonna have to unmute her

2298
03:13:49,790 --> 03:13:53,650
because I don't have controls of the video.

2299
03:13:53,710 --> 03:13:56,230
No, no, Madam, Madam Vice Chair,

2300
03:13:56,250 --> 03:13:58,270
I was telling you that you were muted.

2301
03:13:58,390 --> 03:13:59,350
We could not hear you.

2302
03:14:00,810 --> 03:14:02,590
Okay, thank you all.

2303
03:14:04,470 --> 03:14:05,330
Thank you.

2304
03:14:06,310 --> 03:14:08,670
So I don't see anybody else in the queue.

2305
03:14:08,670 --> 03:14:12,050
So, I will pass the chair back over to Councillor Scott.

2306
03:14:13,770 --> 03:14:19,010
Thank you Madam Chair, Councillor Ballantyne, now I'm back in my chair.

2307
03:14:20,530 --> 03:14:25,850
So thank you, I do want to emphasize my support for making sure we have the right people in

2308
03:14:25,850 --> 03:14:31,290
the room as we consider the path forward and I want to lend my full sense of urgency

2309
03:14:32,710 --> 03:14:36,010
to pursuing this discussion of how to reimagine the police department.

2310
03:14:36,010 --> 03:14:45,170
That said, Councilor Niedergge, you had also circulated a proposal and in terms of discussion,

2311
03:14:46,390 --> 03:14:48,610
I think it would be appropriate to go to your proposal next.

2312
03:14:49,210 --> 03:14:49,890
So, Councilor Niedergge.

2313
03:14:50,370 --> 03:14:51,510
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

2314
03:14:52,550 --> 03:14:54,110
Yes, I want to start.

2315
03:14:54,930 --> 03:14:57,630
I've circulated a proposal to the council,

2316
03:14:58,290 --> 03:14:59,970
the mayor and the chief for 812.

2317
03:15:00,000 --> 03:15:06,060
12.5% cut in the police department budget. And it's mostly, it's all in personal services.

2318
03:15:06,460 --> 03:15:15,240
It's mostly in salaries. And it's mostly high-ranking and high-paid officers. And I first want to

2319
03:15:15,240 --> 03:15:21,400
start by addressing Councillor White's repeated concern about laying off younger officers

2320
03:15:21,980 --> 03:15:26,740
who are more women and people of color. And I share that concern. I think the whole

2321
03:15:26,740 --> 03:15:31,180
council does, these young officers are our future, we don't want to lay them off.

2322
03:15:31,920 --> 03:15:39,940
And I actually think I don't know exactly for sure because as I wrote this in my memo

2323
03:15:39,940 --> 03:15:44,320
that I circulated, which apparently Councillor White did not read, but I've understood

2324
03:15:44,320 --> 03:15:48,120
for a long time we cannot cut positions, only the Chief of Police or the Mayor can

2325
03:15:48,120 --> 03:15:48,440
do that.

2326
03:15:48,720 --> 03:15:54,480
We can only cut a number, an amount, a dollar amount in any line item.

2327
03:15:54,480 --> 03:16:01,440
so most of the cuts that I propose to make are in the salaries line item and I

2328
03:16:01,440 --> 03:16:06,840
think that we can likely make those cuts without any layoffs for the following

2329
03:16:06,840 --> 03:16:11,700
reasons. There are six vacant positions now and let me say let me just back up

2330
03:16:11,700 --> 03:16:15,660
a second and say I think our principal for the police department should be the

2331
03:16:15,660 --> 03:16:20,040
same principal as for other departments in the city that is we're

2332
03:16:20,040 --> 03:16:26,080
a time of belt tightening, of COVID, of uncertain revenues. Every department has been told you

2333
03:16:26,080 --> 03:16:31,860
can't fill vacant positions. A few exceptions, but by and large, there is a hiring freeze going on.

2334
03:16:32,520 --> 03:16:35,960
So that should apply to the police department as well, especially since,

2335
03:16:36,800 --> 03:16:43,540
as we know, crime has gone down 69%, but the number of officers has gone down only 15%

2336
03:16:43,540 --> 03:16:49,340
during that time. So there is some slack there. There's actually, I think,

2337
03:16:49,340 --> 03:16:54,940
considerable fat in the police department, much of it in the upper echelons in highly

2338
03:16:54,940 --> 03:16:56,620
paid superior officers.

2339
03:16:57,680 --> 03:17:01,640
But the point that I wanted to make in terms of what Councillor White has said is that

2340
03:17:01,640 --> 03:17:03,780
there are already six vacant positions.

2341
03:17:04,360 --> 03:17:05,940
Those should not be filled.

2342
03:17:07,670 --> 03:17:14,860
We have learned that between six and 10 additional vacancies are expected during

2343
03:17:14,860 --> 03:17:20,760
the following year, which is about in line with what the number of retirements and resignations

2344
03:17:20,760 --> 03:17:27,960
in the past few years. So that means there'll be the equivalent of three to five vacant positions

2345
03:17:27,960 --> 03:17:33,380
over the next year. So money for those salaries can be cut out now. So already we're talking

2346
03:17:33,380 --> 03:17:40,580
almost 10 positions that are essentially vacant right now. And so the equivalent 10 positions

2347
03:17:40,580 --> 03:17:46,760
could be cut. Some of the positions that will be vacant over the next year are a deputy chief.

2348
03:17:47,400 --> 03:17:54,320
They earn $196,000 a year. A lieutenant, they earn $140,000 a year. A sergeant,

2349
03:17:54,380 --> 03:18:02,560
they earn $100,000 a year. So we're talking real money here. So this is the context with which I

2350
03:18:02,560 --> 03:18:08,080
looked at the police department budget, both what's in there that may not be necessary

2351
03:18:08,080 --> 03:18:15,240
and what else do we need the money for? So on the latter point, we're experiencing a

2352
03:18:15,240 --> 03:18:23,440
world of hurt in our city and in our country now due to the COVID epidemic and the fact that,

2353
03:18:23,460 --> 03:18:29,180
you know, lots of people are doing without money. We have been experiencing serious

2354
03:18:29,180 --> 03:18:35,600
problems on our streets over the last few years that have killed people. There's plenty of

2355
03:18:35,600 --> 03:18:38,460
of pressing needs, desperate needs, I would say,

2356
03:18:38,640 --> 03:18:40,700
in terms of health and human services

2357
03:18:41,460 --> 03:18:43,960
and housing and other expenditures

2358
03:18:44,660 --> 03:18:47,680
that our city has now to protect our residents.

2359
03:18:48,260 --> 03:18:50,600
And this is much a part of public safety

2360
03:18:50,600 --> 03:18:53,500
and public health, as is the police department.

2361
03:18:54,840 --> 03:18:57,620
So the cuts that I am proposing

2362
03:18:58,800 --> 03:19:03,060
come up to roughly 12.5% overall of the budget.

2363
03:19:03,060 --> 03:19:05,140
And let me go through them now.

2364
03:19:06,360 --> 03:19:13,220
I did share them in writing on Friday afternoon with the chief, the mayor, and all counselors.

2365
03:19:14,520 --> 03:19:21,660
These cuts, and let me say that, frankly, I don't really know exactly what position

2366
03:19:21,660 --> 03:19:24,160
should be cut in the police department budget.

2367
03:19:24,980 --> 03:19:25,860
And I don't have the power.

2368
03:19:26,080 --> 03:19:28,760
We, as a council, don't have the power, again, to cut any positions.

2369
03:19:28,760 --> 03:19:36,040
We just have the power to cut funds, but it seems that if one is going to cut,

2370
03:19:36,180 --> 03:19:41,800
one needs to say where those cuts should come from. So what I have identified are the six

2371
03:19:41,800 --> 03:19:49,440
vacant patrol officers, which would amount to a $390,000 cut and savings from the current

2372
03:19:49,440 --> 03:19:53,740
budget. And these would not be laying anybody off because these are vacant positions. The mayor

2373
03:19:53,740 --> 03:19:58,580
already got rid of two vacant patrol officer positions to save money.

2374
03:20:00,000 --> 03:20:05,460
Four sergeants, now we have 19 sergeants right now in the police department, but even last

2375
03:20:05,460 --> 03:20:10,280
year there were only 17, so it's really only a net reduction of two.

2376
03:20:11,840 --> 03:20:17,320
Three lieutenants, there are 11 lieutenants and these are people who are not really

2377
03:20:17,320 --> 03:20:21,000
out on the street, they're inside, they're doing administrative work.

2378
03:20:21,000 --> 03:20:27,600
I suggest cutting a captain and a deputy chief. Now we've got for a department of

2379
03:20:27,600 --> 03:20:35,860
130 officers, we've got 38 superior officers. That is sergeants and up, which

2380
03:20:35,860 --> 03:20:42,500
is 36, sorry, which is a ratio of 38 percent. That seems like a lot of tail

2381
03:20:42,500 --> 03:20:48,380
to tooth. Seems like a pretty top-heavy organization to me. It's roughly one

2382
03:20:48,380 --> 03:20:55,740
supervisor for less than two-and-a-half patrol officers. I do not want to cut

2383
03:20:55,740 --> 03:20:59,120
patrol officers who are out on the street. Those are the ones who will respond

2384
03:20:59,120 --> 03:21:04,740
to the calls and ensuring public safety by being there when people need them.

2385
03:21:05,080 --> 03:21:11,240
But I do think a lot of the superior officer positions are not necessary

2386
03:21:11,240 --> 03:21:17,180
anymore and let me let me go over what some of these positions are. Let me

2387
03:21:17,180 --> 03:21:20,420
describe what some of these positions are.

2388
03:21:21,380 --> 03:21:23,320
Let me just find this here.

2389
03:21:25,080 --> 03:21:32,180
So these are some of the positions that we have.

2390
03:21:32,340 --> 03:21:35,380
We have a police officer who works as the mayor's driver.

2391
03:21:36,020 --> 03:21:40,640
We have a police officer who works as a licensing commission sergeant, and that is mostly

2392
03:21:40,640 --> 03:21:44,360
doing routine investigations and staff work.

2393
03:21:44,360 --> 03:21:52,500
work. We have a sergeant who is a homeland security liaison, and he mostly writes grants

2394
03:21:52,500 --> 03:22:00,640
and goes to meetings of the BRIC and other homeland security, you know, groups in Boston.

2395
03:22:01,260 --> 03:22:08,160
We have a chief administrative aide sergeant. We have a court liaison officer who mostly

2396
03:22:08,160 --> 03:22:13,420
schedules other officers' court time. We have the officer that we've discussed

2397
03:22:13,420 --> 03:22:18,280
posted full-time at the high school. So these are all officers who are not not

2398
03:22:18,280 --> 03:22:22,680
out on the street, many of them doing purely administrative tasks, many of them

2399
03:22:22,680 --> 03:22:27,800
making hundred and twenty, hundred and forty, hundred and sixty thousand dollars

2400
03:22:27,800 --> 03:22:33,600
a year. It seems to me that even if these functions are necessary, which I

2401
03:22:33,600 --> 03:22:39,240
question whether they are. I think the police department is top heavy with

2402
03:22:39,240 --> 03:22:44,060
administration, but even if they're necessary, we could hire civilians to do

2403
03:22:44,060 --> 03:22:50,700
this work as well, perhaps better, for half as much as we pay these the

2404
03:22:50,700 --> 03:22:56,920
superior police officers. And in terms of how do we get rid of these folks? I,

2405
03:22:57,500 --> 03:23:02,580
again, there are the six vacant patrol positions. There are going to be

2406
03:23:02,580 --> 03:23:08,620
somewhere between three and five full vacancies throughout the superior

2407
03:23:08,620 --> 03:23:13,640
officers and patrol divisions and I really think that it is time for some

2408
03:23:13,640 --> 03:23:18,580
buyouts for some retirement buyouts and the money would not have to be in the

2409
03:23:18,580 --> 03:23:23,500
budget the mayor could come back to this council for that money or with some of

2410
03:23:23,500 --> 03:23:30,040
the savings from cuts of positions we could put a retirement buyout line in

2411
03:23:30,040 --> 03:23:38,000
the budget, perhaps a quarter of a million, even more. That would suffice to help a lot

2412
03:23:38,000 --> 03:23:43,720
of the older officers who I know some of them, and I can tell you honestly and frankly, these

2413
03:23:43,720 --> 03:23:50,900
officers, mostly white men, they have done excellent work for the city. They have worked

2414
03:23:50,900 --> 03:23:55,580
hard. They've been out on the street for years. They're now inside. Many of them

2415
03:23:55,580 --> 03:23:56,280
are ready to go.

2416
03:23:57,360 --> 03:24:04,600
Police work is challenging work, dangerous work for many of them in the past, and stressful

2417
03:24:04,600 --> 03:24:05,080
work.

2418
03:24:05,800 --> 03:24:10,600
And I believe that we would be able to buy these officers out as a way of ensuring that

2419
03:24:10,600 --> 03:24:16,140
we don't get rid of any of the younger officers and a way of getting financial relief

2420
03:24:16,140 --> 03:24:22,720
and freeing up funds, which we could then use for other departments, such as the

2421
03:24:22,720 --> 03:24:28,280
mobility department, such as hiring more drug counselors, such as hiring more youth workers,

2422
03:24:29,260 --> 03:24:37,580
and also especially for housing, because housing is a critical emergency in our community.

2423
03:24:39,400 --> 03:24:46,020
So these cuts would total from the salaries line item would total $1.8 million,

2424
03:24:46,020 --> 03:24:55,280
dollars. And then since they constitute roughly 10% of the force, 15 officers total, 9 superior

2425
03:24:55,280 --> 03:25:03,820
officers and 6 patrol officers, I believe we could also make cuts in some other line items

2426
03:25:04,360 --> 03:25:13,320
such as the overtime line item which could be cut a commensurate 10%, although perhaps

2427
03:25:13,320 --> 03:25:20,780
Councilor Ba is right and it could be cut by $800,000 which would be about 80% I think that's

2428
03:25:20,780 --> 03:25:29,220
worth discussing funds could be cut from the shift differentials line item which is 514004

2429
03:25:29,800 --> 03:25:39,640
that will 10% of that would be a $98,619 cut and holiday pay which goes to pay officers

2430
03:25:39,640 --> 03:25:45,560
who have to work holidays, 10% cut in that line would be $72,000.

2431
03:25:45,980 --> 03:25:53,840
So when you add that all up, the $1.8 million in salaries that would be saved and the additional

2432
03:25:53,840 --> 03:25:58,680
cuts in overtime shift differentials in holidays, you get to $2.1 million.

2433
03:25:59,240 --> 03:26:02,560
So that's a big cut, $2 million, it's a hefty cut.

2434
03:26:03,420 --> 03:26:06,640
I'm not saying that I know it all, that it's the right cut.

2435
03:26:06,640 --> 03:26:14,880
But I do believe that the personal services, the salaries line item can be cut in the

2436
03:26:14,880 --> 03:26:19,520
range of one and a half to two million dollars without any harm to public safety and without

2437
03:26:19,520 --> 03:26:22,560
laying off younger officers who are the future.

2438
03:26:23,200 --> 03:26:29,060
And so I submitted that in writing in detail to the Council on Friday, and I expect that

2439
03:26:29,060 --> 03:26:32,600
everybody's had a chance to study it and decide where they stand on it.

2440
03:26:32,600 --> 03:26:37,440
and I don't see any reason not to have a vote on it tonight.

2441
03:26:37,860 --> 03:26:44,180
If council doesn't want a vote, we can wait, but we've been thinking about these issues for weeks

2442
03:26:44,180 --> 03:26:55,080
now. Public has been in contact with us in the thousands, and I think it's time to get down to

2443
03:26:55,080 --> 03:26:58,420
business and do our job. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

2444
03:26:59,640 --> 03:27:06,320
Thank you, Councillor Anita Gang. I see Councillor White would like an opportunity to respond

2445
03:27:06,320 --> 03:27:11,440
as he was referenced directly, and then Councillor Klingon, I see, has commented on the questions.

2446
03:27:11,720 --> 03:27:16,060
Councillor White, do you have the floor? Thank you, Mr. Chair. I guess I'm from the

2447
03:27:16,060 --> 03:27:21,440
old school. You would never mention another Councillor on the Board by name, but since

2448
03:27:21,440 --> 03:27:26,140
I was called out by name, I've reviewed this. I think the good Councillor is working

2449
03:27:26,140 --> 03:27:30,200
under the Blythe assumption that the mayor would go along with these, and that he would

2450
03:27:30,200 --> 03:27:35,600
not fill those superior positions that Councilor Needygang referenced, and that it wouldn't

2451
03:27:35,600 --> 03:27:40,540
flow down to the lower offices. So this was sent to us, but I don't think it was sent to the

2452
03:27:40,540 --> 03:27:47,880
mayor to basically get his input on whether, in fact, he would adopt the scenario.

2453
03:28:04,050 --> 03:28:05,490
Again, even with the newer,

2454
03:28:09,060 --> 03:28:11,600
and that if, in fact, the mayor did not implement all,

2455
03:28:11,600 --> 03:28:14,140
would it slow down to the lower ranking?

2456
03:28:17,000 --> 03:28:20,200
Thank you, Council White. So that is a

2457
03:28:20,200 --> 03:28:26,580
good question and then it is a policy choice. I believe the mayor has left us

2458
03:28:26,580 --> 03:28:29,220
and is no longer with us this evening so we wouldn't be able to address that

2459
03:28:29,220 --> 03:28:32,760
directly. But Councilor Niedergang, to answer that, did you send this to the

2460
03:28:32,760 --> 03:28:36,560
mayor and receive any or have any communication with the mayor? I sent it

2461
03:28:36,560 --> 03:28:39,460
to the mayor, I sent it to the chief of police, I sent it to the budget

2462
03:28:39,460 --> 03:28:46,620
director and I sent it to Ms. Connor and Ms. Webber, our policy liaisons, and the mayor's

2463
03:28:46,620 --> 03:28:52,260
office. Now, it hasn't been that long and there's a weekend in between. But, you know,

2464
03:28:52,340 --> 03:28:56,440
I wouldn't make any assumptions about what the mayor would do. He's here. Let's hear from him.

2465
03:28:57,600 --> 03:28:59,500
Mr. Mayor, I'm so glad you're still here.

2466
03:29:04,270 --> 03:29:05,770
Mr. Mayor, we cannot hear you.

2467
03:29:07,890 --> 03:29:10,690
I apologize again. Yeah, I have been here. Thank you very much.

2468
03:29:14,190 --> 03:29:21,730
Let me just say whatever the council decides to do, I will say I am going to absorb it,

2469
03:29:22,010 --> 03:29:25,570
analyze it, and I will work with the chief to make sure we maintain a structure without

2470
03:29:25,570 --> 03:29:26,470
poll public safety.

2471
03:29:26,710 --> 03:29:30,650
I'm not trying to be a vague or abstract, but the organizational structure that's

2472
03:29:30,650 --> 03:29:36,330
in place now was done painstakingly and done with while working with the community

2473
03:29:36,330 --> 03:29:41,130
any all stakeholders to adopt the policing approach that we have today that has been successful,

2474
03:29:41,350 --> 03:29:47,710
albeit we are all into reimagining policing. So I understand the intentions are to target what

2475
03:29:47,710 --> 03:29:53,270
is perceived as fat in the budget. That's okay if that's the way it's perceived no matter who's

2476
03:29:53,270 --> 03:29:56,290
making the cut offering but that doesn't mean that's where the cut's going to happen.

2477
03:29:56,790 --> 03:29:59,510
We don't have as much discretion as is being

2478
03:30:01,060 --> 03:30:05,600
We will have to go through a process, civil service positions. If they have civil service

2479
03:30:05,600 --> 03:30:10,440
positions on a 30-day, I believe, 30-day notice requirement, we'll have to sit down with each

2480
03:30:10,440 --> 03:30:14,840
union's superior officers and patrolmen, and there will be what is called an approach to

2481
03:30:14,840 --> 03:30:21,700
reduction and force a rift. But I just want to make it clear. We are going to, if there

2482
03:30:21,700 --> 03:30:26,720
are these drastic cuts in the police department, we've outlined our concerns and the negative

2483
03:30:26,720 --> 03:30:33,440
impact they will have. We will have to be forced to do the best we can to maintain an infrastructure

2484
03:30:33,440 --> 03:30:38,220
that meets our needs today. Understand that we don't have a plan in place of what that reimagination

2485
03:30:38,220 --> 03:30:43,960
is. That's the way we're going to approach it. So I cannot tell you I will agree with all these

2486
03:30:43,960 --> 03:30:51,320
cuts. I most likely don't. I'm against any drastic across the board cuts. But if we're

2487
03:30:51,320 --> 03:30:55,540
forced to live with them, I have a concern about what the fallout will be for the

2488
03:30:55,540 --> 03:31:00,900
police department undoubtedly, there will be a big shift in the negative way of the

2489
03:31:00,900 --> 03:31:04,140
makeup of the department in terms of how it reflects, so it doesn't reflect the diversity

2490
03:31:04,140 --> 03:31:04,760
of the community.

2491
03:31:06,200 --> 03:31:09,360
And just one other clarification, if I just may, because it's been mentioned a couple

2492
03:31:09,360 --> 03:31:11,460
of times, a sergeant doesn't drive me around.

2493
03:31:12,000 --> 03:31:15,280
There are two officers assigned to the administration as a result of the collective

2494
03:31:15,280 --> 03:31:16,260
bargaining contract.

2495
03:31:16,680 --> 03:31:18,160
There were three historically.

2496
03:31:18,440 --> 03:31:21,600
We bargained one out to add more officers doing police work.

2497
03:31:22,060 --> 03:31:23,980
One officer is assigned to the Licensing Commission.

2498
03:31:23,980 --> 03:31:29,600
The other's office of how yes, he does drive me an official occasion because I as a mayor did not I stopped

2499
03:31:29,600 --> 03:31:32,260
They practiced this wasn't placed before the mayor had their own

2500
03:31:32,800 --> 03:31:35,320
Vehicle paid for by the city. I did not take that

2501
03:31:35,780 --> 03:31:40,540
But I'm certain official business the office that does drive me around. He also does work with different departments in the city

2502
03:31:40,540 --> 03:31:42,700
I just want to clarify that point. Thank you.

2503
03:31:44,960 --> 03:31:45,760
All right

2504
03:31:46,540 --> 03:31:47,660
Thank you, Mr. Mayor

2505
03:31:48,700 --> 03:31:51,080
So I'm gonna go ahead and recognize

2506
03:31:52,440 --> 03:31:53,320
the next

2507
03:31:53,320 --> 03:31:56,380
Next question from Councillor Klingin.

2508
03:31:58,740 --> 03:31:59,600
Councillor Klingin.

2509
03:32:00,140 --> 03:32:06,440
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair. Three or just a couple of questions based on Councillor

2510
03:32:06,440 --> 03:32:11,760
Nita Gang's proposal, just to kind of try to weigh through it a little bit, questions

2511
03:32:11,760 --> 03:32:12,480
to the Chief.

2512
03:32:14,700 --> 03:32:17,960
Well, first off, I have a question about the City Charter. Is there

2513
03:32:17,960 --> 03:32:20,000
a certain number of police we're supposed to have by charter?

2514
03:32:25,460 --> 03:32:28,200
The answer is no in my knowledge.

2515
03:32:29,800 --> 03:32:32,860
Okay, so I'm just trying to figure out based on population.

2516
03:32:33,200 --> 03:32:36,660
I thought I had heard a number before of 120.

2517
03:32:38,020 --> 03:32:43,700
But that's even here and there, I guess, because it's kind of cascading down to what my point is.

2518
03:32:46,340 --> 03:32:47,780
If we were to,

2519
03:32:50,120 --> 03:32:52,140
based on the number of our population,

2520
03:32:52,360 --> 03:32:53,940
like, I'm just trying to figure out if we have these

2521
03:32:53,940 --> 03:32:57,120
supervisory positions in there, you know,

2522
03:32:57,220 --> 03:32:59,120
any, like, anyone knows any good, you know,

2523
03:32:59,160 --> 03:33:00,680
whatever, restaurant, hotel, whatever, I mean,

2524
03:33:00,760 --> 03:33:04,760
without managers, without superior officers for the,

2525
03:33:04,760 --> 03:33:07,720
you know, for the younger folks to look up to

2526
03:33:07,720 --> 03:33:09,800
and have to guide them.

2527
03:33:09,960 --> 03:33:11,660
I mean, I don't, you know, I just want to know

2528
03:33:11,660 --> 03:33:13,440
what the numbers look like, because it does sound

2529
03:33:13,440 --> 03:33:23,200
a little, you know, off that I think Councilor Nidagang said, two superiors per, or one superior

2530
03:33:23,200 --> 03:33:29,060
officer per couple of things. But that may sound, you know, that may seem odd, but I want

2531
03:33:29,060 --> 03:33:33,600
to know what is behind that a little bit before I decide to make any cuts on it.

2532
03:33:35,780 --> 03:33:38,120
Councilor Nidagang, would you like to address that?

2533
03:33:38,500 --> 03:33:43,920
No, this is to the Chief. I'm just trying to get some ideas about why we're at

2534
03:33:43,920 --> 03:33:49,000
the levels we're at and what the need is, because assuming that if we were to make this

2535
03:33:49,000 --> 03:33:52,960
cut that the police wouldn't just cut all the crossing guards and instead they would actually

2536
03:33:52,960 --> 03:33:57,920
make the cuts that Council need again is asking for.

2537
03:33:58,040 --> 03:34:02,560
So I just want to understand those numbers of supervisor officers and so on.

2538
03:34:03,060 --> 03:34:04,800
All right, Council Chief.

2539
03:34:09,620 --> 03:34:10,460
You still muted, Chief.

2540
03:34:11,040 --> 03:34:12,200
If we still can't hear you, sir.

2541
03:34:15,980 --> 03:34:20,460
You know, I don't want to come across as defensive, but I do, I think it's

2542
03:34:20,460 --> 03:34:23,700
so vitally important to add some context here.

2543
03:34:23,940 --> 03:34:27,260
I think the cuts suggested would really dismantle

2544
03:34:27,260 --> 03:34:29,820
a highly functioning police department.

2545
03:34:30,160 --> 03:34:31,940
And I think if you see immediate swing

2546
03:34:32,620 --> 03:34:33,660
in the other direction,

2547
03:34:34,000 --> 03:34:36,280
not fill in the six funded vacant positions

2548
03:34:36,820 --> 03:34:39,460
does directly, absolutely directly

2549
03:34:40,740 --> 03:34:42,520
affect the number of patrol officers

2550
03:34:42,520 --> 03:34:43,640
we haven't built the year.

