VILLAGE OF NORTH AURORA
PUBLIC SAFETY MEETING MINUTES
JANUARY 7, 2013
CALL TO ORDER – 6:30 pm
Trustee Gaffino called the meeting to order.
ROLL CALL
In attendance: Mayor Dale Berman, Trustee Vince Mancini, Trustee Mark Gaffino, Trustee Ryan Lambert, Trustee Chris Faber, Village Clerk Lori Murray, Finance Director Bill Hannah, Public Works Superintendent Mike Glock, Interim Village Administrator/Police Chief Dave Summer, Deputy Chief Scott Buziecki,
AUDIENCE COMMENTS – None
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
1. Approval of Public Safety Committee Meeting Minutes dated July 2, 2012
Motion for approval made by Trustee Mancini and seconded by Trustee Faber. All in favor. Motion approved.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Discussion of a Citizens Corps Program
Deputy Police Chief Scott Buziecki proposed a Citizens Corps Program for the Village. The program is federally recognized and locally run. It is designed to enhance community emergency preparedness. The program was started in 2002 under direction from President Bush to handle future disasters.
Local jurisdiction establishes a Citizen Corps Council to oversee volunteer programs. The Citizen Corps Council is made up of community leaders in each of several different sectors of the community.
There are two Citizen Corps programs: Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) and Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS). The CERT program would help train residents to be better prepared for emergency situations. VIPS volunteers would assist with local law enforcement. The start up budget for the program would be $12,000 with ongoing costs being minimal.
Staff recommended the Village begin the process of forming its own Citizen Corp Council to look into the CERT program and possibly a VIPS program.
NEW BUSINESS
1. Discussion of a Citizen Corps Program
Trustee Lambert asked about possible liability with volunteers overstepping their boundaries. Buziecki said the council would need to choose the right people and conduct background checks on volunteers. The Village would still be liable if a volunteer abused their authority. Lambert asked about the age of the volunteers. Buziecki said that volunteers would probably be over 21 but that the Citizen Corps Council would decide.
Lambert asked if there would be any backlash from the union. Buziecki said the majority of things the volunteers would do would not be something an officer would normally handle.
Trustees Lambert and Gaffino said the program seemed to be a good one. Trustee Mancini was in favor of the concept for emergency situations and suggested using Naperville’s policy as a guideline.
Trustee Gaffino asked if there were any grants available for this program. Buziecki said they will be looking into grants.
The Public Safety Committee suggested moving this forward to the next Committee of the Whole meeting. A resolution to form a council would go to New Business at the next Board meeting.
Buziecki said the next step would be to send someone to training, which is at no cost, and come back with further information.
OLD BUSINESS – None
OTHER INFORMATION – None
TRUSTEE COMMENTS – None
ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn made by Trustee Mancini and seconded by Trustee Lambert. All in favor. Motion approved.
Respectfully Submitted,
Lori J. Murray
Village Clerk
