1. Monday, May 5, 2008                                    7.  Monday, November 3, 2008

2. Monday, June 2, 2008                                   8.  Monday, December 1, 2008

3. Monday, July 7, 2008                                    9.  Monday, January 5, 2009

4. Monday, August 4, 2008                               10. Monday, February 2, 2009

5. Tuesday, September 2, 2008                         11. Monday, March 2, 2009

6. Monday, October 6, 2008                              12. Monday April 6, 2009 (election of officers)

NOTE: All meetings are at 4:00 p.m. at the Newington Police Station unless otherwise indicated.

NEWINGTON POLICE COMMISSION

MINUTES

There was a meeting of the Newington Police Commission on Monday, November 3, 2008, at 4:00 p.m.

PRESENT: Commissioner Paul Kent, Commissioner F. Jackson Hoyt and Chief Jon Tretter.

I

CALL TO ORDER

Commissioner Kent called the meeting to order at 4:00 p.m.

II

MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETINGS

On a MOTION by Commissioner Hoyt and seconded by Commissioner Kent, the Commission voted unanimously to accept the minutes from the October 6, 2008, meeting as written.

There were no other minutes.

III

POLICE COMMISSION INFORMATION

A. Staffing Update - The Chief told the Commissioners he had nothing to report on personnel.

B. There was no other police information/business.

IV

OLD BUSINESS

A. 2008 Budget Review - The Chief presented the Commissioners with a current copy of the 2008 Budget. The Chief said we are in good shape for the 2 months left this year. Chief said that obviously the fuel has gone over the budgeted amount; overtime will be fine.

B. Garage Update - The Chief told the Commissioners that the site plan has been completed and he is waiting for the actual building estimates to be turned in. Commissioner Hoyt asked the Chief if they would be moving the gas lines instead of the water main and stated that the gas line would be easier to move since it is not buried as far down as the water main. The Chief said that if the garage construction does not start this year, he will ask the Selectmen to encumber the funds for next year.

V

NEW BUSINESS

A. Purchase Order Review - The Commissioners reviewed and signed the purchase order file.

B. 2009 Budget Review - The Chief told the Commissioners he is giving them two versions of the 2009 budget. The Chief said the Board of Selectmen set the COLA at 5% and last year the COLA was 2.4%. Commissioner Hoyt asked if it was last year that a couple of the patrolmen got 1 or 2 steps and the Chief said that it was a couple of years ago. Commissioner Hoyt said that the Federal COLA has been set at 5.7%. The Chief said the second version has the 5% COLA plus the annual step increase (1.5%) and both versions of the 2009 budget with the 5% and the step increase results in a decrease to the budget. The Chief said with the 5% COLA the budget is down by -1.61% and with the 1.5% step, the budget is down -0.68%. The Chief told the Commissioners that the health care this year has actually gone down just less than a percentage point; dental coverage went up about 2% which is not a huge amount. The Chief said basically we have not added to the budget, but moved money within the budget where we thought we needed to increase the amounts. The Chief said he did add additional money to the gasoline line because we will be over by quite a bit this year and also added money to the line item for tires for the cruisers. Commissioners Hoyt and Kent expressed their concern that the cost of gasoline will rise again this coming year. Chief Tretter discussed the rising cost of snow tires and regular tires for the cruisers. Commissioner Hoyt asked what items are charged to the miscellaneous line and suggested it would be good to have an itemized print out in case there are any questions by the budget committee. The Chief said he moved some money into the Equipment contract line to accommodate the on-line backup system for the file server we will be trying out this week. Once again the Chief stated that the second budget draft reflects a 5% COLA and one step increase of 1.5% for each employee. The Chief said the Town is putting together a step system for their employees and they are looking at 5% plus another 2% or so with the step increase. Commissioner Kent asked the Chief for the average salary of the officers and the Chief said the lowest man, with the 5%, will make $44,158 annually, $1700 a month, and $21.23 an hour. The Chief said he would provide the Commissioners with a copy of the 2008 pay scale so they can compare it to both the 2009 with 5% and no step; and 2009 with 5% and 1 step of 1.5%.

VI

NEXT MEETING DATE/TIME/LOCATION

The next meeting of the Police Commission is scheduled for Monday, December 1, 2008, at 4:00 p.m.

VII

ADJOURNMENT

On a MOTION by Commissioner Hoyt and seconded by Commissioner Kent, the Commissioners voted to adjourn at 4:45 p.m.

                                    For F. Jackson Hoyt, Secretary

                                                    by Diana St. Laurent