2551
03:34:44,440 --> 03:34:45,700
Historically, if we look at it,

2552
03:34:45,820 --> 03:34:47,360
if we're funded at 88 offices,

2553
03:34:47,900 --> 03:34:49,720
some point in that year,

2554
03:34:49,720 --> 03:34:55,720
They're very good possibility. We'll be down to 78 officers. It takes 61 patrol, 61 patrol

2555
03:34:55,720 --> 03:35:02,400
officers just to fill our patrol division. It's amazing. Councillor Anita gave me an

2556
03:35:02,400 --> 03:35:08,720
email on October of 2019, and he stated, I'm writing to beg you to deploy more officers

2557
03:35:08,720 --> 03:35:15,000
onto our streets to conduct traffic enforcement. Lieutenant Peter said that the Bravo Unit

2558
03:35:15,000 --> 03:35:21,600
of six officers on bicycles was being disbanded. He writes, that's going entirely in the wrong

2559
03:35:21,600 --> 03:35:28,580
direction. We don't just respond to crime in this police department. We respond to major

2560
03:35:28,580 --> 03:35:33,980
traffic concerns and issues in this city, the most highly densely populated city on the

2561
03:35:33,980 --> 03:35:34,460
east coast.

2562
03:35:35,460 --> 03:35:35,680
Thank you.

2563
03:35:36,320 --> 03:35:41,720
No, but I just want to say, I say, our superior officers have jobs. They're commanded.

2564
03:35:42,480 --> 03:35:43,040
Respectfully.

2565
03:35:43,160 --> 03:35:43,460
They're commanded.

2566
03:35:43,460 --> 03:35:49,720
If you could address the question the councillor had there about the command staff, a supervisor.

2567
03:35:49,780 --> 03:35:51,040
I think I was.

2568
03:35:51,260 --> 03:35:55,580
I think what I'm saying is the command is, a lieutenant is a shift commander, it's not

2569
03:35:55,580 --> 03:35:59,240
only a supervisor, it doesn't come in and say I'm going to supervise, they have a job

2570
03:35:59,240 --> 03:35:59,580
to do.

2571
03:35:59,860 --> 03:36:05,420
A lieutenant is the highest ranking person in the police department, 16 hours of the

2572
03:36:05,420 --> 03:36:06,760
day most often.

2573
03:36:07,120 --> 03:36:11,500
They have serious jobs to do, working prisoners, ensuring people's constitutional

2574
03:36:11,500 --> 03:36:17,420
whites when they're arrested, making sure they get the court tier of prisoners. I could go on and

2575
03:36:17,420 --> 03:36:22,180
on in the list of these duties. Out of the police department, we don't have the programs that other

2576
03:36:22,180 --> 03:36:29,740
police departments have. Cambridge, Boston, we're short staff going into this directly

2577
03:36:29,740 --> 03:36:34,920
affected. I'll tell you one thing that didn't come up that immediately when I read our council

2578
03:36:34,920 --> 03:36:39,520
Anita Gang's proposal is one thing we never talk about the city and I guarantee it's going to

2579
03:36:39,520 --> 03:36:44,700
come up if this goes forward is response time. Many departments that take drastic measures

2580
03:36:44,700 --> 03:36:50,120
like this have response times up to 20 minutes. I'm not sure the residents of the city want

2581
03:36:50,120 --> 03:36:52,040
response times of 20 minutes.

2582
03:36:53,720 --> 03:36:59,100
I'm going to ask you very respectfully to respect the chair and to give us the questions

2583
03:36:59,100 --> 03:37:03,980
that are answered. I understand you feel very strongly about this, but I want to make

2584
03:37:03,980 --> 03:37:06,840
sure that we continue to get the questions answered and that we go through the chair

2585
03:37:06,840 --> 03:37:12,080
respect. Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, through you to the Chief, my question specifically,

2586
03:37:12,300 --> 03:37:17,920
Chief, is how did we get to those numbers? Those numbers just because people go up through

2587
03:37:17,920 --> 03:37:22,820
the ranks, they just get there, or those numbers sort of specifically designed for a

2588
03:37:22,820 --> 03:37:27,680
purpose based on a number of officers we have on a force is what I'm asking.

2589
03:37:28,720 --> 03:37:33,140
To the Chair, I apologize. I thought the question was, how would the cuts affect

2590
03:37:33,140 --> 03:37:35,180
the operation of the police department.

2591
03:37:35,680 --> 03:37:37,160
That's how I understood that question.

2592
03:37:37,820 --> 03:37:39,200
How did we get to those numbers?

2593
03:37:39,540 --> 03:37:41,940
We're very judicious and where we put people

2594
03:37:42,540 --> 03:37:43,460
in the police offices.

2595
03:37:44,440 --> 03:37:45,800
I mean, we need police officers.

2596
03:37:46,440 --> 03:37:47,980
Every interaction a police officer has

2597
03:37:47,980 --> 03:37:49,380
where a member of the community

2598
03:37:49,800 --> 03:37:51,260
can affect that community for a lifetime.

2599
03:37:51,980 --> 03:37:54,380
Every interaction an officer has during the course of duty

2600
03:37:54,780 --> 03:37:55,680
where the member of the community

2601
03:37:55,680 --> 03:37:57,820
can affect that community for generations.

2602
03:37:58,320 --> 03:37:59,700
We're gonna take supervision

2603
03:38:00,060 --> 03:38:02,140
and accountability out of the police department.

2604
03:38:02,140 --> 03:38:07,540
These positions, these offices have been placed, these superior offices, to enforce the policies

2605
03:38:07,540 --> 03:38:11,780
and procedures of the Summer Police Department, to set the tone for a shift to respond,

2606
03:38:11,940 --> 03:38:14,080
sergeants on the street are there to respond.

2607
03:38:14,460 --> 03:38:19,080
Our math, if we have to look at it, and we haven't had much time to analyze it, would

2608
03:38:19,080 --> 03:38:24,580
be nine, nine, if these offices would roll back into the police department, nine junior

2609
03:38:24,580 --> 03:38:26,740
offices would have to be laid off.

2610
03:38:28,180 --> 03:38:33,280
Right. So, I was just asking as to how we got to that, those specific numbers of, you

2611
03:38:33,280 --> 03:38:37,620
know, lieutenant sergeants, because I know like when the test is up and people take it,

2612
03:38:37,860 --> 03:38:45,160
we put people up based on something, and that's kind of what I was getting at. So, I'll

2613
03:38:45,160 --> 03:38:50,460
just move on with my question. So, the second question would be, again, are those numbers

2614
03:38:50,460 --> 03:38:56,360
sort of tied to collective bargaining, and with civil service, would, you know, would

2615
03:38:56,360 --> 03:39:00,380
those supervisor or lieutenant positions, would they then, you know, trickle down through

2616
03:39:00,380 --> 03:39:03,600
bumping rights and essentially lay off the patrol officers?

2617
03:39:06,740 --> 03:39:06,980
Chief.

2618
03:39:09,300 --> 03:39:16,400
And through the chair, I would need some guidance from the city and the law office about

2619
03:39:16,400 --> 03:39:19,920
how to work with civil service, I'm just not 100 percent sure.

2620
03:39:19,920 --> 03:39:30,020
how we got there is we fill these positions. These positions have evolved to do the functioning

2621
03:39:30,020 --> 03:39:37,040
of a big city police department. Every one of these positions performs a function beyond

2622
03:39:37,040 --> 03:39:42,940
supervision. They perform a role within the police department. I'm sorry if I run a little

2623
03:39:42,940 --> 03:39:45,060
bit off on your question. I was trying to answer your question.

2624
03:39:47,400 --> 03:39:53,080
Mr. Chairman, if I may, could you add a little bit of context, and a lot of this was reviewed.

2625
03:39:53,320 --> 03:39:54,340
All of this was reviewed.

2626
03:39:54,880 --> 03:39:59,660
And the implementation of a new command structure, geographic community-based policing command

2627
03:39:59,660 --> 03:40:04,200
structure and deployment structure of the department, going back now almost 15 years,

2628
03:40:04,680 --> 03:40:09,940
when the result of the police advisory group and the work we did to negotiate that new

2629
03:40:09,940 --> 03:40:12,360
structure, we had previously spent a shift-based command structure.

2630
03:40:12,360 --> 03:40:14,760
So, let me just give you examples of important context.

2631
03:40:14,900 --> 03:40:15,640
There's seven offices.

2632
03:40:15,800 --> 03:40:16,520
You have road cars.

2633
03:40:16,680 --> 03:40:18,800
There's seven offices back then before we shifted.

2634
03:40:19,260 --> 03:40:20,820
The structure we had today showed up for a shift.

2635
03:40:21,200 --> 03:40:24,840
By seniority, you got to pick where in the city, which car you wanted to be in, and

2636
03:40:24,840 --> 03:40:25,920
that changed every day.

2637
03:40:26,580 --> 03:40:30,620
So how we deployed offices and how they worked in particular neighborhoods to build

2638
03:40:30,620 --> 03:40:34,740
relationships that the Chief alluded to change drastically and really historically

2639
03:40:34,740 --> 03:40:39,460
with this major reconstruction of the plan, organizational plan, as well as the command

2640
03:40:39,460 --> 03:40:41,400
structure was made to support that.

2641
03:40:41,400 --> 03:40:43,000
So, that's the context behind that.

2642
03:40:43,700 --> 03:40:44,380
All right.

2643
03:40:44,620 --> 03:40:45,000
Okay.

2644
03:40:45,140 --> 03:40:46,020
Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

2645
03:40:46,640 --> 03:40:50,640
Just Councillor Klingon, please continue with your questions.

2646
03:40:50,840 --> 03:40:54,340
And I just want to remind everybody this is a chance to ask questions that are needed

2647
03:40:54,340 --> 03:41:01,080
to clarify for discussion on Councilor Neetergang's proposal, but this is there a little bit

2648
03:41:01,080 --> 03:41:02,260
back and forth.

2649
03:41:03,600 --> 03:41:05,480
The defense from the administration.

2650
03:41:06,320 --> 03:41:07,700
So, Councillor Klingon, please continue.

2651
03:41:08,140 --> 03:41:09,020
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

2652
03:41:09,020 --> 03:41:17,260
there. Yeah, I, you know, just on the proposed cuts that Council need to gang made, I still

2653
03:41:17,260 --> 03:41:23,280
want to clear on the answer as to how and why we have these certain numbers. I mean, I wouldn't

2654
03:41:23,280 --> 03:41:28,380
feel comfortable, you know, cutting positions that in fact, of leadership, that in fact,

2655
03:41:28,500 --> 03:41:35,060
again, you know, cutting leadership positions, essentially you're giving more, like I've

2656
03:41:35,060 --> 03:41:38,840
I've heard that from people that I've talked to on the street that when a call goes out,

2657
03:41:39,380 --> 03:41:42,660
it's almost like calling for a manager that the people on the street know better.

2658
03:41:42,780 --> 03:41:46,460
They say, I won't talk to a patrol officer, get the lieutenants out here.

2659
03:41:46,700 --> 03:41:52,920
Because they don't think that the officer's word means as much as the lieutenant or

2660
03:41:52,920 --> 03:42:00,220
as the, not the lieutenant or sergeant on the scene.

2661
03:42:00,960 --> 03:42:03,160
So, you know, folks in the know actually know this.

2662
03:42:03,160 --> 03:42:11,580
And so just my concern is that if we cut those positions, what are we left with and what happens

2663
03:42:11,580 --> 03:42:17,160
to those people who get rift, as they say, are they going to then trickle down and eliminate

2664
03:42:17,840 --> 03:42:23,720
positions that we were really working towards filling? And I would also just say, you know,

2665
03:42:23,760 --> 03:42:26,580
one of the things I think about when I think about crime being down in Somerville,

2666
03:42:27,000 --> 03:42:31,140
I also can't help but to wonder if that's just because of how one of the reasons is

2667
03:42:31,140 --> 03:42:35,460
because of how progressive our police force is in that they don't make arrests on a lot

2668
03:42:35,460 --> 03:42:36,080
of things anymore.

2669
03:42:36,200 --> 03:42:39,660
I remember growing up, you know, you'd wake up on Monday morning and see all your friends'

2670
03:42:39,840 --> 03:42:43,420
names and the thing, you know, it's been 20 arrests long, and now it's three or four.

2671
03:42:44,000 --> 03:42:50,520
And it makes me wonder whether or not that some real police just haven't, because they're

2672
03:42:50,520 --> 03:42:54,880
not driven by numbers, I have become a much more progressive force.

2673
03:42:55,120 --> 03:42:59,880
So that said, again, you know, with the idea that we're a growing city.

2674
03:42:59,880 --> 03:43:08,840
If we're at 84,000 now and we've got point yards coming online, we just put what's a place

2675
03:43:08,840 --> 03:43:14,040
called assembly square online, I hate to be deager.

2676
03:43:14,240 --> 03:43:19,320
As soon as something happens, I know that the 84,000 citizens that we have, or should

2677
03:43:19,320 --> 03:43:22,800
say the 80,000 citizens we haven't heard from are going to be like, what in the world

2678
03:43:22,800 --> 03:43:23,500
is going on?

2679
03:43:23,800 --> 03:43:24,120
Like why?

2680
03:43:24,380 --> 03:43:28,880
So I just want to be real careful about how we proceed just based on sort of old

2681
03:43:28,880 --> 03:43:31,960
numbers, new numbers. 2004 was probably budget cuts.

2682
03:43:34,000 --> 03:43:36,920
So as far as how we've gotten by here

2683
03:43:36,920 --> 03:43:41,560
and there, that doesn't mean it's ideal. So again, I'm open to cuts, but I just want

2684
03:43:41,560 --> 03:43:47,460
to understand fully what the implications of these cuts will be to the citizens that

2685
03:43:47,460 --> 03:43:51,280
I represent, the 12,000 people of Ward 4. I need to understand fully what's going

2686
03:43:51,280 --> 03:43:55,620
to happen, and I don't feel satisfied with that answer, and maybe I'm not asking

2687
03:43:55,620 --> 03:44:02,720
it correctly to the chief but I do think that there probably are some civil service problems

2688
03:44:02,720 --> 03:44:07,260
and collective bargaining problems and also just the idea that I think that we do need

2689
03:44:07,260 --> 03:44:09,160
people in leadership.

2690
03:44:09,640 --> 03:44:16,220
The fish, as they say, rots from the head or whatnot so without good leadership, you

2691
03:44:16,220 --> 03:44:20,700
left with just kind of cops without leadership.

2692
03:44:21,200 --> 03:44:24,380
That's all I really, those questions I have and that's kind of my comments on

2693
03:44:24,380 --> 03:44:30,680
as it stands now thank you. All right thank you Councilor Klingon. It's my intention to continue

2694
03:44:30,680 --> 03:44:37,420
down through people yet again proceeding for people who haven't spoken yet and then we'll

2695
03:44:37,420 --> 03:44:43,040
eventually loop back around to Councilor Neeta Gang who started this round and we'll have an

2696
03:44:43,040 --> 03:44:54,010
opportunity to respond to comments and questions there. Up next I see Councilor, I see Councilor

2697
03:44:54,010 --> 03:44:59,730
human camping, then Councilor Mbaa and then Councilor Valentine. If anybody

2698
03:45:00,000 --> 03:45:04,380
It does have something they'd like Councilor Newt again to respond directly to you can request

2699
03:45:04,380 --> 03:45:08,220
and yield to Councilor Newt again, of course, to address that. But otherwise, I'm just going

2700
03:45:08,220 --> 03:45:12,460
to go back to him as we hit the bottom of the rotation. Councilor Newt again, or Councilor

2701
03:45:12,460 --> 03:45:17,780
Ewing, can't be on the floor. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, through you. Well, first

2702
03:45:17,780 --> 03:45:22,560
of all, to you, I want to thank you for the document that you presented. I know that

2703
03:45:22,560 --> 03:45:27,280
that was made very carefully in response to what you've been hearing from your constituents

2704
03:45:27,280 --> 03:45:29,600
and what we've been hearing from the people of Somerville. So I want to really thank

2705
03:45:29,600 --> 03:45:33,360
you for taking the time to put that together. And through you, I want to thank Councillor

2706
03:45:33,360 --> 03:45:37,680
Niedergang for his proposal, which I've read carefully. And I want to give a kind of just

2707
03:45:37,680 --> 03:45:42,300
brief comment. I don't really have a question on why I support this and why it tracks very

2708
03:45:42,300 --> 03:45:47,460
similarly to the way that I'm approaching this. So, you know, I think it's always hard in these

2709
03:45:47,460 --> 03:45:52,700
budget meetings when we're having this discussion before the Chief of the Police

2710
03:45:52,700 --> 03:45:56,400
Department, we're talking about the Police Department budget. I have a lot of respect for

2711
03:45:56,400 --> 03:46:00,120
chief. I have a lot of respect for staff that I've worked with, the officers I've met in

2712
03:46:00,120 --> 03:46:05,560
confirmations, and this to me is not a punitive discussion whatsoever. I view it much more the

2713
03:46:05,560 --> 03:46:10,480
way that Councillor Niedergang described it. Imagine if we were having this conversation

2714
03:46:10,480 --> 03:46:14,980
not about cuts to this department, but about we're going to hire 10 new councillors to work

2715
03:46:14,980 --> 03:46:18,820
in the school system. We're going to finally hire an administrative staff for the housing

2716
03:46:18,820 --> 03:46:22,340
division, you know, that's something that I've heard about for years. One of the reasons

2717
03:46:22,340 --> 03:46:27,200
that it always takes an extra time to get answers to our questions is because those folks are just

2718
03:46:27,200 --> 03:46:34,140
flat out helping people in desperate need and, you know, my understanding is they lack a single

2719
03:46:34,140 --> 03:46:39,740
administrative staff. And I could go on with examples like this. I think if we were having

2720
03:46:39,740 --> 03:46:45,320
this conversation in terms of the reinvestments that I think this council is being very clear

2721
03:46:45,320 --> 03:46:50,380
that we would wish to see, it would be a totally different conversation. And I understand

2722
03:46:50,380 --> 03:46:56,040
that we're having it under what I consider basically the most difficult context where we're talking

2723
03:46:56,040 --> 03:47:04,440
about cuts to one department. And again, we're talking about six possible new hires in this

2724
03:47:04,440 --> 03:47:10,440
department, one of whom is a dreamer, diverse candidates. I don't think anyone on this council

2725
03:47:10,440 --> 03:47:14,880
would say we don't want those people to serve the city of Somerville and work in public safety.

2726
03:47:15,120 --> 03:47:18,900
I think the way that I feel, I'll just speak for myself, is I very much want those people

2727
03:47:18,900 --> 03:47:23,680
to work for the city of Somerville in public safety, but I don't think that the police department

2728
03:47:23,680 --> 03:47:27,580
is necessarily the best place for them, and now I can't make a decision which department

2729
03:47:27,580 --> 03:47:33,740
they want to apply to, but it is not at all my intention here to say Somerville should not hire

2730
03:47:33,740 --> 03:47:39,360
those people. It is not my intention whatsoever to say Somerville should cut the core program.

2731
03:47:39,480 --> 03:47:44,640
I think this type of program is wonderful, and what I would like to see is for those programs

2732
03:47:44,640 --> 03:48:05,700
to be expanded dramatically and that is really how I've interpreted the outpouring that we have heard from residents it's, I don't want to pretend that there is no one out there, you know, saying caught 100% punitively, but by and large what I have heard is this is about re investing in currently underfunded positions.

2733
03:48:05,700 --> 03:48:15,180
And that is the way that that I'm approaching this and I fully understand as well as everyone around this virtual horseshoe that we do not have the authority to make those reallocations ourselves.

2734
03:48:16,860 --> 03:48:27,260
But this is the authority that we have. And, you know, I just don't I can't in good faith, you know, continue to kind of kick the can as I feel that I have in the past.

2735
03:48:28,720 --> 03:48:30,600
So, again, I want to thank Councillor Neidergang.

2736
03:48:30,720 --> 03:48:34,360
I look forward to questions and comments from the committee in terms of whether we vote

2737
03:48:34,360 --> 03:48:35,240
tonight or in the future.

2738
03:48:35,400 --> 03:48:42,780
To me, personally, I know where I'm ready to do it tonight, but again, it's not important

2739
03:48:42,780 --> 03:48:45,260
to me whether we do it tonight or after the public hearing is closed.

2740
03:48:45,780 --> 03:48:46,520
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

2741
03:48:49,730 --> 03:48:51,490
Thank you, Councillor Ewing-Campan.

2742
03:48:52,930 --> 03:49:01,770
up next, I see Councillor Mba and then Councillor Ballantani, Councillor Mba, you have the floor.

2743
03:49:03,070 --> 03:49:09,590
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I really appreciate how you are handling this meeting with a lot

2744
03:49:09,590 --> 03:49:18,870
of passion and modesty, Mr. Chair. I know it's a tough call, but I want to say when

2745
03:49:18,870 --> 03:49:31,110
And I saw when I looked at Max's proposal first, I was really excited that this is something

2746
03:49:31,110 --> 03:49:38,050
that I want to do, and this is like we will help a lot of, you know, like we can actually

2747
03:49:38,050 --> 03:49:42,550
like cut, you know, like I never thought that we could cut different positions like

2748
03:49:42,550 --> 03:49:43,050
he mentioned.

2749
03:49:43,050 --> 03:49:49,570
And when I sat down to study the budget and look at it, actually even, you know, I mean,

2750
03:49:49,750 --> 03:49:55,930
like, we didn't have a lot of time to talk about it, but I was, like, I was looking

2751
03:49:55,930 --> 03:50:01,510
at it and then I realized that it's not possible to, you know, like, just, like, make this

2752
03:50:01,510 --> 03:50:02,310
kind of recommendation.

2753
03:50:03,010 --> 03:50:08,130
And since Councilor White raised some more points about this, it's like, what impact

2754
03:50:08,130 --> 03:50:08,950
will it have?

2755
03:50:08,950 --> 03:50:17,110
Like it is in realizing that, you know, we've been on the council for two years, most of

2756
03:50:17,110 --> 03:50:22,730
the people that we hire, you know, have been so diverse, you know, people of color, they

2757
03:50:22,730 --> 03:50:27,470
just move into the city, some of them got married, they just got their home, then now,

2758
03:50:27,530 --> 03:50:31,910
you know, like, I'll shamefully, you know, like, let them, you know, be lay up because

2759
03:50:31,910 --> 03:50:36,990
oh, because it's like this is, we've seen that this is the impact that it's going

2760
03:50:36,990 --> 03:50:41,550
to have. And then, in good conscience, I'll be like, oh, well, I'm trying to, you know,

2761
03:50:41,630 --> 03:50:47,130
like, just support, like, the cause that, you know, it's, it's, I mean, unless they

2762
03:50:47,510 --> 03:50:54,850
like, I'm clear that this is, is going to have the intended effect of how, like,

2763
03:50:55,390 --> 03:50:59,010
there are possible things that I saw, like, position that I want to just strike off.

2764
03:50:59,430 --> 03:51:02,530
You know, you, Mr. Chair, you already know that, you know, like, I'm like,

2765
03:51:02,970 --> 03:51:05,970
I asked you some few questions like, what is this for? What is this for?

2766
03:51:05,970 --> 03:51:12,510
But I cannot chop those things off. And so as you know, those cut for the excitement of cutting and then

2767
03:51:12,510 --> 03:51:18,690
Help the same people that we all claim that all we all care about them. We want I'm all for change of culture

2768
03:51:18,690 --> 03:51:23,130
I'm all about that is find the police force. I will leave it at that

2769
03:51:23,890 --> 03:51:25,050
Thank you to chair.

2770
03:51:27,110 --> 03:51:28,170
All right

2771
03:51:28,710 --> 03:51:33,570
Thank you comes from Bob and just as a reminder you're correct

2772
03:51:33,570 --> 03:51:40,430
we cannot dictate what the mayor does with the money or how the chief allocates

2773
03:51:40,430 --> 03:51:46,450
the money put in his department. Those are expressions of their priorities and

2774
03:51:46,450 --> 03:51:52,230
how they see their job functions. Counselor Valentine is up next to the

2775
03:51:52,230 --> 03:51:58,670
question and then seeing nobody else who is dialed in here who hasn't spoken

2776
03:51:58,670 --> 03:52:04,390
And yet I'll then go back to Councilor Niedigang, Councilor White, oh, I see Councilor Streisler

2777
03:52:04,390 --> 03:52:04,830
jumping in.

2778
03:52:04,970 --> 03:52:09,470
So I would go back to Councilor Niedigang, White and Klingon.

2779
03:52:10,190 --> 03:52:15,930
Councilor White, you seem to have a relevant informational question.

2780
03:52:16,370 --> 03:52:20,310
Is there, or is there something that can wait until your next spot in the rotation?

2781
03:52:24,570 --> 03:52:26,990
Sorry, Councilor Brown-Tam, I'm just going to see if Council White-

2782
03:52:26,990 --> 03:52:27,070
Okay.

2783
03:52:27,870 --> 03:52:28,550
It's okay.

2784
03:52:29,230 --> 03:52:29,730
I'll yield.

2785
03:52:30,950 --> 03:52:33,130
Councilor White, we can't hear you.

2786
03:52:44,170 --> 03:52:47,410
Collective bargaining agreement, it's been years since we looked at it.

2787
03:52:49,030 --> 03:52:52,010
If you keep a certain number of regular patrolmen,

2788
03:52:52,110 --> 03:52:55,870
I believe there has to be staffing of superior offices, at least the sergeants.

2789
03:52:56,850 --> 03:52:58,070
So we don't know

2790
03:53:05,810 --> 03:53:06,750
that the mayor met it.

2791
03:53:06,850 --> 03:53:08,810
Would those comply with the collective?

2792
03:53:11,130 --> 03:53:14,510
Okay, that's a fair informational question.

2793
03:53:14,810 --> 03:53:16,830
Councilor White, I do have a copy of that contract.

2794
03:53:17,130 --> 03:53:18,830
It's a little over a hundred pages.

2795
03:53:19,510 --> 03:53:23,150
So, perhaps if any staff can look at that

2796
03:53:23,150 --> 03:53:25,090
and get back to us on the answer, that'd be helpful.

2797
03:53:25,990 --> 03:53:27,590
Seth, if you do have answers for that,

2798
03:53:27,650 --> 03:53:28,990
please just indicate in the chat box

2799
03:53:28,990 --> 03:53:29,850
and I'll recognize you.

2800
03:53:30,370 --> 03:53:32,610
Meanwhile, Councilor Valentine, back to you.

2801
03:53:32,750 --> 03:53:33,590
Thank you for your patience.

2802
03:53:34,890 --> 03:53:35,530
Thank you.

2803
03:53:35,710 --> 03:53:41,010
Through you, Mr. Chair, to Councilor Niedergang,

2804
03:53:42,710 --> 03:53:47,710
I wanted to get you to elaborate a little bit

2805
03:53:47,710 --> 03:53:52,910
because you made the quote, you said, you know, honestly, I'm not sure which positions should

2806
03:53:52,910 --> 03:54:02,030
be cut. So I'm wondering how you took into consideration the need, so the need of the city

2807
03:54:04,590 --> 03:54:11,070
in the various calls and the various crime levels in the city and the impact

2808
03:54:13,030 --> 03:54:19,110
if that these staffing cuts would have that you've proposed.

2809
03:54:24,110 --> 03:54:24,830
Councilor Nidega.

2810
03:54:25,250 --> 03:54:25,770
Yes.

2811
03:54:25,990 --> 03:54:26,690
Thanks, Mr. Chair.

2812
03:54:26,850 --> 03:54:28,730
And thanks, Councilor Ballantyne, for the question.

2813
03:54:29,270 --> 03:54:31,310
Well, I looked at historical staffing.

2814
03:54:31,510 --> 03:54:35,990
For example, there were no deputy chiefs in the SPD until 2007.

2815
03:54:38,210 --> 03:54:44,210
And there were only eight lieutenants in 2006 and nine in 2005.

2816
03:54:44,770 --> 03:54:47,390
Maybe the chief is right that we really need 11 now.

2817
03:54:47,930 --> 03:54:51,990
But there were 16 sergeants from 2010 through 2018.

2818
03:54:52,610 --> 03:54:53,710
Now we have 19.

2819
03:54:54,720 --> 03:55:01,630
So, you know, I'm just looking at historical staffing in the upper echelons of the department

2820
03:55:01,630 --> 03:55:16,570
And also looking at the crime rate, which has gone down, you know, steadily and considerably and kind of put a rough picture together. I wish I, you know, I wish I had more information than that.

2821
03:55:17,410 --> 03:55:28,270
You know, I could just say, well, let's cut a million and a half dollars out of the out of the salaries light item or 10%, for example, which is a number that we've heard a lot from the community.

2822
03:55:30,490 --> 03:55:35,210
But that kind of seems even more arbitrary than trying to designate some positions.

2823
03:55:35,650 --> 03:55:42,790
So you're right, I have inadequate information. I have no staffing. I have no statistical analysts.

2824
03:55:43,190 --> 03:55:45,950
I have no captains or deputy chiefs to help me with this.

2825
03:55:46,510 --> 03:55:53,830
I'm just trying to figure out how to reduce a budget that I consider to be bloated.

2826
03:55:53,830 --> 03:56:00,130
And you know, I'll say I'll say more about that when I get another chance to speak. Thank you.

2827
03:56:02,490 --> 03:56:21,170
So, through you are to the to my colleagues is so I that's how I'm trying to look at that is what are the needs in the community and then how do you build the staff that you need to achieve those needs.

2828
03:56:21,170 --> 03:56:28,730
You know, I know in Ward 7 in the last three years we've had three deaths.

2829
03:56:29,230 --> 03:56:35,950
One was a motor vehicle, one was the shooting of a young boy, the other was the stabbing

2830
03:56:36,690 --> 03:56:47,030
just a couple of months ago, and sadly one of my neighbors who was, I've known since

2831
03:56:47,030 --> 03:57:01,450
he was four years old, was shot in Ward 4 and left to die. So I am trying to understand based on,

2832
03:57:01,510 --> 03:57:10,550
you know, the deaths that we've experienced in Ward 7 in my neighborhood because I live very

2833
03:57:10,550 --> 03:57:28,010
closely, very close by to where these incidences have all happened, I am more than willing

2834
03:57:28,010 --> 03:57:38,070
to have the discussion, more than willing to do the legwork on it, but I want to flip

2835
03:57:38,070 --> 03:57:46,510
it around and base it on needs because I don't really know what the numbers or the positions

2836
03:57:46,510 --> 03:58:01,110
need and what is the impact going to be because of shifting those personnel around.

2837
03:58:02,290 --> 03:58:03,610
Thank you.

2838
03:58:03,610 --> 03:58:04,250
All

2839
03:58:06,840 --> 03:58:14,320
right, Councillor Ballantyne. Let's see here. I see Councillor Strezzo is next who

2840
03:58:14,320 --> 03:58:20,600
has not spoken on the topic yet. Councillor Strezzo. Thank you, Mr. Chair. And I admit

2841
03:58:20,600 --> 03:58:30,720
this is my first budget season. So here we go. But I have my concerns too. And I want

2842
03:58:30,720 --> 03:58:41,020
I want to thank Chair Scott and also Councilor Niedergang for thinking this through.

2843
03:58:41,340 --> 03:58:52,680
I think we want systemic change and we want positive change and I want this done right.

2844
03:58:53,260 --> 03:58:59,540
I want to sit and I want to think and I want to process and make sure that we're making

2845
03:59:00,860 --> 03:59:07,340
really, really educated decisions on this because when I lived in Atlanta, I know what

2846
03:59:07,980 --> 03:59:16,320
sitting and waited, like when I lived in Atlanta, I've called 911 before and actually waited

2847
03:59:16,320 --> 03:59:20,660
20 minutes on a 911 call for someone to answer.

2848
03:59:20,800 --> 03:59:22,460
So I know what that feels like.

2849
03:59:22,960 --> 03:59:27,740
And I don't want those kinds of service cuts and those situations to happen in

2850
03:59:27,740 --> 03:59:28,160
our city.

2851
03:59:28,160 --> 03:59:35,100
So we have to really evaluate what that means and what these decisions make and and it means a lot to me though

2852
03:59:35,100 --> 03:59:41,080
at the same time with this change and and I was happy to take this on and in my committee of

2853
03:59:41,960 --> 03:59:43,420
Housing and Community Development

2854
03:59:44,220 --> 03:59:52,040
Development of talking about the 911 system and and and what it would look like with civilian control

2855
03:59:52,040 --> 03:59:53,700
so I am open to the dialogue.

2856
03:59:54,240 --> 03:59:56,600
I have constituents that are calling me up

2857
03:59:56,600 --> 03:59:58,620
and telling me that they are scared

2858
03:59:58,620 --> 03:59:59,920
what these cuts mean.

2859
04:00:00,000 --> 04:00:07,080
And I'm having these conversations a lot, so we need to really sit this through and talk

2860
04:00:07,080 --> 04:00:14,500
about it. I am open for systemic change. I want that, and I want to know what, how, how

2861
04:00:14,500 --> 04:00:19,780
does defining these positions, how does that fix systemic racism? I want to answer these

2862
04:00:19,780 --> 04:00:26,560
questions and really have these conversations. And I don't know, for right now, that's what

2863
04:00:26,560 --> 04:00:27,160
What do you have to say?

2864
04:00:31,320 --> 04:00:33,340
All right, Councilor Strezzo, thank you.

2865
04:00:33,700 --> 04:00:40,420
I'd like to recognize Liaison Weber, who has some factual information in response to Councilor

2866
04:00:40,420 --> 04:00:40,920
White's request.

2867
04:00:41,280 --> 04:00:41,740
Liaison Weber.

2868
04:00:43,520 --> 04:00:43,900
Thank you.

2869
04:00:44,120 --> 04:00:45,320
Through the chair, can you hear me okay?

2870
04:00:46,060 --> 04:00:46,280
I can.

2871
04:00:47,400 --> 04:00:47,920
Great.

2872
04:00:48,120 --> 04:00:48,540
Thank you.

2873
04:00:49,120 --> 04:00:56,220
To Councilor White, as far as the contract goes, no, the contract does not specify

2874
04:00:56,220 --> 04:01:01,180
the number of personnel in each superior rank. Also, just for clarification purpose,

2875
04:01:01,560 --> 04:01:08,420
the title deputy chief is not a union title. Deputy chiefs are non-union positions. The

2876
04:01:08,420 --> 04:01:14,840
SPSOA represents employees holding the title of captain, lieutenant, and sergeant. Thank you.

2877
04:01:16,160 --> 04:01:24,400
All right. Thank you, Liaison Webber. As a further just information update,

2878
04:01:24,400 --> 04:01:28,860
The school resource officer question I asked earlier, I have the answer to that.

2879
04:01:29,300 --> 04:01:38,040
Mass General Law Chapter 71, section 37p, defines the school resource officer as either a newly

2880
04:01:38,040 --> 04:01:43,900
sworn municipal police officer or a special officer appointed by the chief of police

2881
04:01:43,900 --> 04:01:48,260
charge for providing law enforcement and security services to elementary and secondary

2882
04:01:48,260 --> 04:01:49,120
public schools.

2883
04:01:50,280 --> 04:01:57,520
So with that, I'm going to go back to the rotation saying nobody else who has yet to speak on this.

2884
04:01:58,440 --> 04:02:04,920
So that would be Councillor Neidergang, followed by Councillor White and Councillor Klingon at this point.

2885
04:02:05,080 --> 04:02:05,820
So Councillor Neidergang.

2886
04:02:07,790 --> 04:02:08,990
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

2887
04:02:10,370 --> 04:02:16,530
I also want to say that I greatly admire Chief Fallon and I've really enjoyed working with him.

2888
04:02:16,530 --> 04:02:22,450
the city's been lucky to have him as our police chief. That being said, you know,

2889
04:02:22,510 --> 04:02:29,750
it's his job to defend the staffing that he thinks he needs. And frankly, you know,

2890
04:02:30,450 --> 04:02:35,190
we go through this every year. Last year I proposed a $600,000 cut to the police

2891
04:02:35,190 --> 04:02:40,750
department for a captain's position and five patrol officers that had been vacant

2892
04:02:40,750 --> 04:02:50,410
for half a year. And the council only only got rid of the captain's position, the 160,000. Those

2893
04:02:50,410 --> 04:02:55,630
patrol positions have been vacant for most of the last two years. The department can't fill

2894
04:02:55,630 --> 04:03:01,870
them apparently. Clearly we don't need them. When I worked in the police department as a

2895
04:03:01,870 --> 04:03:08,650
grant manager from 1995 through 1998, this was over 20 years ago, we had seven patrol cars

2896
04:03:08,650 --> 04:03:18,610
circling the city 24 7365 22 plus years later with a lot lower crime we have

2897
04:03:18,610 --> 04:03:26,530
seven patrol cars circling the city 24 7365 I ask why let's get some of those

2898
04:03:26,530 --> 04:03:30,750
officers out of those cars and doing traffic enforcement that's what I wrote

2899
04:03:30,750 --> 04:03:35,150
to Chief Fallon about I don't want to hire more officers I wanted to get

2900
04:03:35,150 --> 04:03:39,590
officers out of patrol cars where they're, you know, sitting or running around, especially

2901
04:03:40,070 --> 04:03:44,990
you look at the numbers, for example, for the graveyard shift, there are half the number

2902
04:03:44,990 --> 04:03:48,430
of calls that the officers who are working 4 to 12 get.

2903
04:03:49,090 --> 04:03:53,910
And during the day, you've got dozens or scores of detail officers on the street.

2904
04:03:54,850 --> 04:03:59,030
So I think from 4 to 8, we probably need those seven cars.

2905
04:03:59,450 --> 04:04:04,230
But during the graveyard shift, when there's no traffic and cars can get places

2906
04:04:04,230 --> 04:04:11,510
really fast? Do we really need seven full cars? We could reduce staffing and supervision at that

2907
04:04:11,510 --> 04:04:18,210
time. During the day, do we need seven full cars when, you know, people are going about their

2908
04:04:18,210 --> 04:04:24,570
business and there's lots of officers, detail officers on the street, Somerville and other places.

2909
04:04:27,070 --> 04:04:32,530
Nobody's really defended that. It just seems to be part of the way the policing is done

2910
04:04:32,530 --> 04:04:38,530
insurmountable and has been for a generation. But it's time to re-look at that. I think

2911
04:04:38,530 --> 04:04:42,570
we probably don't need seven cars and we could reduce some staffing there.

2912
04:04:46,420 --> 04:04:51,770
In terms of systemic racism, no, these cuts are not designed to address systemic racism.

2913
04:04:52,510 --> 04:04:58,630
You know, Councillor Scott is a visionary and I am a mechanic. I am interested in

2914
04:04:58,630 --> 04:05:03,350
saving money from the police department so we can invest it in enhancing public's

2915
04:05:03,350 --> 04:05:08,930
health and public safety in other areas of our community life. In affordable housing,

2916
04:05:10,010 --> 04:05:14,970
in whatever kind of relief we can offer, food relief, whatever kind of relief we can offer to

2917
04:05:14,970 --> 04:05:21,690
people, families that are in emergency due to COVID-19, in traffic calming so we don't have,

2918
04:05:21,690 --> 04:05:27,710
you know, more pedestrian deaths on our street. It's all about the money. I have nothing

2919
04:05:27,710 --> 04:05:32,150
against the police department. I work there. I have lots of people, lots of police officers

2920
04:05:32,150 --> 04:05:38,670
I know who I have wonderful relationships with, maybe not after this, but our responsibility

2921
04:05:38,670 --> 04:05:43,950
is to try to get the city's money spent as effectively as possible to benefit the residents,

2922
04:05:44,250 --> 04:05:49,510
their health and their safety. And my argument is that the $17 million we're putting into the

2923
04:05:49,510 --> 04:05:54,970
police department, at least a couple of million of those is not the most effective use of our

2924
04:05:54,970 --> 04:05:59,690
city fund. Just imagine what $2 million in affordable housing, drug counseling,

2925
04:05:59,690 --> 04:06:04,590
youth programs, a youth center, what that money could do.

2926
04:06:05,650 --> 04:06:07,490
And that's the way that I think.

2927
04:06:07,770 --> 04:06:10,190
So that's why I'm going after the police department.

2928
04:06:10,510 --> 04:06:12,210
I have nothing against the police department.

2929
04:06:13,050 --> 04:06:16,090
You know, I was one of the people who actually defended it

2930
04:06:16,090 --> 04:06:19,690
when 4,000 people were calling for 60% cuts.

2931
04:06:20,110 --> 04:06:22,230
I said, I don't want to defund the police.

2932
04:06:22,370 --> 04:06:23,430
I don't want to get rid of the police.

2933
04:06:23,530 --> 04:06:25,610
They perform an essential function in our community.

2934
04:06:26,050 --> 04:06:27,710
And I think they do it rather well,

2935
04:06:27,710 --> 04:06:34,190
although we do have some major problems in our department that need to be fixed and I'm all about that too

2936
04:06:34,190 --> 04:06:39,230
But right now this is a budget hearing a budget meeting. This is a finance committee meeting

2937
04:06:39,230 --> 04:06:43,430
We and I'm talking about the budget and I'm trying to get the most

2938
04:06:43,430 --> 04:06:50,970
Effective use of our funds our city funds possible and yes, the chief is going to scare us this happens every year

2939
04:06:50,970 --> 04:06:52,430
That's part of his job

2940
04:06:52,430 --> 04:06:58,190
You know he we we probably wouldn't want him not to scare us because he has to defend his staff

2941
04:06:58,190 --> 04:07:04,270
He has to defend his officers. He has to defend his organization whether it is optimally organized and

2942
04:07:04,870 --> 04:07:05,350
functioning

2943
04:07:06,050 --> 04:07:12,910
You know as a lean mean machine or whether it's got you know lots of fat and let me just say one last thing when I say fat

2944
04:07:12,910 --> 04:07:17,810
I'm not accusing anybody of not working. I think the people in the department are working hard

2945
04:07:17,810 --> 04:07:22,170
I think it's an organizational problem. I think that there are staff positions

2946
04:07:22,950 --> 04:07:26,450
that are not needed in the superior officer's ranks.

2947
04:07:26,910 --> 04:07:30,570
I think there are jobs that could be better done

2948
04:07:30,570 --> 04:07:32,290
by civilians at half the cost.

2949
04:07:32,770 --> 04:07:34,770
And I think that's where we need to head.

2950
04:07:35,110 --> 04:07:37,470
And, you know, if it's not possible to do it this year

2951
04:07:37,470 --> 04:07:40,950
because of the union contract or legal reasons, okay.

2952
04:07:41,290 --> 04:07:45,850
I, you know, but I think we should explore

2953
04:07:46,430 --> 04:07:49,970
the, you know, significant cuts that we can take,

2954
04:07:49,970 --> 04:07:54,850
especially in the upper ranks, and see if that's possible. Thank you.

2955
04:07:57,730 --> 04:07:58,690
All right.

2956
04:07:58,950 --> 04:08:05,170
Thank you, Councilor Needagang. Next, in the rotation, we'll be going through in

2957
04:08:05,170 --> 04:08:12,770
order so that'll be White, Klingon and Valentine. So Council White, could you

2958
04:08:12,770 --> 04:08:18,170
further follow up our questions? No, thank you, Mr. Chair. The previous one

2959
04:08:18,170 --> 04:08:20,790
was the minimum staffing if there was anything in the collective

2960
04:08:20,790 --> 04:08:24,270
to bargaining agreement. That was the point that I put in the chat box.

2961
04:08:25,010 --> 04:08:31,210
Okay, great. Then Councillor Klingon to you and then back to Councillor Ballantyne.

2962
04:08:37,380 --> 04:08:40,480
Yes, Mr. Chair. Yeah, no, I don't have a question anymore.

2963
04:08:41,920 --> 04:08:46,260
All right. Then we'll move on to Councillor Ballantyne. Councillor Ballantyne.

2964
04:08:48,540 --> 04:08:55,240
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I was wondering if we could circle back and I didn't

2965
04:08:55,240 --> 04:09:02,460
I somehow lost my note here on Councillor Rosetti's comments on the grants.

2966
04:09:02,820 --> 04:09:09,900
If we could just get that information again, and if there is an opportunity to also get

2967
04:09:09,900 --> 04:09:17,620
the information on what those grants are used for and if they pay for any staff.

2968
04:09:17,620 --> 04:09:27,420
All right, I believe that was 1.5 million and received grants 690,000 which were recurrent

2969
04:09:28,400 --> 04:09:33,400
the relevant question would be do any of those grant pay for salaries?

2970
04:09:33,860 --> 04:09:39,020
I can I can answer the question comes Mr. Chair. Please Councillor Rosetti.

2971
04:09:39,760 --> 04:09:47,320
Again it's to my notation my note-taking and I you know welcome response from

2972
04:09:47,320 --> 04:09:57,560
the department on that, but there is E-911 staffing to my understanding. October 10th

2973
04:09:57,560 --> 04:10:10,680
last year we approved $236,976. Similar figure was approved the year previous at $224,000.

2974
04:10:10,680 --> 04:10:17,760
dollars. So that's the E-911 office for personnel staffing. Some of the other

2975
04:10:17,760 --> 04:10:24,560
came from the math office. On that point? Yeah. Through you Mr. Chair was that for

2976
04:10:24,560 --> 04:10:29,300
just that was just for one year and it was for their staffing. I just wanted

2977
04:10:29,300 --> 04:10:35,520
to be clear on that. To my understanding yes but you know I welcome

2978
04:10:35,520 --> 04:10:43,240
them any correction by the police department on that. The request that was before us on

2979
04:10:43,240 --> 04:10:50,880
October 10th was for the state 9-1-1 office supply the grant to fund E-9-1-1 personnel

2980
04:10:50,880 --> 04:10:51,580
costs.

2981
04:10:53,820 --> 04:10:58,280
Okay. So through you, Mr. Chair, so E-9-1-1 doesn't have anything to do with this budget

2982
04:10:58,280 --> 04:11:01,600
that we're looking at because that's the other budget.

2983
04:11:01,960 --> 04:11:03,700
Right. That is true. That is true.

2984
04:11:03,860 --> 04:11:04,140
Okay.

2985
04:11:04,140 --> 04:11:20,280
Okay, so Mr. Chair, through you, if $660,000 out of the $1.5 million, that's about $900,000 left, where did that go?

2986
04:11:20,620 --> 04:11:26,720
There were other grants totaling $792,992.94.

2987
04:11:26,720 --> 04:11:27,200
a sense.

2988
04:11:29,500 --> 04:11:35,780
I couldn't find in my quick, well in the past year of my taking this and trying

2989
04:11:35,780 --> 04:11:41,860
to research it, I couldn't find repetition in those, but yearly they do get sizable

2990
04:11:41,860 --> 04:11:49,500
grants for their department, which to my opinion is that it's more operational and

2991
04:11:49,500 --> 04:11:54,640
not personal services that we could be taking money out of, that they're going

2992
04:11:54,640 --> 04:12:00,740
to be applying to these grants anyways, and they get quite a bit of grant funding. That's where

2993
04:12:00,740 --> 04:12:06,800
that was my thought in presenting this at the beginning of the meeting. For personal services,

2994
04:12:07,020 --> 04:12:12,960
I'm not so sure what of the grants touches personal services, and I would hope that the chief could

2995
04:12:12,960 --> 04:12:13,460
answer that.

2996
04:12:18,630 --> 04:12:20,750
Yes, please. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

2997
04:12:24,460 --> 04:12:27,720
Sure. Then through you, Chief, do you have

2998
04:12:27,720 --> 04:12:31,880
any way to address where those grants are going in terms of whether I go into

2999
04:12:31,880 --> 04:12:36,680
personal services or are they purely to ordinary maintenance items?

3000
04:12:38,980 --> 04:12:39,480
So to the

3001
04:12:39,480 --> 04:12:43,700
chair, to my best of my knowledge we don't get any personal service grants

3002
04:12:43,700 --> 04:12:50,560
that are for police funding besides the core program and I'm not sure and I

3003
04:12:50,560 --> 04:12:54,940
apologize I don't know how to get into the queue but I just want to it's

3004
04:12:54,940 --> 04:12:58,900
been stated a couple of times I just want to say I don't look as my job is

3005
04:12:58,900 --> 04:13:03,840
offending the staffing levels of police department. I look at my job as a state, my professional

3006
04:13:03,840 --> 04:13:09,180
opinion on what is needed to provide public safety for citizens of Somerville. So I'm

3007
04:13:09,180 --> 04:13:13,700
not trying to defend the staffing levels. I'm just want to give my professional opinion

3008
04:13:14,140 --> 04:13:17,940
of what we need to provide public safety to the residents of this city.

3009
04:13:19,650 --> 04:13:27,830
I appreciate that. And that was certainly part of your budget and program improvement

3010
04:13:27,830 --> 04:13:32,530
request process just like every other department did. We appreciate hearing it, but um.

3011
04:13:32,930 --> 04:13:37,210
Mr. Chair, can I just make one more statement before you move on?

3012
04:13:37,790 --> 04:13:38,890
Certainly, Councillor Rosetti.

3013
04:13:39,750 --> 04:13:45,830
Thank you. Aside from not hearing my question, I answered. I did also want to mention that with

3014
04:13:45,830 --> 04:13:52,170
the transfer of funds for the COVID account that was created urgently by the administration

3015
04:13:52,170 --> 04:13:56,430
because the city needed monies, whatever we could get from each department.

3016
04:13:56,430 --> 04:14:03,510
The police department gave the highest personal services donation from their personal services

3017
04:14:03,510 --> 04:14:13,210
account. They transferred $158,165.95 and that was the highest personal services transfer

3018
04:14:13,210 --> 04:14:14,350
of any department.

3019
04:14:16,860 --> 04:14:21,860
Yes. Thank you, Councillor Rosetti. To that

3020
04:14:21,860 --> 04:14:30,000
point, I would say that our average over budgeting for the Somerville Police Department from

3021
04:14:30,000 --> 04:14:37,340
fiscal year 16 to fiscal year 19, at the end of each year, our average surplus in the department

3022
04:14:37,340 --> 04:14:47,160
was $593,000, close to $594,000. So that's been unspent money in the department at

3023
04:14:47,160 --> 04:14:55,220
end each year than, as we know, rolls into free cash, but that is a surplus. So any cut in an

3024
04:14:55,220 --> 04:14:59,220
amount less than that would simply be limiting the surplus to my view.

3025
04:15:01,160 --> 04:15:03,620
Councillor Ballantyne, are you complete with your question at this point?

3026
04:15:06,000 --> 04:15:07,500
Yes, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

3027
04:15:08,620 --> 04:15:09,420
All right.

3028
04:15:12,020 --> 04:15:16,820
Let's see here. Councillor Klingon, I believe you are up next.

3029
04:15:17,580 --> 04:15:20,360
Oh, you're Mr. Masturboni. Mr. Chair, that's okay with you.

3030
04:15:20,960 --> 04:15:24,380
All right. Mr. Masturboni, you had some clarification on COVID expenditures.

3031
04:15:25,260 --> 04:15:28,560
Sure. Thank you for the recognition, Mr. Chair. First time speaking tonight,

3032
04:15:28,560 --> 04:15:36,780
Mike Mashapani, the budget manager. Through you, Mr. Chair, to the committee or the councilor Lee.

3033
04:15:37,780 --> 04:15:46,080
Councilor Rosetti mentioned that police had submitted, sort of had the highest amount of lag at

3034
04:15:46,080 --> 04:15:51,260
the time where where monies were being transferred to COVID-related expenditures line items.

3035
04:15:52,120 --> 04:15:59,660
I mean, part of that is that police and fire have just the highest total amount of salary

3036
04:15:59,660 --> 04:16:00,380
appropriations.

3037
04:16:00,780 --> 04:16:02,720
So that's not really surprising to me.

3038
04:16:02,780 --> 04:16:05,540
We had all departments, script together, everything they had.

3039
04:16:06,120 --> 04:16:12,940
And part of, I think, the leftover or sort of unspent personal services funds year after

3040
04:16:12,940 --> 04:16:16,680
year that Mr. Chair, you're speaking about, and I think that Councillor Rosetti was

3041
04:16:17,280 --> 04:16:26,240
was hinting at, sort of speaks to the difficulty in the, you know, filling of positions that

3042
04:16:26,240 --> 04:16:31,180
we can't begin a process until, you know, someone vacates their existing position and

3043
04:16:31,580 --> 04:16:38,100
the civil service process as well as the training really have an extremely long lead

3044
04:16:38,100 --> 04:16:38,260
time.

3045
04:16:38,360 --> 04:16:40,320
This is something we experienced both in fire and police.

3046
04:16:40,920 --> 04:16:44,360
So, you know, that's, I just want to mention that, but I think the important thing is that

3047
04:16:46,520 --> 04:16:50,100
is the answer on the COVID funding. So, thank you for your indulgence.

3048
04:16:52,270 --> 04:16:54,090
All right. Thank you, Mr. Mastavoni.

3049
04:16:56,670 --> 04:17:00,090
There we go. We do have some information also from

3050
04:17:00,090 --> 04:17:06,190
Director Bean on the destination for that grant and money in terms of personal services

3051
04:17:06,190 --> 04:17:07,930
lines. Director Bean, would you like to interject?

3052
04:17:09,490 --> 04:17:15,710
Yes, Chairman Scott. Personal services also means overtime. I know the grant money does fund some

3053
04:17:15,710 --> 04:17:21,510
overtime for police officers, but I'm not aware that it funds directly salaries, but certainly does

3054
04:17:21,510 --> 04:17:29,050
fund some overtime. All right. Well, I see Councillor Klingon has a question and I'm barring

3055
04:17:29,050 --> 04:17:32,830
anything else. I'll speak briefly on the point and then I'd like to move on,

3056
04:17:32,830 --> 04:17:38,730
Council on Bias and patiently waiting with an alternative proposal that he mentioned much earlier

3057
04:17:38,730 --> 04:17:42,570
in the meeting because we're now over four hours. So, Councillor Klingon.

3058
04:17:43,910 --> 04:17:50,570
Thank you, Mr. Chair. You know, I just sort of respond to Councilor Niedegang's response,

3059
04:17:50,830 --> 04:18:00,030
but also with regards to my question. The question still remains, how they got to these

3060
04:18:00,030 --> 04:18:05,850
certain levels of, you know, 11 lieutenants, if that's a number by design based on the

3061
04:18:05,850 --> 04:18:12,430
number of patrol officers or how we got to that number, because, quite frankly, I think

3062
04:18:12,430 --> 04:18:20,190
that, you know, even if they take our suggestions so that all these positions can go away,

3063
04:18:20,210 --> 04:18:27,370
if that's even possible, you know, outside of collective bargaining, again, everybody

3064
04:18:27,370 --> 04:18:34,470
everybody will just move down and we'll lose our young, fresh, you know, police force that

3065
04:18:34,470 --> 04:18:39,370
we've had, that we've been getting through those candidates, and one other thing I want

3066
04:18:39,370 --> 04:18:44,730
to say while I have the floor is that, you know, I've been seeing a lot of stuff online

3067
04:18:44,730 --> 04:18:48,830
about police should live in the community that they police, and, you know, we have

3068
04:18:48,830 --> 04:18:53,350
a residency requirement here, and if we're going to be smart officers for making

3069
04:18:53,350 --> 04:18:56,350
a living based on details, which the city does even pay.

3070
04:18:57,330 --> 04:19:00,110
I just think that that's kind of talking on the both sides of our

3071
04:19:00,110 --> 04:19:02,470
mouth, unless we're going to build some workforce housing.

3072
04:19:03,350 --> 04:19:05,270
I don't think that it's fair to say, you know,

3073
04:19:06,030 --> 04:19:09,630
you have to live here yet. And that also, you know, opens up the

3074
04:19:09,630 --> 04:19:11,590
question, well, do we keep the residency requirement? Well, that

3075
04:19:11,590 --> 04:19:13,970
will be something that the community would have to discuss outside of

3076
04:19:13,970 --> 04:19:16,890
based on the fact that some people feel like you should live in your

3077
04:19:16,890 --> 04:19:18,890
community. But then that's why we've had

3078
04:19:18,890 --> 04:19:21,730
such a hard time filling these positions, these six positions.

3079
04:19:21,730 --> 04:19:28,010
So I don't know if that's resulting in overtime for police that are on because we haven't had these six positions filled.

3080
04:19:28,390 --> 04:19:35,490
I don't know if cutting the overtime makes all of our fun festivals and porch-fest and everything go away.

3081
04:19:36,030 --> 04:19:50,270
I just want to know how we got to these numbers of supervisor staffing levels and if they're by design or if it's just people moved up and then that's where they got to.

3082
04:19:50,270 --> 04:19:50,310
Thank you.

3083
04:19:52,190 --> 04:19:56,390
So I appreciate you trying to come back to this question one more time.

3084
04:19:56,950 --> 04:20:02,970
Councillor Klingin, Chief Fallon, could you try to address just the question Councillor

3085
04:20:02,970 --> 04:20:07,390
Klingin has asked about how the number of supervisory officers was arrived at?

3086
04:20:07,790 --> 04:20:10,990
Because the organization department is a function of the chief and the mayor.

3087
04:20:11,930 --> 04:20:12,210
Sure.

3088
04:20:12,550 --> 04:20:18,050
And to the chair, I apologize to Councillor Klingin for having asked the question numerous

3089
04:20:18,050 --> 04:20:18,650
of times.

3090
04:20:18,650 --> 04:20:23,790
where it comes from, the amount of lieutenant and sergeants is very best practice in policing

3091
04:20:23,790 --> 04:20:29,610
along span of control, and also as the leader of this police department addressing the needs

3092
04:20:29,610 --> 04:20:30,250
of the community.

3093
04:20:30,870 --> 04:20:34,470
I'll give you an example of the need for supervision, we're now in an accredited

3094
04:20:34,470 --> 04:20:35,170
police department.

3095
04:20:35,910 --> 04:20:41,930
We have to maintain those accreditation standards and be recertified every two years

3096
04:20:41,930 --> 04:20:44,710
and in the middle of that have an inspection done.

3097
04:20:45,190 --> 04:20:46,750
So that takes more supervision.

3098
04:20:46,750 --> 04:20:51,270
Vision Zero, we're planning more supervision around Vision Zero.

3099
04:20:51,430 --> 04:20:57,230
We had a major retail policy, a retail center built out in our community.

3100
04:20:57,530 --> 04:21:02,190
So it's really, we look at the span of control, we look at leadership positions that need

3101
04:21:02,190 --> 04:21:05,430
to be filled, and we put supervisors in those roles.

3102
04:21:06,590 --> 04:21:12,690
All right, Councilor, Mr. Mayor, on that policy choice.

3103
04:21:13,690 --> 04:21:16,350
Yeah, it wasn't just a unilateral policy choice.

3104
04:21:16,430 --> 04:21:17,490
I want to give clarification.

3105
04:21:17,490 --> 04:21:23,710
I go back to the organizational structure that was adopted after 2005, after the police advisory group,

3106
04:21:24,150 --> 04:21:30,810
the recommendations vetted by then board of all the men and the public looked at the then deployment structure we have.

3107
04:21:30,930 --> 04:21:36,310
Adopted the new one as I described and suggested command structure that would support that.

3108
04:21:36,850 --> 04:21:39,490
The other good example isn't why we have two deputy chiefs.

3109
04:21:39,490 --> 04:21:44,470
prior to that, I can't remember when the point in time was, there were Deputy Chiefs in the

3110
04:21:44,470 --> 04:21:49,090
Somber Police Department, that may have been 40, 50 years ago, I don't recall off the top of my

3111
04:21:49,090 --> 04:21:53,030
head, that was one of the reasons we had to move to take those two positions out of civil

3112
04:21:53,030 --> 04:21:56,670
service to create the non-civil service command structure to support the command

3113
04:21:56,670 --> 04:22:01,330
structure needed to do the new deployment plan organization structure to support all

3114
04:22:01,330 --> 04:22:05,730
the services of the committee. So they were well thought out in terms of, at that time,

3115
04:22:05,730 --> 04:22:08,410
of what we needed as an organization and as a community.

3116
04:22:11,620 --> 04:22:12,300
All right.

3117
04:22:13,760 --> 04:22:15,580
So, thank you, Mr. Chair.

3118
04:22:17,040 --> 04:22:20,020
So, again, I don't know if I could vote

3119
04:22:20,020 --> 04:22:23,380
on the recommended cut as is now.

3120
04:22:24,500 --> 04:22:27,940
I'll listen to the alternative from Councilor Bob.

3121
04:22:28,080 --> 04:22:29,960
Now, this has put me in a really peculiar situation

3122
04:22:30,420 --> 04:22:32,400
of like, you know, feeling like I'm, you know,

3123
04:22:32,760 --> 04:22:34,520
having to, you know,

3124
04:22:35,140 --> 04:22:36,880
sure I'll be painted out on social media

3125
04:22:36,880 --> 04:22:42,340
as a bootlicker or something. But I mean, this is about public safety. And it does feel

3126
04:22:42,340 --> 04:22:45,940
a little punitive, I think, to the guys on the street, because last year we voted against

3127
04:22:45,940 --> 04:22:51,260
the $600,000 cut to the police force, all of us except you, Councilor Scott and Councilor

3128
04:22:51,260 --> 04:22:56,300
King. So, you know, what are we saying now? What's different now as our population

3129
04:22:56,300 --> 04:23:00,600
grows? And, you know, I just, again, I reimagine an entirely different police

3130
04:23:00,600 --> 04:23:05,940
force in the future. I just tonight really want to bring up the fact, the point

3131
04:23:05,940 --> 04:23:13,760
that it just it seems like cutting for the sake of cutting. We're basically just playing a social

3132
04:23:13,760 --> 04:23:20,780
type experiment where, you know, we may see the repercussions later on. And so, you know,

3133
04:23:21,500 --> 04:23:24,440
based on what I've heard tonight, I don't think I can support

3134
04:23:25,780 --> 04:23:26,760
cutting positions.

3135
04:23:29,730 --> 04:23:35,710
All right, Councillor Klingon. Councillor Ballantyne, it looks like

3136
04:23:35,710 --> 04:23:40,330
you have another question. And then we'll come back to Councilor Mead again for comment.

3137
04:23:40,670 --> 04:23:46,610
And then my colleagues would allow me to speak. We have to do that. Councilor Valentine.

3138
04:23:48,490 --> 04:23:54,550
So thank you, Mr. Chair. I'm coming back to, I guess, this point about the staffing

3139
04:23:54,550 --> 04:24:06,030
and Councillor Klingon. So I was looking at the fire staffing. And I noticed that I think

3140
04:24:06,030 --> 04:24:13,890
it was Councillor Niedergang had put the numbers together. It was something like 2.5 superiors

3141
04:24:13,890 --> 04:24:22,730
to officers. And I just did a rough number to look at fire. And it looks like they

3142
04:24:22,730 --> 04:24:34,130
actually have more superiors than the police department does. So, I'm not sure if this discussion

3143
04:24:34,130 --> 04:24:46,350
about using the word superior is the right word. So, I don't know if that's an issue

3144
04:24:46,350 --> 04:24:56,010
for us then in the fire department if they're at around two to one but the police department is

3145
04:24:56,010 --> 04:25:03,650
what two and a half to two whatever the ratios are higher at the the fire department so I just

3146
04:25:03,650 --> 04:25:09,350
want to come back to the the point and this is what is cute is is trying to identify what the

3147
04:25:09,350 --> 04:25:21,950
need is in our community based on all the call types that are given. And I agree that we need to

3148
04:25:21,950 --> 04:25:30,410
look at making changes. And I also, you know, have supported that. I am also talking about

3149
04:25:30,410 --> 04:25:38,730
my constituents who are like fine with doing this this exercise however they

3150
04:25:38,730 --> 04:25:44,490
don't want it to be done rashly and so I struggle a little bit with Councilor

3151
04:25:44,490 --> 04:25:53,270
Negator Gang's ratios and numbers and not sure which positions to cut without

3152
04:25:53,270 --> 04:25:58,190
first looking at what is the need in our community and what do we

3153
04:25:58,190 --> 04:26:04,870
anticipate the impact is, and then we can make the adjustments and the cuts, you know, based

3154
04:26:05,970 --> 04:26:13,070
on that, and also everybody's collective voice. I just wanted to also make one point that

3155
04:26:14,370 --> 04:26:20,490
Andre Green, who's the school committee rep for Ward 6, was at the Finance Committee meeting

3156
04:26:20,490 --> 04:26:24,410
meeting last week for the school committee, award four, thank you.

3157
04:26:25,030 --> 04:26:30,590
He is a black man, the only member on the school committee.

3158
04:26:31,050 --> 04:26:41,630
And he said emphatically that he didn't want the idea of the SRO to be cut from the high

3159
04:26:41,630 --> 04:26:44,550
school without input from the students.

3160
04:26:44,550 --> 04:26:56,310
that that was really important for them, that they should have their voice in these changes that are being proposed for their school.

3161
04:26:57,490 --> 04:27:03,130
So, I just, you know, wanted to make that point because the SRO was brought up before.

3162
04:27:03,350 --> 04:27:12,330
But again, I'm trying to understand the need, the impact, and then building the staff from there if there are staffing changes.

3163
04:27:12,330 --> 04:27:18,830
Because all this discussion about the superiors and the officers, I just, I don't understand

3164
04:27:18,830 --> 04:27:28,430
what the point of it is because we haven't defined what the need is and the impact or

3165
04:27:28,430 --> 04:27:34,810
what we think the impact is to build our staffing budgets.

3166
04:27:35,430 --> 04:27:37,350
So let's have that conversation.

3167
04:27:38,150 --> 04:27:52,830
It's just it should be intentional and it should involve more people who are directly use our resources a lot and are directly impacted. Thank you.

3168
04:27:56,690 --> 04:28:08,130
Thank you, Councillor Ballantyne. Councillor Nida Gang, I'll give you another chance to respond here. And then I'd like to ask a few questions and make a comment on the matter.

3169
04:28:09,250 --> 04:28:16,650
Thanks, Mr. Chair. I appreciate it. So, I'm not cutting for the sake of cutting. I'm

3170
04:28:16,650 --> 04:28:22,290
cutting for the sake of public safety, for using our money most effectively for public

3171
04:28:22,290 --> 04:28:28,410
health and public safety. That's why I proposed a $600,000 cut last year when nobody in

3172
04:28:28,410 --> 04:28:33,350
the public cared about this issue. As for the fire department, you know, Councillor

3173
04:28:33,350 --> 04:28:34,730
I think you're right.

3174
04:28:35,610 --> 04:28:37,770
Unfortunately, I didn't work in the fire department.

3175
04:28:37,890 --> 04:28:39,870
I don't really know the fire department very well.

3176
04:28:40,410 --> 04:28:42,590
And like I said, I don't have staff or analysts,

3177
04:28:42,750 --> 04:28:45,930
so I don't have time to look at two major departments,

3178
04:28:46,010 --> 04:28:48,490
each of which are spending $17, $18 million.

3179
04:28:49,250 --> 04:28:51,830
I've looked at the number of superior officers

3180
04:28:51,830 --> 04:28:54,650
in the fire department too and wondered about that.

3181
04:28:55,110 --> 04:28:57,650
It would take a lot of work for me to understand that

3182
04:28:57,650 --> 04:29:00,870
and thoughtfully propose any cuts there,

3183
04:29:00,870 --> 04:29:02,310
and I just haven't done that.

3184
04:29:02,310 --> 04:29:06,050
but I hope that someday somebody will and I hope that somebody will look at the fire

3185
04:29:06,050 --> 04:29:08,850
department budget more carefully in the future.

3186
04:29:12,340 --> 04:29:15,560
So just here's a here's another proposal. So

3187
04:29:16,260 --> 04:29:24,560
I can see that there isn't a lot of love for my proposal to cut almost two million dollars

3188
04:29:24,560 --> 04:29:29,100
in the salary line items. Let's look at this. So let me throw out something that might be

3189
04:29:29,100 --> 04:29:34,900
little bit more palatable. Chairman Scott just told us that over the last four

3190
04:29:34,900 --> 04:29:39,380
years the average, the average leftover amount of money in the police

3191
04:29:39,380 --> 04:29:45,420
department salaries line was $593,000. So I think it's pretty clear that

3192
04:29:45,420 --> 04:29:50,420
that seems to be, you know, the number that's going to be left over about

3193
04:29:50,420 --> 04:29:56,200
$600,000. If we cut one deputy chief that would be another $200,000. That's

3194
04:29:56,200 --> 04:29:58,500
It's not a union position so that could be done tomorrow.

3195
04:30:00,000 --> 04:30:08,340
And if we cut the six vacant patrol officers, these are positions, again, as I said, these positions have been vacant for most of the last two years.

3196
04:30:10,080 --> 04:30:26,140
We cut those. That's another roughly 400,000. So now we're talking roughly 1.2 million in a cut, which could be used again for other public safety needs and public health needs in the community.

3197
04:30:26,140 --> 04:30:34,580
homelessness prevention, COVID relief, traffic calming, drug counseling, youth

3198
04:30:34,580 --> 04:30:36,780
workers. Thank you.

3199
04:30:39,240 --> 04:30:44,460
All right. Thank you, Counselor Neda Gang. I appreciate that

3200
04:30:44,460 --> 04:30:52,780
point and a lot of what I'm hearing from you, my colleagues, comes down to a

3201
04:30:52,780 --> 04:30:57,540
question of policy and implementation. And since we do have the mayor here,

3202
04:31:00,180 --> 04:31:01,180
I'm going

3203
04:31:01,180 --> 04:31:08,500
to pose the question to the mayor. I mean, ultimately, budgets are moral choices, right?

3204
04:31:09,020 --> 04:31:14,840
But the expression of that policy, how those budgets actually get deployed is a question

3205
04:31:14,840 --> 04:31:21,900
of the mayor's values and what he's going to choose to prioritize here. So, Mr. Mayor,

3206
04:31:21,900 --> 04:31:31,340
If you would, we have had this discussion, and I think I heard you earlier, but I want

3207
04:31:31,340 --> 04:31:38,580
to ask very clearly if there is a significant cut in the Somerville Police Department budget.

3208
04:31:39,280 --> 04:31:47,160
Will you be pursuing every method available to execute those reductions, any reductions

3209
04:31:47,160 --> 04:31:52,360
that are actually affected from senior officer ranks

3210
04:31:52,360 --> 04:31:54,560
by returning to the same bio that you had deployed

3211
04:31:54,560 --> 04:31:57,380
in the past to encourage you to retire,

3212
04:31:57,600 --> 04:32:01,480
or would you target the young, diverse,

3213
04:32:03,320 --> 04:32:05,300
most junior police officers on the force?

3214
04:32:05,720 --> 04:32:07,160
So thank you for the question.

3215
04:32:07,820 --> 04:32:09,220
First, let me clarify a few things.

3216
04:32:09,300 --> 04:32:11,520
There's no targeting of any individuals

3217
04:32:11,520 --> 04:32:12,520
when we're making cuts.

3218
04:32:12,640 --> 04:32:14,160
There is a riff reduction in force.

3219
04:32:14,160 --> 04:32:18,140
The law is clear about seniority being able to bump down.

3220
04:32:18,760 --> 04:32:23,940
Last and first out, the youngest will be impacted if none is determined to retire.

3221
04:32:24,660 --> 04:32:28,600
Will we entertain? Let me add a little more clarity to what I said earlier.

3222
04:32:29,100 --> 04:32:34,280
I'm happy to entertain. It's not an early retirement incentive like the state pushes down,

3223
04:32:34,480 --> 04:32:38,680
a separation incentive or one-time buyout.

3224
04:32:39,280 --> 04:32:42,660
We can entertain that. That's assuming there's enough.

3225
04:32:42,660 --> 04:32:49,100
Well, again, people can determine on their own whether they want to take it, if we do that in any department, in this case, the police.

3226
04:32:49,280 --> 04:32:55,700
But we will follow the law if a reduction in force is required because of cuts.

3227
04:32:56,580 --> 04:32:58,380
And again, that have to be bargained.

3228
04:32:59,480 --> 04:33:02,600
And I suspect it will go by way as it always does.

3229
04:33:02,820 --> 04:33:11,240
The senior people will be bumping down, have a right to bump down to a lower rank or to another position and within their rank based on years of service.

3230
04:33:11,240 --> 04:33:13,900
And that's how we'll approach it straight by the book,

3231
04:33:14,040 --> 04:33:14,880
straight what the law says.

3232
04:33:15,780 --> 04:33:16,640
And let me just say,

3233
04:33:16,700 --> 04:33:18,700
I agreed that a budget is a statement of values.

3234
04:33:19,320 --> 04:33:20,800
It's not one person's values, Chairman.

3235
04:33:20,920 --> 04:33:21,360
It's not mine.

3236
04:33:21,520 --> 04:33:22,020
It's the communities.

3237
04:33:22,260 --> 04:33:23,500
We've invested in this community values.

3238
04:33:23,640 --> 04:33:25,840
I've been proud to be as mayor now for 17 years

3239
04:33:25,840 --> 04:33:27,460
and fought for the community's values.

3240
04:33:27,740 --> 04:33:29,920
So, and while we're doing that though,

3241
04:33:30,000 --> 04:33:31,520
I just want to pose this question.

3242
04:33:31,860 --> 04:33:33,500
Are we not, are we going to,

3243
04:33:33,940 --> 04:33:34,820
I'm just going to make the statement.

3244
04:33:34,920 --> 04:33:36,260
I hope we keep those voices.

3245
04:33:36,320 --> 04:33:39,000
We claim we do not want to co-opt or speak over

3246
04:33:39,000 --> 04:33:40,400
part of the conversation.

3247
04:33:40,400 --> 04:33:45,900
because we're not going to redesign or reimagine what the department is in one budget section.

3248
04:33:46,040 --> 04:33:50,160
It's going to take a while, and it's going to take everybody's input to do that.

3249
04:33:50,440 --> 04:33:53,300
We don't have a framework for what that response will be moving forward.

3250
04:33:53,480 --> 04:33:59,720
So, at the end of the day, I'd submit any drastic cuts will have the more likely impact of reducing the force

3251
04:33:59,720 --> 04:34:04,600
from the most diverse, hungry, and passionate employees newest to the force.

3252
04:34:05,980 --> 04:34:08,260
We're not the impact we envision for the dollar amount.

3253
04:34:08,260 --> 04:34:20,160
All right. Thank you, Mayor. I want to say that I've heard this and I have spent the

3254
04:34:20,160 --> 04:34:25,660
last long time listening to a lot of these voices, some of which were invited into the

3255
04:34:25,660 --> 04:34:34,540
indoor city by our mayor to have a conversation about social and racial equity and justice.

3256
04:34:37,460 --> 04:34:44,820
I heard them say that this is a crisis now, that we don't have time for training wheels.

3257
04:34:45,380 --> 04:34:49,180
And nobody gets participation trophy for just starting to wake up and enter the ward.

3258
04:34:49,380 --> 04:34:50,180
It's time to catch up.

3259
04:34:52,280 --> 04:35:00,660
So I want to bring it back to the answer I just heard from the mayor, which is, you

3260
04:35:00,660 --> 04:35:02,040
know, we'll see what we can do.

3261
04:35:02,040 --> 04:35:05,460
but you know there's structures and those structures are going to end up disproportionately

3262
04:35:05,460 --> 04:35:07,460
impacting women and people of color.

3263
04:35:10,290 --> 04:35:12,450
I think that's a definition of structural racism. I

3264
04:35:12,450 --> 04:35:18,350
think structural racism is what we are here trying to address. Now we can't address that in one

3265
04:35:18,350 --> 04:35:25,290
budget cycle. Mr. Mayor, please, as the chair, I'm going to try to finish here. I hope you

3266
04:35:25,290 --> 04:35:25,570
would hear.

3267
04:35:30,640 --> 04:35:34,660
Addressing structural racism is not something, as we heard from the Boston City

3268
04:35:34,660 --> 04:35:39,720
councillors say, not something that we can dress a single budget cycle, but her very

3269
04:35:39,720 --> 04:35:49,360
clearly, my congresswoman, Diana Presley, say that this is not the time for more words,

3270
04:35:49,760 --> 04:35:54,120
but the only thing she cares about is seeing changes in budgets and laws.

3271
04:35:54,800 --> 04:36:01,300
So that's where I'm at with this proposed cut that council meeting is softly put forward

3272
04:36:01,300 --> 04:36:08,080
with the alternative that Councilor Niedergang is softly put forward. And I 100% agree that the

3273
04:36:08,080 --> 04:36:14,480
implementation of a vision for a new police department, the implementation of the future of

3274
04:36:14,480 --> 04:36:21,420
public safety in our city, the implementation of new prioritization, how the city deployed

3275
04:36:21,420 --> 04:36:29,180
three sources is one that absolutely has to take place in a thorough community context.

3276
04:36:30,100 --> 04:36:35,200
But right now, the question is, are we going to begin making change in my mind?

3277
04:36:36,240 --> 04:36:41,700
With that said, I know that Councillor Mba has been waiting very patiently, speaking of

3278
04:36:41,700 --> 04:36:43,460
voices, that we should be listening to.

3279
04:36:44,320 --> 04:36:48,300
So, Councillor Mba, you had a thought or a proposal to share with us.

3280
04:36:50,980 --> 04:36:57,600
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and I really appreciate also, like, your patience and your time

3281
04:36:57,980 --> 04:36:59,580
and your effort, you know.

3282
04:36:59,580 --> 04:37:07,440
I cannot thank you enough. I mean just first I want to even just say that the

3283
04:37:07,440 --> 04:37:14,260
mayor's response just now is what scares me and of course it's not I don't know you

3284
04:37:14,260 --> 04:37:21,340
know like because when you have like I mean like this is I also have been in

3285
04:37:21,340 --> 04:37:26,360
union so it's not like I don't think that you know he's trying to scare us

3286
04:37:26,360 --> 04:37:30,900
or something if you're in a union I mean Mr. Chair I can imagine like how

3287
04:37:30,900 --> 04:37:35,280
much excitement we got, you know, everybody that was on the confirmation of appointment

3288
04:37:35,930 --> 04:37:41,680
for the candidate that was brought on the first two years ago. Almost all of them just moved

3289
04:37:41,680 --> 04:37:49,200
to the city. And the kind of classic presentation and excitement is now that we are now making

3290
04:37:49,200 --> 04:37:55,570
a political show that, you know, we don't really like, no matter how it happens, you

3291
04:37:55,570 --> 04:38:00,270
know, like if they go, they go flush out, that's fine. One is called political points

3292
04:38:00,270 --> 04:38:05,250
on, you know, like just making a statement, you know, for making it safe that we are just

3293
04:38:05,250 --> 04:38:10,530
cutting the police budget. But thank you also can cancel on it even for like revising

3294
04:38:10,530 --> 04:38:15,130
this property or proposal. I think like I said in my opening remark, I will be making

3295
04:38:15,130 --> 04:38:20,850
drastic cut. I know where I was looking at. And I look at the overtime. I think

3296
04:38:20,850 --> 04:38:29,690
we can chop off enormous fat from that overtime. And that's why I want to cut $800,000 from

3297
04:38:29,690 --> 04:38:35,570
that overtime, and they can come to us if they need it. They can come to the council and request

3298
04:38:35,570 --> 04:38:42,130
that. So, Mr. Chair, I hope you will support me and the members of the council because this

3299
04:38:42,130 --> 04:38:51,950
This one has no impact on trying to cut superior officers, because especially with the superior

3300
04:38:51,950 --> 04:38:53,510
officer positions and cut.

3301
04:38:54,130 --> 04:38:59,990
I don't want, you know, like, officers to be working around with low morale, and then

3302
04:38:59,990 --> 04:39:03,690
also you don't encourage the young officer to fire, to walk hard, because they're like,

3303
04:39:03,890 --> 04:39:09,150
ah, there's no point, you know, so I think people have walked hard to where they are.

3304
04:39:09,230 --> 04:39:10,990
I don't want to discredit them.

3305
04:39:10,990 --> 04:39:17,330
or like look at them as oh you know like we need some of that you know like your money or something

3306
04:39:17,330 --> 04:39:24,650
you know what they're making I really don't you know but I think we have discretion we can use our

3307
04:39:24,650 --> 04:39:29,870
power where we have the discretion that's why I'm looking I've looked you know anything that is

3308
04:39:29,870 --> 04:39:35,190
within our power they chop anything that is like within the union's power like we are chopping

3309
04:39:35,190 --> 04:39:42,430
we know the consequences. I don't want that consequence. So I move to cut 800,000 from the police overtime.

3310
04:39:44,920 --> 04:39:51,280
All right. According to our rules, any motion is in order. So there is a motion before us right now.

3311
04:39:52,280 --> 04:40:02,760
From this point, we could entertain discussion on that motion or we could move to lay the motion on the table and return to it at a future meeting.

3312
04:40:09,720 --> 04:40:15,720
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you, Councillor Baugh, for making that motion.

3313
04:40:16,820 --> 04:40:22,480
I'd like to ask the Chief what he thinks the minimal amount of overtime that the Department

3314
04:40:22,480 --> 04:40:24,320
is likely to use this year.

3315
04:40:24,920 --> 04:40:32,420
I believe that there are contractual requirements for when officers need to be paid overtime

3316
04:40:32,420 --> 04:40:43,160
And, you know, I fear I'm certainly willing to support a hundred thousand or maybe a $200,000 cut in overtime, but I fear that this is essentially passing the buck.

3317
04:40:43,540 --> 04:40:52,700
If we say we're going to cut $800,000 of overtime and then the chief comes in basically says, well, we have to spend another $600,000 of overtime.

3318
04:40:52,960 --> 04:40:53,640
You have to fund it.

3319
04:40:53,760 --> 04:41:01,780
We've been in that position before in the council where basically we were asked to fund overtime and really didn't have a choice in it.

3320
04:41:01,780 --> 04:41:07,640
So, you know, it may sound good, 800,000 cut in overtime, but if in fact, over the course

3321
04:41:07,640 --> 04:41:12,600
of the next year, we're going to have to give 600,000 of it or all of it back, then

3322
04:41:12,600 --> 04:41:13,640
it's really not a cut at all.

3323
04:41:13,780 --> 04:41:19,640
So I'd like to hear what the chief has to say about what he expects the minimal overtime

3324
04:41:19,640 --> 04:41:22,440
cost to be for the department in the coming year.

3325
04:41:23,940 --> 04:41:27,540
Chief Fallon on the question about overtime.

3326
04:41:27,540 --> 04:41:28,440
And

3327
04:41:38,810 --> 04:41:41,670
to the chair to council need again. Thank you for the question.

3328
04:41:43,870 --> 04:41:45,590
I think with 88 offices,

3329
04:41:46,070 --> 04:41:52,150
I think, you know, we're looking currently about $25,000 a week in overtime. So I think

3330
04:41:52,150 --> 04:41:59,630
it's $1.3 million that we would need just under that to for the year for overtime.

3331
04:42:00,110 --> 04:42:04,690
I think it's very important to point out though that, you know, we have been asking

3332
04:42:04,690 --> 04:42:09,290
our offices. And one of the reasons for some of the lag money is we've gone away from

3333
04:42:09,970 --> 04:42:15,590
automatically filling overtime shifts. We use on-duty resources constantly now. So if you're a detective,

3334
04:42:16,090 --> 04:42:20,170
you're working a Saturday, there's a summer streets event, you're asking you to come in

3335
04:42:20,170 --> 04:42:25,710
uniform. We're telling you to come in uniform. And to be at that event, that's why we've

3336
04:42:25,710 --> 04:42:31,870
never been able to keep our overtime costs down. But, you know, I think we would need about

3337
04:42:31,870 --> 04:42:37,310
$1.3 million for the year, averaging $25,000 a week.

3338
04:42:40,050 --> 04:42:41,390
All right. Thank you, Chief.

3339
04:42:45,390 --> 04:42:50,270
Councilor Neera Gang, are you complete or willing to yield to other Councillors who have questions?

3340
04:42:52,370 --> 04:42:56,430
Well, thanks, Mr. Chairman. Let me just respond to what the Chief said.

3341
04:42:56,430 --> 04:43:06,690
So, you know, the original figure in the budget was 1.3, and then the mayor cut that by 186,000

3342
04:43:06,690 --> 04:43:10,970
to fund the Racial and Social Justice Initiative, which I think is terrific.

3343
04:43:12,490 --> 04:43:17,310
So, what we've just been told is if we cut $800,000 out of the overtime budget,

3344
04:43:18,530 --> 04:43:21,330
basically we're going to have to cough that money up later in the year.

3345
04:43:21,330 --> 04:43:27,590
So to me that seems pointless. I'd be willing to support $100,000 cut if you know if the chief

3346
04:43:27,590 --> 04:43:32,870
setting needed 1.3 million and now the budget's down to 1.1 million maybe we can squeeze another

3347
04:43:32,870 --> 04:43:38,530
hundred thousand there but $800,000 cut to me doesn't make any sense. Thank you.

3348
04:43:41,150 --> 04:43:46,770
All right thank you. Councilor Ballantyne you had a question and then we'll go to

3349
04:43:46,770 --> 04:43:54,470
Councillor Rosetti, after that. Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. So I want to get back to the number

3350
04:43:55,010 --> 04:44:05,670
of unspent, which was over the last few years as the Chair has mentioned, was $594,000 that has

3351
04:44:05,670 --> 04:44:14,130
been unspent. And this question through you, Chair, is to the Chief to share with us

3352
04:44:14,130 --> 04:44:17,170
That's why it was unspent.

3353
04:44:21,270 --> 04:44:23,850
Chief Allen on the point of order,

3354
04:44:23,890 --> 04:44:25,670
there's a motion on the table.

3355
04:44:26,350 --> 04:44:28,850
I don't support it, but there's a motion on the table.

3356
04:44:29,310 --> 04:44:29,730
Oh.

3357
04:44:30,570 --> 04:44:30,890
Right.

3358
04:44:31,170 --> 04:44:32,430
That's a good point.

3359
04:44:33,550 --> 04:44:34,230
I yield.

3360
04:44:35,050 --> 04:44:35,630
All right.

3361
04:44:36,450 --> 04:44:37,850
Thank you, Councilor Neidegame,

3362
04:44:37,970 --> 04:44:39,730
for the reminder, it's getting late.

3363
04:44:40,670 --> 04:44:43,750
Councilor Rosetti, comment on the motion.

3364
04:44:44,490 --> 04:44:44,990
Yes, sir.

3365
04:44:44,990 --> 04:44:51,370
through you to my good colleague, Councilor Mabba. I just, I know you've made a couple of statements

3366
04:44:51,370 --> 04:44:55,990
earlier this evening and I want to make sure you understand. I too am looking to do some form

3367
04:44:55,990 --> 04:44:59,890
of cuts tonight and so I don't want this to be taken in the other form.

3368
04:45:00,000 --> 04:45:09,420
But you've been speaking about not wanting to pay for or have overtime for roadwork or sewer

3369
04:45:09,420 --> 04:45:18,780
fixes and line problems and what not, construction projects. I hope you understand that all construction

3370
04:45:18,780 --> 04:45:24,260
projects and Eversource works and what not, where the overtime officers you will see

3371
04:45:24,260 --> 04:45:29,920
working are paid by the construction companies or are paid by ever source.

3372
04:45:30,780 --> 04:45:35,700
That overtime line is not for that type of detail and I just wanted to make sure you understood

3373
04:45:35,700 --> 04:45:38,300
that because you did reference it a few times.

3374
04:45:43,020 --> 04:45:43,520
All right.

3375
04:45:44,440 --> 04:45:45,400
Thank you.

3376
04:45:45,660 --> 04:45:46,200
Councillor Rosetti.

3377
04:45:47,580 --> 04:45:50,420
you were directly addressed, if you'd like to respond, you may.

3378
04:45:56,850 --> 04:45:59,210
Mr. Chair, Councillor Roseli,

3379
04:46:01,550 --> 04:46:06,350
I mean, I think what you're trying to say is this, like the

3380
04:46:06,350 --> 04:46:13,210
overtime, like the construction site details is not paid through the police department.

3381
04:46:13,430 --> 04:46:14,730
Is that what you're trying to say?

3382
04:46:17,020 --> 04:46:20,500
Through you, Mr. Chair, if I may respond, yes, that's what I'm trying to say.

3383
04:46:20,500 --> 04:46:26,720
Chief can correct me if he wishes, but I'm pretty spot on on this one. I'm pretty I believe I

3384
04:46:29,180 --> 04:46:30,060
believe that's correct, sir

3385
04:46:30,060 --> 04:46:33,920
Yeah, and so I mean, thank you councillor Rosetti

3386
04:46:34,800 --> 04:46:37,220
I appreciate that, you know, I think

3387
04:46:37,220 --> 04:46:42,220
We can find civilians to do that job. Police have better job to respond to

3388
04:46:42,880 --> 04:46:48,680
than hanging the construction site. Even if the construction company that is paying paying them

3389
04:46:48,680 --> 04:46:51,640
They have no business that we want to have

3390
04:46:51,640 --> 04:46:57,960
you know, like civilians that can do that job.

3391
04:46:59,760 --> 04:47:00,720
All right.

3392
04:47:01,360 --> 04:47:03,300
Councillor Klingin on this point.

3393
04:47:04,360 --> 04:47:06,780
I just want to make note of the fact that, you know,

3394
04:47:07,500 --> 04:47:10,160
the state legislature did pass a law, as you know,

3395
04:47:10,580 --> 04:47:12,660
many years back to use flag men.

3396
04:47:13,300 --> 04:47:15,380
And because we have such a great state of Massachusetts

3397
04:47:15,380 --> 04:47:18,120
where we do recognize prevailing wage,

3398
04:47:18,120 --> 04:47:27,520
that most of the municipalities didn't end up using flag men, because essentially, you know,

3399
04:47:28,100 --> 04:47:32,920
why don't have a police officer out there doing it, and then they can also break into action.

3400
04:47:33,100 --> 04:47:36,820
So it's like you're getting more for your buck with the police officer. So I just wanted to

3401
04:47:36,820 --> 04:47:44,320
pose that to officer, to consular M. Bob, because I hear that a lot. And I remember this very

3402
04:47:44,320 --> 04:47:50,160
very contemptuous fight back in the early 2000s about using flagmen here in Massachusetts

3403
04:47:50,160 --> 04:47:56,240
and I'd like to say I am proud that we live in Massachusetts where we do respect collective

3404
04:47:56,240 --> 04:47:57,500
bargaining and prevailing wages.

3405
04:47:59,590 --> 04:48:00,350
All right.

3406
04:48:01,650 --> 04:48:03,790
Councillor Neatagang, you had a motion.

3407
04:48:08,250 --> 04:48:09,550
No, thanks, Mr. Chair.

3408
04:48:09,630 --> 04:48:13,110
I just wanted to call a question unless there's other comments and let's move on

3409
04:48:13,110 --> 04:48:15,330
to other motions that people may have.

3410
04:48:17,050 --> 04:48:23,150
All right, Councilor Netagang would like to call the question on the motion by

3411
04:48:23,150 --> 04:48:28,170
Councilor Imba to cut $800,000 from the overtime.

3412
04:48:32,850 --> 04:48:34,870
Yeah, I've not yet gotten to

3413
04:48:34,870 --> 04:48:36,890
speak on the point, Councilor Netagang.

3414
04:48:39,110 --> 04:48:41,830
If anybody wants to speak, I'll hold

3415
04:48:41,830 --> 04:48:44,930
off, but I didn't realize anybody wanted to speak. Sorry, Mr. Chair.

3416
04:48:45,630 --> 04:48:52,250
I'm sorry. I do believe Councilor Ewing-Campan would also like to speak. So, Councilor Ewing-Campan and then I'll speak.

3417
04:48:53,190 --> 04:49:01,130
Thank you, Mr. Chair. So, as I stated, I'm prepared to make a sizable cut to the department tonight. I think it's the right thing to do.

3418
04:49:02,110 --> 04:49:08,630
This particular one, for a number of the reasons that were stated, is not the one that I'll be supporting tonight.

3419
04:49:09,430 --> 04:49:11,730
but I thank Councillor Rimbaud for bringing it forward.

3420
04:49:12,550 --> 04:49:14,490
Again, I think under the contractual obligations,

3421
04:49:14,630 --> 04:49:16,890
we will be paying this money one way or the other,

3422
04:49:16,970 --> 04:49:18,890
so this is not the cut that I'll support.

3423
04:49:19,070 --> 04:49:19,350
Thank you.

3424
04:49:21,550 --> 04:49:22,390
All right.

3425
04:49:24,170 --> 04:49:24,950
Very well.

3426
04:49:26,150 --> 04:49:28,110
Just as a point of information then,

3427
04:49:28,410 --> 04:49:29,890
thank you Councillor Ewing-Campan

3428
04:49:29,890 --> 04:49:32,910
and we are reminded by Director Conner,

3429
04:49:33,510 --> 04:49:35,130
some point I wanted to bring up as well,

3430
04:49:35,250 --> 04:49:38,770
that the JLMC decision from,

3431
04:49:38,770 --> 04:49:49,050
I want to say 2017 requires that all work details in the city be filled by police officers,

3432
04:49:49,130 --> 04:49:51,930
not just that we can, but that we must.

3433
04:49:52,230 --> 04:49:56,810
And they cited one reason as being an extra source of income for officers.

3434
04:49:57,810 --> 04:49:59,790
2016 decision, thank you for the correction.

3435
04:50:00,870 --> 04:50:08,150
So at least as it pertains to flag men without a complete re-negotiation of the contract

3436
04:50:08,150 --> 04:50:15,590
and some way to nullify the JLMC ruling, here in Somerville, we are required to fill all

3437
04:50:15,590 --> 04:50:17,990
construction details with officers.

3438
04:50:19,290 --> 04:50:24,990
All right, so just on this motion that's been made, I appreciate both Councillor Ambar's

3439
04:50:24,990 --> 04:50:30,910
decisiveness and his immense frustration with this process, frustration that I know

3440
04:50:30,910 --> 04:50:35,590
must be shared by the over 100 members of the public that continues to watch us at

3441
04:50:35,590 --> 04:50:42,270
nearly 11 o'clock five hours into our discussion of police budget. My concern is

3442
04:50:42,270 --> 04:50:47,550
very much in alignment with some of my colleagues and also the exact concern

3443
04:50:47,550 --> 04:50:52,050
that was stated by the Boston City Council when considering some of our

3444
04:50:52,050 --> 04:50:57,970
overtime cut, which is that these are contractually obligated. These and if we

3445
04:50:57,970 --> 04:51:02,210
do cut this line and simply means later in the year will be compelled to

3446
04:51:02,210 --> 04:51:08,710
effect a transfer into it. Now, again, that does come down to the mayor and where he requests

3447
04:51:08,710 --> 04:51:15,090
that transfer from. He could request that transfer from open lag funds in the salaries account,

3448
04:51:15,250 --> 04:51:21,490
for example, if he anticipated that those expenses would be coming and that he would

3449
04:51:21,490 --> 04:51:29,330
be able to prepare for that. In that case, it would be perhaps the effect of a blunt

3450
04:51:29,330 --> 04:51:35,930
instrument from the city council, but if the mayor chose to prioritize leaving a room for

3451
04:51:35,930 --> 04:51:42,430
that very easily anticipated expense, he could do so by refraining from filling some positions

3452
04:51:42,430 --> 04:51:45,870
in the police department to make sure those funds were available in the future when it would be

3453
04:51:45,870 --> 04:51:55,590
needed. That being said, I think it's important to hear and honor that frustration. So with that,

3454
04:51:55,590 --> 04:51:59,030
but we have the motion in front of us.

3455
04:51:59,770 --> 04:52:01,490
Councilor Neal again would like to call the question.

3456
04:52:02,450 --> 04:52:05,030
So a roll call vote is in order on the motion

3457
04:52:05,030 --> 04:52:07,230
by Councilor Mba to remove $800,000

3458
04:52:07,230 --> 04:52:08,530
from the police overtime budget.

3459
04:52:11,300 --> 04:52:15,620
This is a roll call vote on removing $800,000

3460
04:52:15,960 --> 04:52:20,200
from the police overtime budget line number 513000.

3461
04:52:21,260 --> 04:52:22,260
Councilor Klingham.

3462
04:52:22,900 --> 04:52:23,240
Yes.

3463
04:52:24,120 --> 04:52:24,900
Councilor Mba.

3464
04:52:25,620 --> 04:52:26,220
Yes.

3465
04:52:26,220 --> 04:52:27,220
No.

3466
04:52:29,540 --> 04:52:31,160
Councilor Rosetti.

3467
04:52:31,960 --> 04:52:32,300
No.

3468
04:52:33,120 --> 04:52:34,620
Councilor Strezzo.

3469
04:52:39,100 --> 04:52:40,360
Councilor Strezzo.

3470
04:52:41,060 --> 04:52:42,260
No.

3471
04:52:43,560 --> 04:52:45,140
Councilor Neidegain.

3472
04:52:45,640 --> 04:52:46,060
No.

3473
04:52:47,220 --> 04:52:48,220
Councilor Davis.

3474
04:52:53,080 --> 04:52:54,720
Councilor McLaughlin.

3475
04:52:55,040 --> 04:52:56,200
Is recused.

3476
04:52:57,000 --> 04:52:58,860
Councilor Ewing-Campan.

3477
04:52:59,520 --> 04:52:59,820
No.

3478
04:53:00,720 --> 04:53:02,260
Councilor Ballantyne.

3479
04:53:02,700 --> 04:53:03,380
No.

3480
04:53:04,360 --> 04:53:05,080
Councilor Scott?

3481
04:53:06,000 --> 04:53:06,160
Yes.

3482
04:53:07,240 --> 04:53:10,540
Mr. Chairman, three members have voted on the affirmative.

3483
04:53:11,560 --> 04:53:15,200
Seven have voted no, and one is recused.

3484
04:53:17,380 --> 04:53:23,620
All right. I will remind councillors that the public comment period remains open until tomorrow morning.

3485
04:53:23,820 --> 04:53:30,980
That does not preclude us from taking any votes. It's just an item to be aware of as we consider further motions and voting.

3486
04:53:32,120 --> 04:53:37,660
All right. So, that being said, we are returning to general discussion.

3487
04:53:37,900 --> 04:53:39,980
Councillor Ballantyne, I believe you had a question.

3488
04:53:42,220 --> 04:53:52,320
Thank you, Mr. Chair. Yes, I just I had a question through you to the chief that your

3489
04:53:52,320 --> 04:54:01,120
comment, Mr. Chair, that there was about 500 on average, $594,000 unspent every year

3490
04:54:01,120 --> 04:54:05,180
for the last few years, and I'm curious to know why.

3491
04:54:08,100 --> 04:54:11,940
All right, Chief Fallon, would you be able to address that?

3492
04:54:16,900 --> 04:54:19,300
Can't hear you, Sarah, check your microphone again.

3493
04:54:21,040 --> 04:54:23,820
Apologize to the chair, the councilor Palantyne.

3494
04:54:24,460 --> 04:54:25,940
Thank you for the question, ma'am.

3495
04:54:26,460 --> 04:54:28,700
In the lag money, at the police department,

3496
04:54:29,020 --> 04:54:30,320
it's all from personal services.

3497
04:54:30,820 --> 04:54:31,760
You have an officer retire.

3498
04:54:32,640 --> 04:54:34,640
We lose an officer to attrition.

3499
04:54:34,640 --> 04:54:41,120
That money remains in the salary line, and that's returned to the city at the end of the fiscal year.

3500
04:54:45,230 --> 04:54:46,770
Okay. Thank you.

3501
04:54:50,190 --> 04:54:52,230
All right. Thank you.

3502
04:54:55,200 --> 04:54:57,200
Are there further questions of discussion?

3503
04:54:59,720 --> 04:55:13,780
Again, just as a reminder, procedurally, we are, we're going to be at this for a while. We have several more committee meetings scheduled with that schedule going out all the way to,

3504
04:55:13,780 --> 04:55:22,000
I believe the 8th of July, on the 9th of July, there is another committee of the whole at

3505
04:55:22,000 --> 04:55:29,640
which point we can revisit any motions. However, if it is the intention to execute a cut that

3506
04:55:29,640 --> 04:55:35,880
we would rather have reinvested in the city in various ways, it would at the time

3507
04:55:35,880 --> 04:55:46,240
the incumbent upon the mayor to decide to submit a revised budget that honors that cut and

3508
04:55:46,240 --> 04:55:53,620
redeploys those funds elsewhere. So, it's certainly possible that we can end up with

3509
04:55:53,620 --> 04:55:58,460
a vote on a cut that the mayor would then be allowed to give respect and redeploy or

3510
04:55:58,460 --> 04:56:04,500
would simply result in a reduction of the income real estate tax rate in the city.

3511
04:56:07,120 --> 04:56:13,980
So, with that said, we could also entertain further motions when we return to the committee

3512
04:56:13,980 --> 04:56:20,260
the whole on the 9th or other motions would be in order to see and also just continue discussion.

3513
04:56:21,140 --> 04:56:25,220
Patient delivery, delivery model of this council. All

3514
04:56:30,820 --> 04:56:33,160
right. Bring nobody jumping right in.

3515
04:56:37,320 --> 04:56:38,840
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

3516
04:56:41,460 --> 04:56:45,340
I would like to make a motion at this time because I do want to

3517
04:56:45,340 --> 04:56:54,980
propose a cut in the salaries line item, which is I had a line item number 51100. And I would

3518
04:56:54,980 --> 04:57:03,260
I would request that the mayor, if this cut is approved, that the mayor come back to us

3519
04:57:03,260 --> 04:57:10,460
with a spending plan for it to enhance public health and public safety in the city.

3520
04:57:11,800 --> 04:57:15,300
So I do want to make it tonight so that the mayor has some time to consider that.

3521
04:57:16,140 --> 04:57:21,640
And I want to go back to what I suggested as a revised proposal.

3522
04:57:21,640 --> 04:57:30,660
So, starting with the $593,000 of lag money that you identified that has been left over

3523
04:57:30,660 --> 04:57:36,860
in the police budget the last four years, and adding onto that a cut of one deputy

3524
04:57:36,860 --> 04:57:40,460
chief position, which would be $196,500.

3525
04:57:41,280 --> 04:57:47,300
That is a non-union position, so it would not require any civil service or bumping

3526
04:57:47,300 --> 04:57:48,040
to occur.

3527
04:57:48,040 --> 04:57:54,400
and adding on to that the six vacant patrol positions which have been vacant

3528
04:57:54,400 --> 04:58:01,180
for most of the last six years that's another $391,000 so the total cut that

3529
04:58:01,180 --> 04:58:08,040
I am proposing to the salaries line item number 511000 is one million

3530
04:58:08,040 --> 04:58:13,680
$180,000, $1 million, $180,000 and $500.

3531
04:58:15,140 --> 04:58:16,220
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

3532
04:58:17,040 --> 04:58:20,720
All right, so Councilor Netagang has made a motion

3533
04:58:21,200 --> 04:58:28,320
to reduce the salaries line item by $1,180,000 and $500.

3534
04:58:30,660 --> 04:58:36,120
Councilor Strezzo on the motion, you have a question.

3535
04:58:36,480 --> 04:58:36,900
First up.

3536
04:58:38,700 --> 04:58:43,040
Does the motion have to be seconded first or because there's a question on this?

3537
04:58:43,440 --> 04:58:45,440
The motion's before the committee.

3538
04:58:48,560 --> 04:58:49,580
Can I ask the question?

3539
04:58:50,100 --> 04:58:53,140
Or do you want to be seconded?

3540
04:58:53,800 --> 04:58:55,560
The motion is before the committee.

3541
04:58:57,020 --> 04:58:57,960
You have to.

3542
04:59:00,100 --> 04:59:00,820
It's okay.

3543
04:59:01,020 --> 04:59:02,640
It's late due to the rules of the city council.

3544
04:59:02,820 --> 04:59:04,580
We don't need a second on a motion like that.

3545
04:59:04,700 --> 04:59:05,780
The motion is before us.

3546
04:59:05,920 --> 04:59:07,160
And so now we're discussing the motion.

3547
04:59:07,160 --> 04:59:09,800
And you can ask questions about the motion if you like.

3548
04:59:10,160 --> 04:59:12,440
Okay. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

3549
04:59:13,180 --> 04:59:24,140
So the 593, the flag money and this one deputy chief position is not staffed at this current time and has been vacant for some time.

3550
04:59:25,820 --> 04:59:29,840
This through you, Mr. Chair, to Councilor Niedergang.

3551
04:59:30,640 --> 04:59:31,380
Councilor Niedergang.

3552
04:59:32,320 --> 04:59:36,000
my understanding is that this this is a position that exists so somebody would

3553
04:59:36,000 --> 04:59:40,360
lose their job if we approve this we should ask the chief to confirm that

3554
04:59:40,360 --> 04:59:44,120
but that's my understanding and there will be there will be a vacancy in the

3555
04:59:44,120 --> 04:59:51,060
chief's position as of January you know it might be possible but that's

3556
04:59:51,060 --> 04:59:55,500
obviously up to a community process as the mayor as the mayor said it might be

3557
04:59:55,500 --> 04:59:59,160
possible that one of the deputy chiefs would become the chief that kind of

3558
04:59:59,160 --> 04:59:59,960
happened last time.

3559
05:00:00,000 --> 05:00:04,400
But I don't think we can presume that. I think we need to assume somebody's going to get laid off.

3560
05:00:07,420 --> 05:00:11,540
Is Chief Fallon still—can we hear from Chief Fallon?

3561
05:00:13,380 --> 05:00:18,700
I would like it if you had a specific question from the Chiefs here, Councillor Strasso.

3562
05:00:19,280 --> 05:00:26,480
Okay. Is—because I don't think we asked Chief Fallon specifically if this—or

3563
05:00:27,340 --> 05:00:33,940
Is this one position staffed right now? The second deputy chief position is it staffed?

3564
05:00:33,940 --> 05:00:34,520
It is.

3565
05:00:34,860 --> 05:00:42,260
So this would be, okay. And the six vacant patrol officers, I believe, okay.

3566
05:00:44,410 --> 05:00:44,770
All right.

3567
05:00:44,910 --> 05:00:46,550
I think that's all I have right now.

3568
05:00:47,890 --> 05:00:49,590
All right. Sorry, chief.

3569
05:00:51,870 --> 05:00:59,590
All right. All right, thank you, Councillor Strezzo. Councillor Klingin, you're up next.

3570
05:00:59,950 --> 05:01:05,130
Mr. Chairman, on that point, can I just add something that I didn't realize? The deputy

3571
05:01:05,130 --> 05:01:10,670
chief position is listed as one of the expected vacancies for next year.

3572
05:01:11,850 --> 05:01:12,470
So

3573
05:01:14,520 --> 05:01:16,740
that could be an early retirement perhaps. All right.

3574
05:01:16,740 --> 05:01:17,700
to be recognized.

3575
05:01:18,900 --> 05:01:19,840
Councillor Sarezzo.

3576
05:01:22,660 --> 05:01:23,720
Is that okay to be recognized?

3577
05:01:24,520 --> 05:01:25,480
I just did.

3578
05:01:25,960 --> 05:01:27,160
Okay, thank you.

3579
05:01:28,060 --> 05:01:30,180
So, okay, that's what I thought

3580
05:01:30,180 --> 05:01:33,000
because I thought the second deputy chief was vacant

3581
05:01:33,000 --> 05:01:34,840
or was planning on being vacant.

3582
05:01:35,140 --> 05:01:37,760
Okay, thank you very much.

3583
05:01:39,120 --> 05:01:39,860
Thank you.

3584
05:01:40,820 --> 05:01:41,900
Councillor Klingin.

3585
05:01:42,460 --> 05:01:43,660
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

3586
05:01:43,660 --> 05:01:47,120
Yeah, thank you, Mr. Chair, through you to whoever.

3587
05:01:48,820 --> 05:01:50,760
The six vacant positions

3588
05:01:54,000 --> 05:01:56,540
Just so I understand those are positions those aren't

3589
05:01:57,460 --> 05:02:00,120
Those are additional positions. Those aren't

3590
05:02:01,100 --> 05:02:07,920
One of the one of the new cadet the new hires coming on that work without we're saying we can do without her

3591
05:02:07,920 --> 05:02:09,920
This is separate. I just need to understand

3592
05:02:10,820 --> 05:02:17,300
The six vacant positions are positions that have been vacant as councillor need a game points up for I think over a year

3593
05:02:19,880 --> 05:02:25,300
Okay, but that's going to do it like so when when these new hires come on they'll still going to be these six additional

3594
05:02:26,440 --> 05:02:35,470
Vacancies we have no new hires proposed or presented to the city council to know I just meant the ones that are just about to get on

3595
05:02:35,470 --> 05:02:41,510
I don't we have some people in the Academy right now or something no we do not have anybody in the Academy right now

3596
05:02:43,270 --> 05:02:47,130
I thought we had a new crop of officers coming on to the force

3597
05:02:47,130 --> 05:02:53,630
There was a representation that if we completed a hiring process, the top names in that list

3598
05:02:53,630 --> 05:02:57,310
would potentially be a number of people.

3599
05:02:57,610 --> 05:03:02,850
We do not have any appointments before the City Council for consideration or confirmation.

3600
05:03:03,730 --> 05:03:03,930
Okay.

3601
05:03:04,150 --> 05:03:04,650
So three messages.

3602
05:03:05,030 --> 05:03:11,270
So when I hear that this young lady who's a dreamer was going to be coming on, that's

3603
05:03:11,270 --> 05:03:12,290
part of the six or not.

3604
05:03:12,390 --> 05:03:13,350
That's all I'm trying to understand.

3605
05:03:15,490 --> 05:03:22,790
We haven't met that person yet, so I guess Chief Fallon, if you could tell us about your

3606
05:03:22,790 --> 05:03:26,790
certainty and the hiring that would be completed?

3607
05:03:29,010 --> 05:03:33,950
And Chief, before you go, just so I understand where we are in the process, have we sent

3608
05:03:33,950 --> 05:03:40,910
them any like letters, like letters of hiring or are we really just, these people are

3609
05:03:40,910 --> 05:03:42,870
real people that exist, correct?

3610
05:03:46,990 --> 05:03:48,210
We can't hear you, Chief.

3611
05:03:48,870 --> 05:03:50,610
Chief, you're going to need to turn to Michael.

3612
05:03:51,110 --> 05:03:52,890
I've got two buttons to hit, sir.

3613
05:03:53,510 --> 05:03:55,350
I'm hitting one or not the other, but to the cheer,

3614
05:03:55,510 --> 05:03:59,690
I just want to point out that we haven't been out these six

3615
05:03:59,690 --> 05:04:01,410
for a year and a half.

3616
05:04:01,830 --> 05:04:05,450
In October of 19, we had 94.

3617
05:04:06,290 --> 05:04:07,490
And then it goes down from there.

3618
05:04:08,050 --> 05:04:10,350
One new recruit resigned, 93.

3619
05:04:11,110 --> 05:04:12,930
Two retired, the 91.

3620
05:04:12,930 --> 05:04:18,690
So, it's really in March 14th of 2020, they were at the 88 patrolmen.

3621
05:04:19,210 --> 05:04:24,210
We've been through a very thorough process with this group of recruits that are finding

3622
05:04:24,210 --> 05:04:25,670
positions on our budget.

3623
05:04:27,030 --> 05:04:31,130
The exact point we're at, they've been interviewed, and

3624
05:04:33,370 --> 05:04:34,950
they would be the six that fill these

3625
05:04:34,950 --> 05:04:35,810
positions.

3626
05:04:36,010 --> 05:04:41,550
We have an Academy stat date, I believe, at the end of July, July 27th, I'm being

3627
05:04:41,550 --> 05:04:47,790
told to send these candidates to an academy on July 27th.

3628
05:04:47,930 --> 05:04:55,190
So Chief, we don't have those appointments before the City Council for confirmation,

3629
05:04:55,630 --> 05:04:55,850
do we?

3630
05:04:57,970 --> 05:04:59,310
I don't think they've rung up yet.

3631
05:04:59,490 --> 05:05:03,290
With due to COVID-19, we've been working with the council, I believe, through the

3632
05:05:03,290 --> 05:05:04,550
mayor's office, through Cushboo.

3633
05:05:05,170 --> 05:05:09,590
There was some delays with the physical agility test and things to social distancing,

3634
05:05:09,590 --> 05:05:14,850
But the best of my knowledge, they're ready to go before the council.

3635
05:05:15,630 --> 05:05:23,050
So, so I asked Councilor Clean if I could just ask the Chair of Confirmation of Appointments for clarification on the point.

3636
05:05:25,550 --> 05:05:36,630
Mr. Chair, in January when I was given the appointment of the Chair of Confirmation of

3637
05:05:36,630 --> 05:05:45,430
Appointments, I sat with then Director Personnel Ms. Cooper and Ms. Gushpa Webber and went

3638
05:05:45,430 --> 05:05:50,190
over the 90-some-odd outstanding items in that committee, getting ready for my meetings

3639
05:05:50,190 --> 05:05:56,470
for the year to understand their importance. At that meeting, I was advised that there would be 16

3640
05:05:58,850 --> 05:06:04,050
recruits coming before the committee, but not until March or April because of the process

3641
05:06:04,050 --> 05:06:11,330
that they had to go through. But they were hoping that we could interview them in a timely fashion

3642
05:06:11,330 --> 05:06:17,630
for a potential academy late spring. As time grew closer and COVID hit,

3643
05:06:17,630 --> 05:06:22,030
And Ms. Webber did reach out to me that they wanted to, they were going to submit those

3644
05:06:22,030 --> 05:06:26,530
names and if we could put them into a confirmation of appointment meeting.

3645
05:06:26,990 --> 05:06:31,710
I questioned why they were putting names before us when there was a freeze, a hiring freeze

3646
05:06:31,710 --> 05:06:32,030
on.

3647
05:06:32,970 --> 05:06:34,350
She understood my question.

3648
05:06:34,650 --> 05:06:38,210
I asked her if she could, you know, explain the rationale and get back to me.

3649
05:06:39,130 --> 05:06:44,770
And she didn't get back to me for a while, but eventually she did and stated that I

3650
05:06:44,770 --> 05:06:45,310
was correct.

3651
05:06:45,310 --> 05:06:49,270
there was a hiring freeze on, and I haven't heard anything since.

3652
05:06:52,630 --> 05:06:58,350
Yeah, so Mr. Chair, the reason why I appreciate your technical approach to this,

3653
05:06:58,370 --> 05:07:02,150
where you're saying that they're not technically before us. My question is that we've seen this

3654
05:07:02,150 --> 05:07:07,150
before. I need to know where the city is in the hiring process, because if we end up, you know,

3655
05:07:07,250 --> 05:07:10,730
getting sued, like if we basically have already conditionally hired these people,

3656
05:07:10,750 --> 05:07:14,270
they just haven't gone through a few steps. I just need to know what that's going to

3657
05:07:14,270 --> 05:07:18,890
look like we could end up paying these people for not doing the job for so so I

3658
05:07:18,890 --> 05:07:23,590
think that's an important piece to this. Thank you. And so for the

3659
05:07:23,590 --> 05:07:29,410
clarification there until they receive until they've completed their PATs and

3660
05:07:29,410 --> 05:07:33,490
all their medical checks or until they've completed the PATs I believe

3661
05:07:33,490 --> 05:07:39,070
they can't get their conditional offer letter. I think I heard the chair say

3662
05:07:39,070 --> 05:07:41,450
earlier they have not received their conditional offer letter and with

3663
05:07:41,450 --> 05:07:47,930
And that said, it's been the practice, the administration in recent years, to offer to

3664
05:07:48,490 --> 05:07:55,130
generate the civil service list for hire to the police reserve list, not to the police

3665
05:07:55,130 --> 05:07:56,110
officer list.

3666
05:07:56,570 --> 05:08:00,490
That would mean that even if they did receive their letter and were appointed to the position

3667
05:08:00,490 --> 05:08:06,430
of reserve police officer, that they would not become employed officers of the city

3668
05:08:06,430 --> 05:08:10,850
at that point they would need then a further appointment from the reserve list to the

3669
05:08:10,850 --> 05:08:12,670
position of police officer.

3670
05:08:13,090 --> 05:08:16,570
So I guess I'll ask the chief for further clarification.

3671
05:08:17,490 --> 05:08:22,330
In this civil service process, it's been undertaken the list that was requested and the position

3672
05:08:22,330 --> 05:08:23,290
they'd be appointed to.

3673
05:08:24,150 --> 05:08:26,810
Was that for a police reserve list, sir?

3674
05:08:36,340 --> 05:08:37,320
Councilor Rosetti, you know?

3675
05:08:37,600 --> 05:08:40,280
I could answer that, Mr. Chair.

3676
05:08:40,280 --> 05:08:46,700
I was I was told there were 16 recruits that were going to be coming before us at that time. The number was 16

3677
05:08:47,780 --> 05:08:49,300
16 to the reserve

3678
05:08:50,200 --> 05:08:54,660
Well to come before us for consideration at the confirmation of appointments meeting

3679
05:08:54,660 --> 05:09:00,520
I never went further into discussion. The only discussion I had was I thought there was a hiring freeze on

3680
05:09:01,120 --> 05:09:04,660
The number was 16 1 6. All right

3681
05:09:04,660 --> 05:09:09,680
She fell in was this list generated for the reserve list or for direct hire to officer?

3682
05:09:14,470 --> 05:09:15,550
Can I hit that button again?

3683
05:09:18,520 --> 05:09:21,260
I believe they've received conditional

3684
05:09:21,260 --> 05:09:24,520
office of employment from the city. I'd have to discuss with personnel.

3685
05:09:25,220 --> 05:09:29,520
Deputy Carabino has been leading on this initiative on the new highs.

3686
05:09:30,140 --> 05:09:34,420
He's not in the room this evening. I believe they've gotten conditional

3687
05:09:34,420 --> 05:09:37,260
office of employment, whether they go to a reserve list

3688
05:09:37,840 --> 05:09:41,380
and then offer reserve lists into the academy. Tonight I'm not sure

3689
05:09:41,380 --> 05:09:45,240
or I'll get you an answer in the morning. That sounds good. That would

3690
05:09:45,240 --> 05:09:49,640
be I think relevant for Councillor Klingen's consideration here. Councillor Klingen, basically

3691
05:09:49,640 --> 05:09:56,800
the concern is whether or not they would be, you know, this would basically affect a reduction

3692
05:09:56,800 --> 05:10:01,160
in force in a layoff or whether this would be just simply, hey, you get to wait on the

3693
05:10:01,160 --> 05:10:04,640
reserve list until your spot comes up. I'm seeing from Director Conner. Director Conner,

3694
05:10:04,700 --> 05:10:10,520
would you like to clarify that for us? Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. There are 10 recruits

3695
05:10:10,520 --> 05:10:18,140
and there they would be going to the reserve list. All right. Thank you very much Director Conner and

3696
05:10:18,140 --> 05:10:21,740
as we've seen in the fire department that reserve list can sit around for a very long time.

3697
05:10:23,240 --> 05:10:28,440
All right. So Councillor Klingon are you complete on your questions? I am satisfied Mr. Chair.

3698
05:10:28,580 --> 05:10:34,120
Thank you for that three-way. All right. Getting deep into the weeds and civil service here.

3699
05:10:34,120 --> 05:10:40,680
Councillor White you had a question next. Thank you Mr. Chair. As the hour is

3700
05:10:40,680 --> 05:10:46,040
getting quite late I'm trying to basically this

3701
05:10:49,080 --> 05:10:53,400
is what was told to Chair

3702
05:10:53,400 --> 05:10:57,660
Rosetti about there being a hiring freeze. There seems to be an inconsistency

3703
05:10:57,660 --> 05:11:02,120
there and then also with what Ms. Carter said about going to the

3704
05:11:02,120 --> 05:11:06,840
reserve list with the intention to then take six from the reserve list and

3705
05:11:06,840 --> 05:11:09,160
and then have them go before confirmation of appointments

3706
05:11:09,630 --> 05:11:11,860
for permanent position to go to the police academy.

3707
05:11:14,460 --> 05:11:17,440
Director Connor, maybe you can address that piece of intention.

3708
05:11:19,550 --> 05:11:20,650
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

3709
05:11:20,950 --> 05:11:23,170
As to the steps after the reserve list,

3710
05:11:23,290 --> 05:11:25,390
I'm not sure what the intention was there.

3711
05:11:25,570 --> 05:11:26,890
I would defer to the chief on that.

3712
05:11:27,750 --> 05:11:29,130
All right, chief Allen.

3713
05:11:46,230 --> 05:11:48,210
To the chair, could you repeat the question, please?

3714
05:11:51,280 --> 05:11:52,580
Councilor White, you can repeat it,

3715
05:11:52,620 --> 05:11:56,540
but I believe the question was what the intention was

3716
05:11:57,420 --> 05:12:03,200
for it sounds like 10 officers being filled to the reserve list was the

3717
05:12:03,200 --> 05:12:08,260
intention then to bring six forward for filling these vacancies. Is that correct

3718
05:12:08,260 --> 05:12:13,160
Councillor White? Yeah essentially that's what I'm trying to figure out is

3719
05:12:13,160 --> 05:12:17,380
because we again the hour is late I don't want to say it's in but it's not

3720
05:12:17,380 --> 05:12:21,340
clearly logical to me what the full intention was because we've been told

3721
05:12:22,100 --> 05:12:25,400
that you know officers were going to be made to six people they were

3722
05:12:25,400 --> 05:12:26,060
So,

3723
05:12:29,280 --> 05:12:33,100
the names weren't put forward, then we hear that there was a reserve list, but nobody

3724
05:12:33,100 --> 05:12:37,500
knows whether they're going from the reserve list to be, to then become permanent police

3725
05:12:37,500 --> 05:12:41,320
officers, assuming we confirm them, to then go to the academy.

3726
05:12:42,720 --> 05:12:46,520
It's not easy to follow through it, you know, follow the thought pattern.

3727
05:12:53,390 --> 05:12:53,650
Yep.

3728
05:12:53,810 --> 05:12:56,970
So, to the chair, Councilor White, thank you for the question.

3729
05:12:57,870 --> 05:13:02,450
To the best of my knowledge, this evening, I believe the intention was to put 10 offices

3730
05:13:02,450 --> 05:13:03,450
on the reserve list.

3731
05:13:04,150 --> 05:13:08,350
We were, after going through the process, we only came up with six candidates.

3732
05:13:09,230 --> 05:13:14,350
They were funded positions in last year's budget and fiscal year's 2020 budget.

3733
05:13:15,170 --> 05:13:20,990
So we were looking at them, not where it's new highest, but as filling funded vacant positions.

3734
05:13:23,090 --> 05:13:28,990
That's my belief sitting here tonight, that our intention was to high attend to a reserve

3735
05:13:28,990 --> 05:13:31,490
list and fill the open category seats.

3736
05:13:32,170 --> 05:13:37,510
That being said, I believe we're only able to get six candidates after the conclusion

3737
05:13:37,510 --> 05:13:38,650
of the hiring process.

3738
05:13:49,730 --> 05:13:53,570
People be the six vacant positions that we've been talking about.

3739
05:13:55,190 --> 05:13:56,830
To the chair, the council, right?

3740
05:13:56,910 --> 05:13:57,510
That's correct.

3741
05:13:57,770 --> 05:13:58,650
Thank you for your question.

3742
05:13:59,390 --> 05:13:59,830
All right.

3743
05:13:59,990 --> 05:14:00,290
Thank you.

3744
05:14:00,910 --> 05:14:01,950
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

3745
05:14:02,570 --> 05:14:03,790
Thank you, Councillor White.

3746
05:14:04,630 --> 05:14:08,690
I confirm by your next to the question and then I see Council meeting with the question.

3747
05:14:10,590 --> 05:14:11,630
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

3748
05:14:11,630 --> 05:14:21,970
I think Councillor White asked what I wanted to ask because I was confused about the new

3749
05:14:21,970 --> 05:14:28,390
hires that she was talking about. Even mentioned a DACA recipient, which I don't know if any

3750
05:14:28,990 --> 05:14:36,130
city or town or state or even the country has ever even hired any of such people in their police

3751
05:14:36,130 --> 05:14:42,230
So I wasn't sure and then so I wasn't sure like if we are talking about two different things

3752
05:14:42,230 --> 05:14:49,350
But now I see like so if we are trying to cut this position. We are trying to cut from

3753
05:14:50,330 --> 05:14:52,890
Diversifying the police force. Is that true chief?

3754
05:15:00,000 --> 05:15:01,560
If the question was addressed to you.

3755
05:15:03,450 --> 05:15:11,140
To the Chair, we believe the six going into, we know the six going into this academy if they're

3756
05:15:11,140 --> 05:15:20,740
put forward. Two black males, one's a Hispanic male from El Salvador. One is a dreamer. One

3757
05:15:20,740 --> 05:15:26,540
is a non-citizen. That's a dreamer. Deputy Carabino is not in the room tonight, led

3758
05:15:26,540 --> 05:15:30,900
on that initiative. I know he's very proud to bring that kid into Florida when we talk about

3759
05:15:31,600 --> 05:15:36,660
interacting with our community, especially people are saying they're afraid to come forward because

3760
05:15:36,660 --> 05:15:42,280
of their status as a citizen. This sends a tremendous message to the community that we

3761
05:15:42,280 --> 05:15:50,700
are the community. We have dreamers amongst us and, you know, let's break down these communication

3762
05:15:54,020 --> 05:15:56,140
Thank you. I must add, Mr. Chair.

3763
05:15:57,420 --> 05:16:01,200
All right. Thank you, Councilor Mba. Councilor Knudegang, you're up next.

3764
05:16:04,570 --> 05:16:10,130
Thank you, Mr. Chair. But it's mighty hard to say no to these diverse candidates.

3765
05:16:10,850 --> 05:16:15,410
I guess the thing I'm still confused about in terms of the reserve list through you to the Chief,

3766
05:16:17,770 --> 05:16:22,210
is there nobody on the reserve list right now so that in other words,

3767
05:16:22,210 --> 05:16:27,970
these six candidates would be numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 on the reserve list and would be

3768
05:16:27,970 --> 05:16:33,450
certainly the first six hired. The reserve list currently is completely empty.

3769
05:16:39,920 --> 05:16:43,740
Through the Chair, that's correct. Our intention was to put the six, I believe,

3770
05:16:43,840 --> 05:16:47,200
onto a reserve list possibly and then immediately hire them. Right now, there's no

3771
05:16:47,200 --> 05:16:50,700
offices on a reserve list to be hired at the Civil Police Department.

3772
05:16:56,730 --> 05:17:00,610
Council Member, again, that's consistent with my understanding and my experience

3773
05:17:00,610 --> 05:17:06,130
being chair of the conference last year. The very same thing happened with our last

3774
05:17:06,130 --> 05:17:06,790
session of hires.

3775
05:17:07,630 --> 05:17:10,390
Can we take a restroom break again? I apologise.

3776
05:17:14,150 --> 05:17:19,010
Certainly. Unless there's an objection, I do see Councillor UN Campan with a comment.

3777
05:17:19,490 --> 05:17:23,150
So, Councillor Netagang, we can return to you if you have further questions when we

3778
05:17:23,150 --> 05:17:29,550
come back from recess. This committee will go into recess now. We will reconvene

3779
05:17:29,550 --> 05:17:36,130
at 11.26 we'll stand at recess for five minutes and return to open session. Thank you. All

3780
05:23:23,070 --> 05:23:23,410
right.

3781
05:23:24,990 --> 05:23:30,310
It's now 11.27 and I'll be calling this committee back to order. There

3782
05:23:36,260 --> 05:23:36,600
you go.

3783
05:23:37,920 --> 05:23:42,900
As well as I'm handing the screen back to you. There we go. Great.

3784
05:23:46,870 --> 05:23:48,470
Committee is now back in

3785
05:23:48,470 --> 05:23:53,530
open session. Councilor Niedergang, did you have further questions to follow up?

3786
05:23:55,570 --> 05:23:56,770
Not yet, Mr. Chair.

3787
05:23:58,190 --> 05:24:00,650
All right, then we'll move on to the next person.

3788
05:24:00,890 --> 05:24:02,050
That's Councillor Ewing-Canton.

3789
05:24:03,290 --> 05:24:04,290
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

3790
05:24:04,770 --> 05:24:08,330
So I want to speak in favour of Councillor Neidergang's motion.

3791
05:24:08,950 --> 05:24:16,530
And I want to address this issue that has come up again about the specific six people that we want to bring on board.

3792
05:24:18,110 --> 05:24:23,530
So I was recently reviewing last year's budget hearing on the police

3793
05:24:23,530 --> 05:24:30,510
because I was trying to remember what my argument was last year for not supporting

3794
05:24:30,510 --> 05:24:35,370
a $600,000 cup that councillors got a neater gang had proposed. I was one of

3795
05:24:35,370 --> 05:24:39,810
the eight councillors who voted against that. And basically what I said at that

3796
05:24:39,810 --> 05:24:44,550
meeting is something that I think I'm hearing again tonight, which is that

3797
05:24:44,550 --> 05:24:49,690
this is not the right process to make this kind of decision. We need to take

3798
05:24:49,690 --> 05:24:55,150
this into a committee, we need to have a community process, we need to think carefully and strategically

3799
05:24:55,150 --> 05:24:56,170
about how to do this.

3800
05:24:56,390 --> 05:24:59,250
I don't feel, this is what I was saying last year, I don't feel like I've had the time

3801
05:25:00,270 --> 05:25:04,810
to internalize this issue, and I felt like I had not had enough time to think about

3802
05:25:04,810 --> 05:25:04,970
it.

3803
05:25:05,510 --> 05:25:06,610
So that was a year ago.

3804
05:25:09,230 --> 05:25:10,610
We did not do that work.

3805
05:25:11,790 --> 05:25:16,530
I would say after the straight pride parade, you know, again, I realize COVID came up,

3806
05:25:16,530 --> 05:25:21,050
but, you know, we, the city, we committed ourselves to taking a series of actions,

3807
05:25:21,930 --> 05:25:29,450
and we did not do them until this crisis forced the issue again. And again, I'm not,

3808
05:25:29,630 --> 05:25:34,490
this is not an accusation against anyone, individual person, by any means. This I,

3809
05:25:34,650 --> 05:25:40,590
I am as aware as everyone here of just how much work is before all of the elected officials

3810
05:25:40,590 --> 05:25:47,690
and city staff. I know. This is just a statement of fact. I don't think that this vote ever gets

3811
05:25:47,690 --> 05:25:53,970
easier. I think this is a very hard vote. That is why we're on, you know, hour five and a half.

3812
05:25:55,210 --> 05:26:01,390
This is not fun. All of us are stressed out about being put in this really tough position.

3813
05:26:01,870 --> 05:26:06,430
It is not going to get easier. I really don't believe that. I think we are not in a normal

3814
05:26:06,430 --> 05:26:12,590
moment. The the community you know I've done a lot of reaching out in addition to the public hearing

3815
05:26:13,410 --> 05:26:19,290
to a large number of people in my own ward and people who work in you know various agencies,

3816
05:26:19,510 --> 05:26:23,410
the police department. I've done a lot of thinking about this myself and I have convinced myself

3817
05:26:23,410 --> 05:26:31,730
that you know I really firmly believe that to make progress here we need to dramatically

3818
05:26:31,730 --> 05:26:39,950
re-invest in other services in our city. And as we said, countless times we keep coming

3819
05:26:39,950 --> 05:26:47,230
back to these six positions, we cannot decide which positions get cut. I do not want these

3820
05:26:47,230 --> 05:26:51,010
six people to get their hopes up about being public servants in Somerville and then get

3821
05:26:51,010 --> 05:26:54,630
that snatched away because of the decision we make. I take responsibility if that is

3822
05:26:54,630 --> 05:26:58,670
what winds up happening, you know, this is my role in the process and so be it.

3823
05:26:59,230 --> 05:27:03,630
That is not the message I'm sending to them. I think we've been extremely clear

3824
05:27:03,630 --> 05:27:09,190
about the, well, you know, Councillor Neeter-Dang and myself and others who

3825
05:27:09,190 --> 05:27:14,210
spoke in favor of this, I think have been very clear about the sorts of changes

3826
05:27:14,210 --> 05:27:19,830
that we would want to see as a result of these cuts. You know, there may be

3827
05:27:20,370 --> 05:27:24,110
legal and union issues that make that more difficult and frankly I think

3828
05:27:24,110 --> 05:27:27,830
that is one of the reasons that cities across the country have just been

3829
05:27:27,830 --> 05:27:32,910
sitting in stasis on this issue. It is very, very hard. So I just, you know, everyone that

3830
05:27:32,910 --> 05:27:38,490
is around this horseshoe thinking about this, I just, I asked you to think what on earth

3831
05:27:38,490 --> 05:27:42,230
could possibly ever make this easier as a vote. I think this is a really tough vote.

3832
05:27:42,850 --> 05:27:48,150
But I think that's, you know, the vote that we're being asked to consider. So I want

3833
05:27:48,150 --> 05:27:53,530
to leave it at that. I support this, you know, again, whether we vote tonight,

3834
05:27:53,530 --> 05:27:58,570
I do I feel like if we've gone records saying that the public hearing should remain open

3835
05:27:58,570 --> 05:28:02,750
I have no problem voting in the future, but but that's where I am. Thank you. All

3836
05:28:06,170 --> 05:28:08,030
right. Thank you councillor you encampment

3837
05:28:09,230 --> 05:28:11,030
next comment is councillor Davis

3838
05:28:12,050 --> 05:28:12,830
and then

3839
05:28:14,050 --> 05:28:18,950
Council meeting is already spoken so I'm going to go to councillor Strezzo who has not yet spoken I believe on the

3840
05:28:18,950 --> 05:28:20,010
Well, that's the question

3841
05:28:20,850 --> 05:28:23,130
Councillor Davis you're up

3842
05:28:23,870 --> 05:28:24,850
Thank you, Mr. Chair

3843
05:28:26,490 --> 05:28:33,110
You know, Councillor Ewing-Campden addressed a lot of the points that I

3844
05:28:35,130 --> 05:28:36,750
was going to make

3845
05:28:36,750 --> 05:28:45,530
and it's, you know, it's true, a year ago we sat here, well, not here in the horseshoe

3846
05:28:46,130 --> 05:28:53,490
and started to think about the same things and just so to dovetail a bit on one of the

3847
05:28:53,490 --> 05:28:57,170
This is one of the parts of what Councillor Ewing-Campen said.

3848
05:28:58,050 --> 05:29:04,890
You know, so as the Chair of Public Health and Public Safety, you know, certainly following

3849
05:29:04,890 --> 05:29:13,410
the, you know, the rally against, you know, the rally against Pride,

3850
05:29:16,480 --> 05:29:18,140
I had fully committed

3851
05:29:18,140 --> 05:29:23,800
to pursuing the reforms that were discussed in the public forum that was had and in

3852
05:29:23,800 --> 05:29:32,240
communications that we had and I you know COVID and schedule and everything else it just you know

3853
05:29:32,240 --> 05:29:38,520
it kept me from doing it and I and I guess only I know how like strongly I wanted to do that and

3854
05:29:38,520 --> 05:29:42,820
push that forward because of everything that we heard and and all the calls that we heard that

3855
05:29:42,820 --> 05:29:46,540
so personal.

3856
05:29:52,700 --> 05:29:59,420
And we couldn't get it done. We didn't do it. And, you know, as others have

3857
05:29:59,420 --> 05:29:59,960
said, you know, there's a lot of, you know, a lot of things that you can do, you know,

3858
05:30:00,000 --> 05:30:07,360
It's not, if we move forward this motion this evening, it won't be up to us to say what

3859
05:30:07,360 --> 05:30:13,740
ultimately happens, which positions are retained and which positions are cut, or whether the

3860
05:30:13,740 --> 05:30:18,240
candidates that have been discussed are placed on the reserve list so that they're first

3861
05:30:18,240 --> 05:30:22,780
in line when positions do become available through natural process.

3862
05:30:23,700 --> 05:30:29,100
It's not our call. It's up to the mayor, it's up to the chief, it's up to those

3863
05:30:29,100 --> 05:30:36,720
powers that be what happens to these candidates. What I think our responsibility is is to to

3864
05:30:36,720 --> 05:30:41,260
follow through on the word that we, as Councilor Kepin said, said that we were going to do

3865
05:30:41,260 --> 05:30:49,000
a year ago, gave to our constituents within the past, you know, six or seven months

3866
05:30:49,000 --> 05:30:56,260
I can't remember how far back that public meeting was after the straight Pride event.

3867
05:30:56,260 --> 05:31:02,860
but we're gonna put our money where our mouth is and so I think this is a well-placed motion and

3868
05:31:02,860 --> 05:31:04,100
on the client's support.

3869
05:31:07,520 --> 05:31:09,280
All right. Thank you, Councilor Davis.

3870
05:31:11,480 --> 05:31:13,900
Councilor Clean, I believe,

3871
05:31:14,380 --> 05:31:18,980
you know, I've lost track of who's spoken yet. So I'm just gonna go into order. Councilor

3872
05:31:18,980 --> 05:31:23,600
Neeter-Gang, then Councilor Strezzo, Councilor Clean. Councilor Neeter-Gang, you're up.

3873
05:31:23,960 --> 05:31:27,980
Mr. Chair, I'll pass. I've spoken. I'll go to the end of the line. I like

3874
05:31:27,980 --> 05:31:29,120
All right, I have to say.

3875
05:31:29,760 --> 05:31:30,460
I'll say Strezzo.

3876
05:31:31,480 --> 05:31:33,380
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

3877
05:31:33,560 --> 05:31:36,780
And thank you, Councilor Nidagang for passing.

3878
05:31:38,120 --> 05:31:40,500
First, I have a question.

3879
05:31:40,720 --> 05:31:44,960
Why can't this motion be potentially split

3880
05:31:44,960 --> 05:31:48,640
from the 593K lag money in deputy chief

3881
05:31:48,640 --> 05:31:50,960
to the six vacant patrol officers?

3882
05:31:51,320 --> 05:31:52,780
Why can we split that motion?

3883
05:31:55,600 --> 05:31:58,040
The motion is made in before us.

3884
05:31:59,520 --> 05:32:07,140
If you would like to vote against the motion and then propose a different motion that is smaller, you can propose that.

3885
05:32:07,480 --> 05:32:12,160
However, these are simply cuts to the salaries line item.

3886
05:32:12,580 --> 05:32:17,720
We can only cut a line item. We cannot cut specific positions. We can only cut a line item by a given amount.

3887
05:32:18,920 --> 05:32:27,220
Okay. Because I am not comfortable with the six vacant patrol officers. I am not comfortable

3888
05:32:27,220 --> 05:32:36,920
voting favorably potentially allowing residents of color to become patrol officers. So that's

3889
05:32:37,540 --> 05:32:40,880
a big way to question. Okay. Thank you very much.

3890
05:32:43,320 --> 05:32:46,000
All right. Councillor Klingon, you're up now.

3891
05:32:47,460 --> 05:32:53,620
Thank you, Mr. Chair. My final comments will be, let me just say that, you know, in asking

3892
05:32:54,140 --> 05:32:58,080
where we were in the process with those six, it had more to do with the fact that we could

3893
05:32:58,080 --> 05:33:05,500
end up having to pay folks for positions they never even get, if we hadn't effectively

3894
05:33:05,500 --> 05:33:11,680
already, you know, hired them in some way. That being said, they'll still be on the

3895
05:33:11,680 --> 05:33:15,560
list and I understand you know that list could could move quickly it could move

3896
05:33:15,560 --> 05:33:21,560
slowly but but you know hopefully those folks will stick around in those for

3897
05:33:21,560 --> 05:33:29,060
those positions as they become available so you know I I mean I'm willing to

3898
05:33:29,060 --> 05:33:35,840
support this this cut I just think that you know saying you know put our

3899
05:33:35,840 --> 05:33:38,840
money where our mouth is and these other things to me it just seems a

3900
05:33:38,840 --> 05:33:44,280
little off because, you know, the question really is that this is a fundamental question

3901
05:33:44,280 --> 05:33:49,140
we have in front of us right now is, is the SPD budget inflated? Is it, is there a lot

3902
05:33:49,140 --> 05:33:53,340
of fat? Can we do without? So we're kind of going back and forth from saying, yes, that

3903
05:33:53,340 --> 05:33:58,980
is the case, to then saying, we told people we were going to look at the police budget

3904
05:33:58,980 --> 05:34:04,680
and just make cuts. Like I'm not, I'm not really parsing out the two. I understand

3905
05:34:04,680 --> 05:34:13,640
the community is calling out for cuts. And I do think that Councillor Niedergang's cut is doable

3906
05:34:13,640 --> 05:34:22,380
and would make some sense. Sad as it will be to have those candidates hold on just a little longer.

3907
05:34:24,360 --> 05:34:28,080
And I also don't fully understand the repercussions of what will happen with

3908
05:34:28,080 --> 05:34:35,460
over time and such if we go down to 88 officers but you know I heard the people

3909
05:34:35,460 --> 05:34:43,180
loud and clear and they want at least the ones who reached out to us not the

3910
05:34:43,180 --> 05:34:46,780
other 80,000 but you know and as you all know I have lots of shootings in my

3911
05:34:46,780 --> 05:34:52,660
ward so I'm just hoping that you know with these with this cut that you

3912
05:34:52,660 --> 05:35:00,420
you know, public safety will still be upheld, you know, and to the best that we can here

3913
05:35:00,420 --> 05:35:05,000
in the city of Somerville, but I will support this cut.

3914
05:35:08,940 --> 05:35:09,580
All right.

3915
05:35:09,740 --> 05:35:10,640
Thank you, Councillor Klingon.

3916
05:35:11,460 --> 05:35:15,820
Next, we have Councillor Rosetti, followed by Councillor Ballantyne, and then I may

3917
05:35:15,820 --> 05:35:16,540
speak from the chair.

3918
05:35:16,900 --> 05:35:18,000
Councillor Rosetti.

3919
05:35:19,240 --> 05:35:20,360
Mr. Chair, thank you.

3920
05:35:20,360 --> 05:35:23,440
I'm trying to process everything that's been discussed.

3921
05:35:25,860 --> 05:35:32,760
I too came into this evening's meeting knowing that I was going to support some cuts to the

3922
05:35:32,760 --> 05:35:33,440
department budget.

3923
05:35:34,400 --> 05:35:42,260
My research on the grants is mostly operations and I will, if nobody else does, will be

3924
05:35:42,260 --> 05:35:43,440
proposing cuts there.

3925
05:35:44,520 --> 05:35:48,900
I am comfortable agreeing to a cut.

3926
05:35:48,900 --> 05:35:57,060
But I will be voting no on this particular motion and if it fails, I would propose instead

3927
05:35:57,060 --> 05:36:07,880
to cut from the bottom line from the salaries account a total of $650,000 based on the

3928
05:36:07,880 --> 05:36:17,140
history of the remainder and the vacancies that have been in place for over a year

3929
05:36:17,140 --> 05:36:20,020
for the personal services line.

3930
05:36:20,280 --> 05:36:22,820
I'm not comfortable going above 650

3931
05:36:22,820 --> 05:36:28,780
because I do plan to have cuts in the operations budget as well.

3932
05:36:28,980 --> 05:36:30,620
And I just wanted to be clear

3933
05:36:31,190 --> 05:36:33,980
on why I would be voting no on this particular line.

3934
05:36:34,020 --> 05:36:36,080
And I am hopeful that my colleagues

3935
05:36:36,080 --> 05:36:37,720
will think about that as well.

3936
05:36:43,190 --> 05:36:43,910
All right.

3937
05:36:44,290 --> 05:36:45,950
Thank you, Councillor Rosetti.

3938
05:36:48,510 --> 05:36:50,690
Councillor Ballantyne and then Councillor White

3939
05:36:50,690 --> 05:36:58,310
who hasn't, I believe, spoken on this motion yet. Councilor Bowensack. Thank

3940
05:36:58,310 --> 05:37:05,410
you, Mr. Chair. Similar to my good colleague at large, I won't be supporting

3941
05:37:05,410 --> 05:37:19,090
this motion. I will support the lag money in another motion. I am still very

3942
05:37:19,090 --> 05:37:25,710
aware of the feedback I have received from my constituents.

3943
05:37:26,710 --> 05:37:27,410
Thank you.

3944
05:37:30,110 --> 05:37:30,790
All right.

3945
05:37:30,930 --> 05:37:32,170
Thank you, Councillor Ballantyne.

3946
05:37:32,290 --> 05:37:32,850
Councillor White.

3947
05:37:41,080 --> 05:37:46,200
Where's on my limited coordination even gets worse about hitting the unmute button.

3948
05:37:46,700 --> 05:37:51,520
So on this, I want to thank Councillor Needy-Gang, might have had a little fun with him early

3949
05:37:51,520 --> 05:37:56,040
on, but I know he does his work and, you know, what his interests are.

3950
05:37:56,040 --> 05:37:58,740
I have a problem with this.

3951
05:38:01,060 --> 05:38:02,340
I'm thinking back to

3952
05:38:04,540 --> 05:38:07,420
some of the library when folks from the community,

3953
05:38:09,240 --> 05:38:15,300
people with color, wanted to participate in the decisions that were going to be made.

3954
05:38:16,040 --> 05:38:23,140
And to me, this could very much have an effect on people of color in our community.

3955
05:38:24,120 --> 05:38:24,800
Funding

3956
05:38:29,060 --> 05:38:31,500
for these six vacant positions is going to be removed.

3957
05:38:31,500 --> 05:38:36,580
So these people, maybe they'll wait a year hoping that we have the funding next year.

3958
05:38:37,880 --> 05:38:42,580
I definitely believe that we should have a close examination of our police department

3959
05:38:42,580 --> 05:38:47,680
and with the lag money, I'm clearly, you know, in support of that cut.

3960
05:38:48,180 --> 05:38:53,720
I could not and in good conscience for the Sixth Vacant because I know folks are saying

3961
05:38:53,720 --> 05:38:57,220
that, you know, we're just giving the cut and it's up to the mayor to implement,

3962
05:38:57,220 --> 05:39:02,260
But there's the danger wherever he cuts, there'll be the fall, you know, there'll be the backflow,

3963
05:39:02,560 --> 05:39:06,520
so it'll be the, you know, the younger folks who are on who may suffer from this.

3964
05:39:07,080 --> 05:39:11,980
And there is the potential about the deputy chief, you know, that position.

3965
05:39:12,520 --> 05:39:20,040
So I think Council Rosetti mentioned 650 if I have to take a look again at the deputy chief's position.

3966
05:39:20,420 --> 05:39:25,500
But for me, I want these six people on with a measure of surety.

3967
05:39:25,500 --> 05:39:31,440
I mean, I've worked, you know, as a counselor or an alderman for a long time that we have

3968
05:39:31,440 --> 05:39:33,400
moved to do things in this department.

3969
05:39:34,120 --> 05:39:39,360
And one of the most important things is, you know, in my mind has always been to expand

3970
05:39:39,360 --> 05:39:43,740
the, you know, representation of people of color on the police force.

3971
05:39:44,480 --> 05:39:46,300
It represents the community.

3972
05:39:47,420 --> 05:39:50,400
It's always been important, and especially the dreamer.

3973
05:39:50,760 --> 05:39:52,240
Again, I don't want to repeat myself.

3974
05:39:52,240 --> 05:39:58,420
But I remember 2010 when there were actual dreamers, people, kids in high school, you

3975
05:39:58,420 --> 05:40:04,260
know, talking to us about how important it was, and just to, you know, to take this away.

3976
05:40:04,620 --> 05:40:10,520
And again, these are my thoughts just to confirm what the motion is currently.

3977
05:40:11,060 --> 05:40:15,880
It is, if the Chair could just restate the numbers actually

3978
05:40:18,660 --> 05:40:19,620
voting on, if we could

3979
05:40:19,620 --> 05:40:21,380
have the question restated.

3980
05:40:21,860 --> 05:40:22,520
Thank you.

3981
05:40:22,520 --> 05:40:27,060
I believe the motion is to cut $1,180,500.

3982
05:40:27,460 --> 05:40:29,660
Is my recollection correct, Councilor Neidegain?

3983
05:40:30,360 --> 05:40:31,280
Yeah, that's correct.

3984
05:40:31,840 --> 05:40:37,380
$1,180,500 from the salaries line.

3985
05:40:44,700 --> 05:40:45,640
Councilor White, are you complete?

3986
05:40:52,900 --> 05:40:53,680
Councilor Cleaney.

3987
05:40:54,460 --> 05:40:56,400
Mr. Chair, thank you for that recognition.

3988
05:40:56,580 --> 05:40:57,700
As I said, really, really quick.

3989
05:40:58,780 --> 05:41:04,900
So I completely understand what happens here, Councilor White.

3990
05:41:04,900 --> 05:41:09,880
And just to your point though, I would ask, I know we don't have personnel here, but I

3991
05:41:09,880 --> 05:41:16,120
would ask the chief, you know, I know they do typically have a forecast of possible retirement.

3992
05:41:16,380 --> 05:41:22,480
So I'm just curious before I take this vote, my memory could be wrong, but I'd like to

3993
05:41:22,480 --> 05:41:27,720
know the number again, how many retirements we have and coming up in the near future,

3994
05:41:28,020 --> 05:41:32,300
very near future, possible retirements.

3995
05:41:32,300 --> 05:41:33,000
Would

3996
05:41:37,700 --> 05:41:39,740
the chief like to address that? Chief?

3997
05:41:44,020 --> 05:41:45,340
Chief, we're going to need you to hit that

3998
05:41:45,340 --> 05:41:45,800
button again.

3999
05:41:51,930 --> 05:41:57,350
But what we can do is we can predict retirements. We can never be certain until somebody puts

4000
05:41:57,350 --> 05:42:02,870
their time in. And that's a classic example with the deputy. There's a possibility a deputy

4001
05:42:02,870 --> 05:42:07,410
may retire, but we don't know if he's going to retire until they, you know, we get

4002
05:42:07,410 --> 05:42:12,310
notified from the person, from the personnel, actually not even the personnel office from

4003
05:42:12,310 --> 05:42:17,910
retirement board. So there's no guarantees. We're projecting out looking at time and service

4004
05:42:17,910 --> 05:42:23,110
and the possibility that office may retire. But a good point with the deputy, too, is they're

4005
05:42:23,110 --> 05:42:28,390
on a leave from the civil service rank. So they would actually go back to being a captain,

4006
05:42:29,290 --> 05:42:34,090
which had caused that trick or down effect. But I'm being told in the room here that nobody's

4007
05:42:34,090 --> 05:42:38,050
actually maxed out at this point, so to speak, pension-wise.

4008
05:42:39,390 --> 05:42:43,690
Okay, so there isn't a fork at the number, like I said, Ms. I remember Candace Cooper

4009
05:42:43,690 --> 05:42:49,150
used to have a pretty good handle on when they wanted to call for a new list, how many

4010
05:42:50,830 --> 05:42:56,610
potential retirements that we have either close to or already at, like they're already at

4011
05:42:56,610 --> 05:42:58,970
the point they could retire, they just haven't retired yet.

4012
05:42:59,170 --> 05:43:01,570
Is there any way to come up with a rough idea?

4013
05:43:07,690 --> 05:43:12,810
We're predicting, we're predicting, to the chair, I apologize, we're predicting

4014
05:43:12,810 --> 05:43:19,710
possibly six retirements, but we just have no way to quantify that until people come in

4015
05:43:19,710 --> 05:43:24,310
and until we get notified from the retirement board that people have put in their retirement

4016
05:43:24,310 --> 05:43:24,690
papers.

4017
05:43:26,110 --> 05:43:26,670
Okay.

4018
05:43:27,070 --> 05:43:31,150
Well, with that information, Mr. Chair, I will be changing my vote.

4019
05:43:31,990 --> 05:43:39,010
I will support most of that cut, but not the six positions, so I will be voting no

4020
05:43:39,010 --> 05:43:42,150
on Councilor Neeta Gang's proposal,

4021
05:43:42,330 --> 05:43:45,030
but I'd be open to another cut.

4022
05:43:47,560 --> 05:43:50,260
All right, Councilor Neeta Gang,

4023
05:43:50,540 --> 05:43:53,220
you would like to comment yet again?

4024
05:43:56,120 --> 05:43:57,800
Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair.

4025
05:43:58,520 --> 05:44:00,680
I can see the direction this is going in,

4026
05:44:00,820 --> 05:44:04,520
but I'm gonna weigh in anyway a little bit more.

4027
05:44:04,880 --> 05:44:08,520
So first, to me, a hiring freeze is a hiring freeze.

4028
05:44:08,520 --> 05:44:15,580
Second, we don't know if any of these six officers will make it through the Academy or actually

4029
05:44:16,040 --> 05:44:18,440
become Somerville Police Department officers.

4030
05:44:19,360 --> 05:44:30,380
Three, if this $391,000 were put into the Office of Housing Stability or into teen empowerment

4031
05:44:30,380 --> 05:44:40,500
or into any number of other city departments, we could hire terrific diverse candidates in those departments as well.

4032
05:44:41,120 --> 05:44:46,420
I don't see why the police department is special in that regard.

4033
05:44:46,980 --> 05:44:53,060
Finally, in terms of retirements, my experience from working in the departments is that generally,

4034
05:44:53,640 --> 05:44:58,200
like teachers, police officers go out when they can because they're getting a pension.

4035
05:44:58,200 --> 05:44:59,880
if they continue to work.

4036
05:45:06,020 --> 05:45:15,120
So we got on paper from the administration the prediction, and I know this is not certain,

4037
05:45:15,300 --> 05:45:22,560
but I would probably, you know, that a good deal on these numbers. Six patrol officers,

4038
05:45:22,780 --> 05:45:29,640
one sergeant, one lieutenant, one deputy are all slated to retire over the next year. And

4039
05:45:29,640 --> 05:45:33,360
And that actually fits with the data from the last four years.

4040
05:45:34,280 --> 05:45:47,860
We've had 11 retirements and resignations in 2019-12, in 2018-8, in 2017-9, in 2016.

4041
05:45:48,360 --> 05:45:56,140
So I think it's virtually a certainty that, you know, somewhere between 8 and 12 police

4042
05:45:56,140 --> 05:46:01,580
officers in the Sonoma Police Department will retire over the next 12 months. All of those

4043
05:46:01,580 --> 05:46:08,700
things being said, you know, I hope people will reconsider and vote for this cut. Thank you.

4044
05:46:11,140 --> 05:46:16,260
All right. Thank you, Councilor Nida gang. Before I speak from the chair,

4045
05:46:16,260 --> 05:46:27,120
the mayor is asked to comment on this. Mr. Mayor, I'll allow it. I'll sponsor you to

4046
05:46:27,120 --> 05:46:32,280
speak on the motion unless there's an objection from my colleagues from allowing the mayor

4047
05:46:32,280 --> 05:46:34,280
to speak. Please proceed.

4048
05:46:43,050 --> 05:46:46,010
We can't hear you, Mr. Mayor.

4049
05:46:47,110 --> 05:46:48,130
I think he's passing.

4050
05:46:48,130 --> 05:46:55,070
Oh, all right. All right, then. Councillor White.

4051
05:46:56,290 --> 05:46:57,350
Yes, just

4052
05:47:00,170 --> 05:47:06,360
time and state school year on what creates lag money. That's one of the reasons

4053
05:47:06,360 --> 05:47:14,060
why we have been around consistently $593,000 in personal services at the end of the year.

4054
05:47:14,660 --> 05:47:19,440
So the motion has that cut, so you can't take that into account.

4055
05:47:25,950 --> 05:47:26,810
And then you're talking

4056
05:47:26,810 --> 05:47:32,990
about an additional number of people who are going to retire to get to the 1.18 million,

4057
05:47:33,350 --> 05:47:37,770
then it appears to me that you may be double counting. But again, the hour is late as it's

4058
05:47:37,770 --> 05:47:38,530
now almost midnight.

4059
05:47:41,860 --> 05:47:44,680
All right. Thank you, Councillor White.

4060
05:47:47,280 --> 05:47:50,840
I will simply say on this point that I am

4061
05:47:50,840 --> 05:47:53,060
reminded of the

4062
05:47:56,000 --> 05:48:02,220
words of Councillor Wu in Boston on this point. I mean,

4063
05:48:05,870 --> 05:48:06,230
not clearly

4064
05:48:06,230 --> 05:48:14,130
really not because it's almost midnight and it's functionally the bread and butter of structural

4065
05:48:14,130 --> 05:48:14,650
racism.

4066
05:48:14,990 --> 05:48:21,970
The bread and butter of resistance to change of all kinds is procrastination and timidity.

4067
05:48:22,730 --> 05:48:25,350
So I support this.

4068
05:48:25,770 --> 05:48:36,010
I have confidence in our mayor to execute policy with the same force that he would

4069
05:48:36,010 --> 05:48:42,090
if this was a decrease in the police budget that was imposed by a natural disaster or any

4070
05:48:42,090 --> 05:48:49,050
other exigent circumstance. So I have confidence that these positions will be filled, that

4071
05:48:49,050 --> 05:48:56,590
we will see bright, young, diverse faces in the police force. And I'll say that, you

4072
05:48:56,590 --> 05:49:00,310
know, in the past week, I've been approached by quite a few members of some post-police

4073
05:49:00,310 --> 05:49:06,570
Department who wanted to talk with me about this. Some of them wore those

4074
05:49:06,570 --> 05:49:12,230
young faces who care very deeply about the community, who care very deeply about

4075
05:49:12,230 --> 05:49:20,190
the job they're doing and believe that that wave is the future and they

4076
05:49:20,190 --> 05:49:25,550
heard deeply when they hear the hurt that's been expressed by

4077
05:49:25,550 --> 05:49:31,890
people in our community, whether it's for indignities that they have suffered, and

4078
05:49:31,890 --> 05:49:37,670
they have some real police department, or just the outrage that they have felt in

4079
05:49:37,670 --> 05:49:40,250
seeing the state of policing in our country,

4080
05:49:42,380 --> 05:49:43,860
and make no mistake, those

4081
05:49:43,860 --> 05:49:48,060
indignities have existed. We have on paper in the responses from the

4082
05:49:48,060 --> 05:49:55,660
administration that I believe the number was 15. Well, 14. 14 claims of

4083
05:49:55,660 --> 05:50:00,360
of these of course since January 1st, 2015, five of those claims were by people of color.

4084
05:50:01,820 --> 05:50:08,300
So the anguish that we hear from constituents, I believe.

4085
05:50:10,100 --> 05:50:16,020
The fact that there are people in the Somerville Police Department right now who believe that

4086
05:50:16,020 --> 05:50:20,360
doesn't have to be that way, that it can be better, who want to support these changes

4087
05:50:20,360 --> 05:50:23,200
that we are aiming to make, I believe them to.

4088
05:50:23,880 --> 05:50:32,820
You know, I also believe the folks who are more senior and tenured, who have expressed

4089
05:50:33,760 --> 05:50:38,940
just like on some of you getting suggested that, you know, maybe it's time to move on.

4090
05:50:39,460 --> 05:50:45,800
So I think American execute on this, I am supporting this cut.

4091
05:50:46,420 --> 05:50:48,860
If this cut fails, I will support the next one.

4092
05:50:49,500 --> 05:50:53,400
because I believe that I have to represent

4093
05:50:53,400 --> 05:50:55,480
my constituents and my constituents

4094
05:50:55,480 --> 05:50:56,760
have been very clear on this point.

4095
05:50:59,260 --> 05:51:01,980
Councillor Strezzo, you have one further question.

4096
05:51:03,200 --> 05:51:08,140
Thank you very, very much for recognizing that,

4097
05:51:08,260 --> 05:51:09,480
Mr. Chair, I appreciate it.

4098
05:51:10,340 --> 05:51:14,480
So could I speak to, please to Councillor Neidergain

4099
05:51:14,480 --> 05:51:15,680
through you, Mr. Chair?

4100
05:51:16,420 --> 05:51:17,920
You can ask whatever questions you like,

4101
05:51:17,920 --> 05:51:23,200
Councillor Strezzo floor is yours. Thank you. Councillor Niedergang could I make a

4102
05:51:23,200 --> 05:51:29,500
friendly request that you amend the motion to take out these six vacant

4103
05:51:29,500 --> 05:51:36,840
positions and I support two-thirds of this. I just can't go with the six

4104
05:51:36,840 --> 05:51:38,920
vacant patrol officers. I can't do it.

4105
05:51:41,300 --> 05:51:44,440
Mr. Chair, thank you Councillor

4106
05:51:44,440 --> 05:51:52,040
I actually did consider that, and I will say yes, you can make a friendly request, but

4107
05:51:52,040 --> 05:51:53,240
I am going to say no.

4108
05:51:54,370 --> 05:51:58,380
My motion stands as it is, but I appreciate the friendly request.

4109
05:51:59,820 --> 05:52:06,520
So the motion is before us still for a cut of 1,180,500.

4110
05:52:08,320 --> 05:52:13,820
councilor need again could withdraw the request or withdraw the motion or the question can

4111
05:52:13,820 --> 05:52:20,380
be called if a member requests that and then further motions can be made at that point

4112
05:52:20,380 --> 05:52:22,280
once that motion is known before us.

4113
05:52:27,900 --> 05:52:29,900
Councilor need again would like to call the question.

4114
05:52:30,820 --> 05:52:37,080
So on the motion to reduce salaries by one million one hundred eighty thousand five

4115
05:52:37,080 --> 05:52:39,340
hundred roll call vote please.

4116
05:52:39,340 --> 05:52:48,200
This is a roll call vote to reduce the son of a police department salary line number 511000

4117
05:52:48,490 --> 05:52:53,240
by the amount of one million one hundred eighty thousand five hundred dollars.

4118
05:52:53,620 --> 05:52:54,900
Councillor Klingon.

4119
05:52:55,420 --> 05:52:55,980
No.

4120
05:52:56,940 --> 05:52:58,140
Councillor Mubarak.

4121
05:52:59,100 --> 05:52:59,400
No.

4122
05:53:00,400 --> 05:53:01,520
Councillor White.

4123
05:53:06,760 --> 05:53:07,540
Councillor White.

4124
05:53:12,620 --> 05:53:13,520
Councillor Rosetti.

4125
05:53:14,660 --> 05:53:14,940
No.

4126
05:53:16,740 --> 05:53:17,900
Councillor Strezzo.

4127
05:53:18,520 --> 05:53:19,160
No.

4128
05:53:20,580 --> 05:53:22,080
Councillor Neidegang.

4129
05:53:22,260 --> 05:53:23,060
Yes.

4130
05:53:23,980 --> 05:53:25,140
Councillor Davis.

4131
05:53:26,260 --> 05:53:27,100
Yes.

4132
05:53:29,200 --> 05:53:31,000
Councillor McLachlan has recused.

4133
05:53:31,400 --> 05:53:32,500
Councillor Ewing-Campan.

4134
05:53:33,320 --> 05:53:33,700
Yes.

4135
05:53:35,400 --> 05:53:36,980
Councillor Ballantyne.

4136
05:53:37,700 --> 05:53:38,420
No.

4137
05:53:39,760 --> 05:53:40,900
Councillor Scott.

4138
05:53:41,560 --> 05:53:42,000
Yes.

4139
05:53:43,020 --> 05:53:46,040
Mr. Chairman, four members have voted yes.

4140
05:53:46,460 --> 05:53:47,820
Six members have voted no.

4141
05:53:48,380 --> 05:53:49,080
One has recused.

4142
05:53:52,230 --> 05:53:53,170
All right.

4143
05:53:53,170 --> 05:53:56,470
Right, and here we are at 1157 p.m.

4144
05:53:56,670 --> 05:53:59,130
There are no motions currently before the committee.

4145
05:53:59,470 --> 05:54:01,670
Are there any motions to be made?

4146
05:54:01,790 --> 05:54:03,310
Councilor Rosetti, I see you have a question.

4147
05:54:04,230 --> 05:54:10,210
I move to cut 51100 by $650,000.

4148
05:54:11,990 --> 05:54:16,330
All right, motion is made to reduce the salaries.

4149
05:54:16,890 --> 05:54:17,850
Oh, is that salaries?

4150
05:54:18,210 --> 05:54:19,670
Please correct me, I don't have the line

4151
05:54:19,670 --> 05:54:20,930
in front of me, Councilor Rosetti.

4152
05:54:20,930 --> 05:54:26,270
I believe it is sir that's what clerk for us at least just read the line as all

4153
05:54:26,270 --> 05:54:32,090
right so the motion is made by Councillor Rossetti to reduce the salaries line

4154
05:54:32,090 --> 05:54:37,870
item of the summer police budget by six hundred and fifty thousand dollars on

4155
05:54:37,870 --> 05:54:41,390
that motion is there any discussion being

4156
05:54:48,910 --> 05:54:50,630
no discussion I

4157
05:54:53,290 --> 05:54:53,790
suppose a roll

4158
05:54:53,790 --> 05:55:01,780
call vote is in order this is a roll call on reducing the police

4159
05:55:01,780 --> 05:55:08,240
Department salary line item 510000 by the amount of $650,000.

4160
05:55:08,900 --> 05:55:10,380
Councillor Klingon.

4161
05:55:10,880 --> 05:55:11,700
Yes.

4162
05:55:13,020 --> 05:55:14,280
Councillor Mubarak.

4163
05:55:14,780 --> 05:55:15,400
Yes.

4164
05:55:16,360 --> 05:55:17,440
Councillor White.

4165
05:55:19,230 --> 05:55:20,550
Councillor Rosetti.

4166
05:55:21,490 --> 05:55:22,070
Yes.

4167
05:55:22,710 --> 05:55:23,790
Councillor Strezzo.

4168
05:55:24,550 --> 05:55:25,190
Yes.

4169
05:55:25,790 --> 05:55:27,110
Councillor Neidegain.

4170
05:55:27,570 --> 05:55:28,110
Yes.

4171
05:55:28,970 --> 05:55:30,050
Councillor Davis.

4172
05:55:31,090 --> 05:55:31,710
Yes.

4173
05:55:32,930 --> 05:55:42,330
Councilor McLaughlin is recused, Councilor Ewing-Campan, and Councilor Ballantyne, and

4174
05:55:43,190 --> 05:55:43,970
Councilor Scott.

4175
05:55:45,850 --> 05:55:46,130
Yes.

4176
05:55:46,810 --> 05:55:52,590
Mr. Chairman, 10 members have voted yes, no members have voted no, and one is recused.

4177
05:55:52,590 --> 05:56:05,690
All right, that motion carries. I will, at this moment, make a motion requesting that

4178
05:56:05,690 --> 05:56:13,490
the administration revise their budget and present this council with either depositing

4179
05:56:13,490 --> 05:56:21,370
this into the revised budget that would place that amount into the Social Justice

4180
05:56:21,370 --> 05:56:25,850
fund or with other proposals of how to deploy those funds into the city.

4181
05:56:30,840 --> 05:56:31,940
That would be a resolution

4182
05:56:31,940 --> 05:56:32,820
in the form of a motion.

4183
05:56:36,160 --> 05:56:41,840
On the motion Mr. Chair. Councilor Davis. Thank you Mr. Chair.

4184
05:56:42,720 --> 05:56:50,760
This is, as you have said, kind of the key point. All we can do is what we've done, which is

4185
05:56:51,840 --> 05:56:56,580
turn my camera on here. All we can do is what we've done, which is cut some money out of the

4186
05:56:56,580 --> 05:57:08,960
budget. It is upon the mayor and his administration to determine where that money goes. And having

4187
05:57:08,960 --> 05:57:14,060
taken votes this evening, I think, you know, it's clear, as the chair said, it was important

4188
05:57:14,060 --> 05:57:23,040
to do that in this timeframe so that we still allow time during this process. And I absolutely

4189
05:57:23,040 --> 05:57:25,140
support this and calling that

4190
05:57:32,020 --> 05:57:32,760
has been heard.

4191
05:57:35,380 --> 05:57:37,140
We lost your audio at the moment there,

4192
05:57:37,480 --> 05:57:37,980
Councillor Davis.

4193
05:57:40,720 --> 05:57:44,520
You have me back now? You have me back now. All right, very good.

4194
05:57:45,300 --> 05:57:52,040
In short, fully support this motion and we'll

4195
05:57:56,230 --> 05:57:59,990
go back and take the smaller

4196
05:57:59,990 --> 05:58:06,330
amount that was struck from the budget this evening and find a place to put

4197
05:58:06,330 --> 05:58:12,350
that, as I said earlier, we have folks doing this type of work already in some certain circumstances.

4198
05:58:13,270 --> 05:58:19,550
It strikes me that it wouldn't be difficult to find good places for this money in this

4199
05:58:19,550 --> 05:58:20,170
year's budget.

4200
05:58:20,710 --> 05:58:26,230
And I truly hope that in the spirit of collaboration that we will see that before we have a final

4201
05:58:26,230 --> 05:58:27,670
budget upon which to go.

4202
05:58:27,970 --> 05:58:28,690
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

4203
05:58:31,520 --> 05:58:31,700
Right.

4204
05:58:31,860 --> 05:58:32,820
Thank you, Councillor Davis.

4205
05:58:32,820 --> 05:58:37,640
Mr. Davis, Councilor Rosetti, you have a question.

4206
05:58:39,840 --> 05:58:41,240
It's not a question, sir.

4207
05:58:41,320 --> 05:58:41,980
It's a brief comment.

4208
05:58:42,460 --> 05:58:42,820
Okay.

4209
05:58:43,800 --> 05:58:45,120
Thank you, Mr. Chair.

4210
05:58:45,320 --> 05:58:47,720
I just want to thank my Councilor Davis

4211
05:58:47,720 --> 05:58:50,320
for raising that 100% support that statement.

4212
05:58:50,520 --> 05:58:51,420
Thank you, Councilor Davis.

4213
05:58:53,060 --> 05:58:54,040
All right.

4214
05:58:58,550 --> 05:59:01,750
Unless there's any further comment on this,

4215
05:59:03,550 --> 05:59:06,090
Let's have a roll call vote on that on their resolution.

4216
05:59:08,300 --> 05:59:11,320
Mr. Chairman, can you restate the resolution please?

4217
05:59:12,300 --> 05:59:18,440
Sure. The resolution is a request to the city council that the mayor return to us with

4218
05:59:18,440 --> 05:59:29,140
an amended budget that would place $200,000 in the Social and Racial Justice Fund or

4219
05:59:29,140 --> 05:59:31,140
in other badly needed city service.

4220
05:59:33,430 --> 05:59:36,270
Okay. On that motion,

4221
05:59:38,630 --> 05:59:40,490
Councillor Clingham. Yes.

4222
05:59:41,190 --> 05:59:49,330
Councillor McLaughlin. Yes, please. Councillor White. Yes. Councillor Rosetti. Yes.

4223
05:59:49,330 --> 05:59:49,470
Yes.

4224
05:59:50,010 --> 05:59:51,390
Chancellor Strezzo.

4225
05:59:51,870 --> 05:59:52,310
Yes.

4226
05:59:53,010 --> 05:59:54,230
Chancellor Anita Gang.

4227
05:59:54,690 --> 05:59:55,110
Yes.

4228
05:59:55,850 --> 05:59:56,790
Chancellor Davis.

4229
05:59:57,830 --> 05:59:58,490
Yes.

4230
06:00:00,000 --> 06:00:09,440
Council is recused. Council, you and Kampen. Yes. Council, Ballantyne. Yes. And Council, Scott. Yes.

4231
06:00:10,080 --> 06:00:14,620
Mr. Chairman, 10 members have voted yes, zero have voted no, and one is recused.

4232
06:00:16,100 --> 06:00:21,200
Thank you. Before we adjourn, I want to thank Mayor Curtatoni, who has stayed with us for this

4233
06:00:21,200 --> 06:00:25,540
entire time. Mr. Chair, I'd like to make one further motion if I may be recognized.

4234
06:00:29,660 --> 06:00:30,060
Thank

4235
06:00:32,400 --> 06:00:36,420
you, Mr. Chair. I apologize to you and to the Mayor for jumping in here.

4236
06:00:39,000 --> 06:00:40,580
The motion

4237
06:00:40,580 --> 06:00:47,000
that was just passed was, I think, spot on. I think it bears repeating the points that

4238
06:00:47,000 --> 06:00:54,920
were made earlier. I'd like to make a motion that it's symbolic, but I think it's worthwhile

4239
06:00:54,920 --> 06:01:01,740
to reiterate the commitment that the mayor and the chief gave in response to

4240
06:01:01,740 --> 06:01:05,600
questions earlier this evening I'd like to move that the administration work

4241
06:01:05,600 --> 06:01:12,440
collaboratively with the city council without delay to work on substantial and

4242
06:01:12,440 --> 06:01:18,800
meaningful reforms to law enforcement within the city of Somerville to

4243
06:01:18,800 --> 06:01:23,640
include without limitation establishment of a civilian review board

4244
06:01:23,640 --> 06:01:32,380
and reimagining an approach to policing that involves responses, civilian responses to

4245
06:01:34,260 --> 06:01:37,940
matters that are currently addressed by the police department.

4246
06:01:39,760 --> 06:01:40,280
Okay.

4247
06:01:40,420 --> 06:01:43,500
I'm going to ask you to reduce that to writing for the clerk, unless the clerk caught all

4248
06:01:43,500 --> 06:01:43,680
that.

4249
06:01:43,960 --> 06:01:44,220
Definitely not.

4250
06:01:45,080 --> 06:01:45,860
I did not.

4251
06:01:46,700 --> 06:01:47,420
All right.

4252
06:01:47,780 --> 06:01:48,820
But we all heard it.

4253
06:01:48,940 --> 06:01:50,300
I think the sentiment is good.

4254
06:01:51,180 --> 06:01:54,040
Is there any discussion on this motion from Councillor Davis?

4255
06:01:54,040 --> 06:01:54,600
All

4256
06:02:00,230 --> 06:02:07,050
right, then hearing none roll call vote on that resolution on that resolution councillor Klingon. Yes

4257
06:02:07,590 --> 06:02:08,630
Councilman Boba

4258
06:02:08,630 --> 06:02:09,690
Yes

4259
06:02:10,230 --> 06:02:12,070
Councilor White. Yes

4260
06:02:12,630 --> 06:02:14,830
Councilor Rosetti. Yes

4261
06:02:15,350 --> 06:02:16,430
Councilor Strezzo

4262
06:02:17,430 --> 06:02:18,050
Yes

4263
06:02:18,630 --> 06:02:20,930
Councilor need a gang. Yes

4264
06:02:21,510 --> 06:02:22,450
Councilor Davis

4265
06:02:22,450 --> 06:02:31,790
this? Yes. Councilor McLaughlin is recused. Councilor Ewan-Campan? Yes. Councilor Valentine?

4266
06:02:33,250 --> 06:02:39,430
Yes. Councilor Scott? Yes. Mr. Chairman, 10 members have voted yes and none have voted

4267
06:02:39,430 --> 06:02:46,310
no and one is recused. All right then, unless somebody else has an immediate motion, what

4268
06:02:46,310 --> 06:02:50,890
What I was returning to was thanking the mayor for his attendance and his attention tonight.

4269
06:02:52,570 --> 06:02:56,370
Mr. Mayor, you've heard the resolutions, you've heard the action of the committee.

4270
06:02:56,830 --> 06:02:58,810
Do you have any final thoughts to share with us?

4271
06:02:59,530 --> 06:03:00,290
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

4272
06:03:00,470 --> 06:03:03,410
First, thank you to everyone for all your deliberation, allowing me to be on as a

4273
06:03:03,410 --> 06:03:04,010
panelist.

4274
06:03:04,510 --> 06:03:07,770
And I appreciate the gravity of the work you did in those resolutions.

4275
06:03:07,770 --> 06:03:17,610
You will receive an adjusted or amended budget to reflect the resolution.

4276
06:03:18,690 --> 06:03:27,330
That investment will go to the Resource Social Justice Fund, which is my first thought, based on the resolution or any other programs that meet that purpose.

4277
06:03:27,790 --> 06:03:29,770
So we'll have that to you ASAP. Thank you.

4278
06:03:30,570 --> 06:03:34,910
All right. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. There's a big list of program improvement requests.

4279
06:03:35,130 --> 06:03:38,490
I'm sure we'll be able to generate some. All right. I'm sure.

4280
06:03:39,330 --> 06:03:45,350
All right. We have reached the end of our planned agenda for the evening. Councilor

4281
06:03:45,350 --> 06:03:49,410
need again. You have a comment you'd like to make before we move to adjourn.

4282
06:03:50,070 --> 06:03:52,550
No, I'll pass. I'll pass, Mr. Chair. Thank you.

4283
06:03:52,850 --> 06:03:56,370
Mr. Chair, it's Councilor Rosetti. Councilor Rosetti.

4284
06:03:56,910 --> 06:04:03,390
If you could let the public know when we're going to be taking up the remainder of the police department's budget, please. Oh

4285
06:04:04,030 --> 06:04:09,530
Good Lord. Thank you for the reminder. There are still two more pieces of

4286
06:04:09,530 --> 06:04:12,850
Related to the police department. That is the animal control

4287
06:04:13,690 --> 06:04:21,910
No, no, no, Mr. Chair. We didn't do up the OM account of the police department either. Good Lord. I

4288
06:04:21,910 --> 06:04:25,550
Make a fair point that is Eddie. Would you like to continue this evening?

4289
06:04:26,830 --> 06:04:34,710
I think my colleagues will kill me, no, but we do need to allow time to do the

4290
06:04:34,710 --> 06:04:39,270
OM portion of the police budget because that was my grants reference at the start

4291
06:04:39,270 --> 06:04:49,630
of the meeting. All right, I would be inclined to take up the OM lines, geez, and

4292
06:04:52,800 --> 06:04:57,160
a request, we have multiple requesting colleagues that these be taken up in a

4293
06:04:57,160 --> 06:05:03,100
In a committee of the meeting, I guess it's appropriate to ask colleagues at this point

4294
06:05:03,100 --> 06:05:10,720
if they feel present for discussion on the OM lines, the Animal Control Department, and

4295
06:05:10,720 --> 06:05:11,300
E911.

4296
06:05:13,530 --> 06:05:20,390
We could convert our Thursday meeting into a committee of the whole.

4297
06:05:21,170 --> 06:05:22,450
The meeting has already been cancelled.

4298
06:05:22,450 --> 06:05:28,830
So, Mr. Forsley, I say, is it allowed to change that to a committee that hold on short notice

4299
06:05:28,830 --> 06:05:30,950
or does that mean an application?

4300
06:05:31,870 --> 06:05:32,990
For Thursday's meeting?

4301
06:05:33,690 --> 06:05:34,350
That's correct.

4302
06:05:35,450 --> 06:05:38,390
Yeah, we can do that tomorrow, that will still be the $48.

4303
06:05:40,210 --> 06:05:44,530
Oh, yeah, right, because even though it says Tuesday on my computer, it's just because

4304
06:05:44,530 --> 06:05:45,130
it's after a minute.

4305
06:05:48,850 --> 06:05:55,650
Councillor Rosetti, we could take this up conceivably on Thursday the 2nd.

4306
06:05:56,210 --> 06:05:56,550
Thank you.

4307
06:05:56,990 --> 06:05:57,730
Yep, that's great.

4308
06:05:57,790 --> 06:05:59,470
We got a number of other items that evening.

4309
06:06:02,410 --> 06:06:03,970
We have to continue, sir.

4310
06:06:04,150 --> 06:06:07,490
We might as well go while the momentum is with us.

4311
06:06:08,740 --> 06:06:18,940
Oh, right. Then let's plan to take up the ON lines, the animal control and E911 when we resume on briefly

4312
06:06:23,040 --> 06:06:24,280
looking at our calendar.

4313
06:06:32,670 --> 06:06:40,830
We have a special meeting at the city council scheduled for tomorrow night to receive and presumably vote on the continuing appropriation.

4314
06:06:41,210 --> 06:06:46,890
On July 1st, which is Wednesday, we have community preservation.

4315
06:06:46,890 --> 06:06:51,990
information, info technology, law department, health and human services, council on aging,

4316
06:06:52,270 --> 06:06:57,130
summer promise, vets, libraries and traffic parking that will be simply a committee meeting.

4317
06:06:58,130 --> 06:07:07,050
On July 2nd, we also have already on the docket, auditing, purchasing grants, assessing personnel,

4318
06:07:08,030 --> 06:07:10,970
health insurance, workers comp and the arts council.

4319
06:07:10,970 --> 06:07:19,270
We could make this a committee the whole and take up the OM lines, the animal control and E911 at the start of that meeting.

4320
06:07:20,310 --> 06:07:31,550
And then if councillors decide to leave at that point and we lose quorum for the committee the whole, it would simply revert to a committee meeting at that point, I believe.

4321
06:07:31,750 --> 06:07:33,630
But I'm going to look to Councillor White who's been doing this longer.

4322
06:07:36,180 --> 06:07:37,260
No, not true.

4323
06:07:37,980 --> 06:07:38,540
Not true.

4324
06:07:39,080 --> 06:07:39,700
Oh, I'm sorry.

4325
06:07:39,700 --> 06:07:46,900
I'll let councilor white respond but we can't once you start at the hole you have to keep of the hole for if you want to move motions I

4326
06:07:48,240 --> 06:07:51,340
Would check I would check with the city solicitor on that

4327
06:07:51,340 --> 06:07:57,920
But the danger is that it has been scheduled as a committee of the whole so if there's no quorum present for the committee of the whole

4328
06:07:57,920 --> 06:08:01,460
I don't think it were necessary reverts to a regular committee meeting

4329
06:08:01,460 --> 06:08:02,420
All right

4330
06:08:02,420 --> 06:08:08,840
Well, then we'll need at least one intrepid volunteer who sits with us for the entire time and given how many our colleagues have been watching these

4331
06:08:08,840 --> 06:08:13,840
meetings from the sideline, even when they were committee meetings, I'm sure we'll have.

4332
06:08:16,500 --> 06:08:19,220
So let's go ahead and plan to take this up.

4333
06:08:19,320 --> 06:08:23,520
We will convert the meeting on July 2nd to Committee of the Whole.

4334
06:08:24,780 --> 06:08:30,480
Mr. Force-Lizzi, if you could update that, and we will modify, we'll make sure that

4335
06:08:30,480 --> 06:08:37,560
the first things we take up are the OM lines of police and the animal control and

4336
06:08:37,560 --> 06:08:38,640
E911 budget.

4337
06:08:41,580 --> 06:08:47,700
All right. Thank you everybody for your time, your attention. Thank you to the

4338
06:08:48,580 --> 06:08:55,020
nearly 60 members of the public that are still in attendance. And I will see you all tomorrow

4339
06:08:55,020 --> 06:08:58,300
are on night, chair moves to adjourn.

4340
06:08:58,500 --> 06:08:58,760
On

4341
06:09:03,750 --> 06:09:04,690
the motion to adjourn?

4342
06:09:07,520 --> 06:09:08,160
Second.

4343
06:09:09,440 --> 06:09:10,600
It was really neat.

4344
06:09:11,100 --> 06:09:11,720
Second, let's.

4345
06:09:12,540 --> 06:09:13,340
I'll third it.

4346
06:09:13,980 --> 06:09:16,000
We need to roll call on the motion to adjourn.

4347
06:09:16,000 --> 06:09:16,200
I'll third it.

4348
06:09:17,340 --> 06:09:19,640
Roll call on the motion to adjourn.

4349
06:09:19,960 --> 06:09:20,740
Councilor Dwingan.

4350
06:09:21,360 --> 06:09:21,660
Yes.

4351
06:09:22,380 --> 06:09:23,380
Councilor Mubah.

4352
06:09:24,140 --> 06:09:24,440
Yes.

4353
06:09:25,100 --> 06:09:25,880
Councilor White.

4354
06:09:26,600 --> 06:09:26,820
Yes.

4355
06:09:27,340 --> 06:09:28,360
Councilor Rosetti.

4356
06:09:29,280 --> 06:09:29,540
Yes.

4357
06:09:30,060 --> 06:09:31,140
Councilor Strezzel.

4358
06:09:32,380 --> 06:09:32,700
Yes.

4359
06:09:33,060 --> 06:09:34,260
Councilor Niedergang.

4360
06:09:35,020 --> 06:09:35,320
Yes.

4361
06:09:35,940 --> 06:09:36,980
Councilor Davis.

4362
06:09:38,300 --> 06:09:38,660
Yes.

4363
06:09:39,540 --> 06:09:41,580
Councilor McLaughlin is recused,

4364
06:09:41,860 --> 06:09:43,080
Councilor Ewan-Campan.

4365
06:09:43,700 --> 06:09:43,960
Yes.

4366
06:09:44,480 --> 06:09:45,360
Councilor Scott.

4367
06:09:46,360 --> 06:09:46,700
Yes.

4368
06:09:47,480 --> 06:09:48,380
Move to reconsider.

4369
06:09:49,340 --> 06:09:52,480
You forgot me, Mr. Corsola.

4370
06:09:53,200 --> 06:09:54,140
I forgot who?

4371
06:09:54,840 --> 06:09:55,280
Valentine.

4372
06:09:55,920 --> 06:09:57,060
Councilor Ballantyne.

4373
06:09:57,300 --> 06:09:58,560
I was ahead of myself.

4374
06:09:59,380 --> 06:10:00,540
Councilor Ballantyne.

4375
06:10:00,540 --> 06:10:01,520
Yes.