Loading...
1983-02-07 adjFebruary 7, 1983 (Adjourned Night Meeting) ~'~Adjourned from February 2, 1983) An adjourned meeting of the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors was held on February 7, 1983, at 8:30 P.M., in the Basement Conference Room of Charlottesville City Hall, Charlottesville, Virginia. This meeting was adjourned from February 2, 1983. BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: Mr. James R. Butler, Mrs. Patricia H. Cooke, Messrs. Gerald E. Fisher and C. Timothy Lindstrom, and Miss Ellen V. Nash. BOARD MEMBER ABSENT: Mr. J. T. Henley, Jr. OFFICERS PRESENT: Messrs. Guy B. Agnor, Jr., County Executive and George R. St. John, County Attorney. Agenda Item No. 1. Call to Order. the Chairman, Mr. Fisher. The meeting was called to order at 8:50 P.M., by Agenda Item No. 2. Presentation of Planning Study Relating to the Merger of the Albemarle County Sheriff's Department and the Charlottesville Police Department. (NOTE: Copy of this PART I report is on file in the office of the Clerk to the Board of Super- visors.) Attending this presentation were the Albemarle County Board of Supervisors and the Charlottesville City Council. Mr. Cole Hendrix, Charlottesville City Manager, intro- duced Mr. Roy C. McLaren, Director of the Field Service Division of the Police Executive Research Forum of Washington, D.C. Mr. McLaren referred to part one of the planning study report, entitled "Major Findings and Recommendations", dated December, 1982. Mr. McLaren noted that part two of the study would be forthcoming shortly. Following a brief summary of qualifications of he and his staff, Mr. McLaren reviewed the report in full detail. Mr. McLaren noted that there were several obvious advantages to merger of the City and County police forces, those being: 3. 4. 5. 6. Greater cooperation between officers and units. Cost savings due to standardized purchasing. Cost savings due to elimination of duplication. Efficiency in developing new policies and procedures. Efficiency in training courses. Citizen benefits from establishment of efficient and effective specialized operations. Citizen benefits from increased manpower. Mr. McLaren reviewed findings from individual studies and interviews with personnel of the Albemarle County Sheriff's Department and the Charlottesville Police Department. Mr. McLaren said it was determined that the Albemarle County Sheriff's Department is badly understaffed and underfinanced; crime reporting tends to be inaccurate; personnel prac- tices are deficient and personnel turnover is high; inservice and specialized training is inadequate and there are shortages in police equipment and supplies; policy and super- visory techniques are lax; radio communication coverage is incomplete; personnel policies involving overtime pay and service training are deficient. Mr. McLaren's findings with the Charlottesville Police Department were that the department is well managed and employees are well trained. Salaries are average for the area, and policies for training, pro- cedures, records and equipment operation are all above average. It was noted in the report that "the organization, management, administrative procedures operations and equipment of the Charlottesville Police Department will serve as an excellent foundation for the combined agency." Mr. McLaren said that there are several issues which must be considered prior to consolidation; those being: 3. 4. 5. Legislation preventing loss of State Compensation Board funds. Concerns about retirement systems. Administrative authority over the consolidated agency. Funding, organization and staffing of the merged agency. Impact and phasing of the merger. The report indicates specific suggested language for presentation to the General Assembly for the preservation of State Compensation Board funds to the Albemarle County Sheriff's Department. It was noted by Mayor Buck that legislation was introduced by State Senator Michie for the continued funding of County Sheriff's Departments by the State Compensation Board following merger, but said legislation was defeated. ~r. McLaren said the report recommends the establishment of a three member committee to head the consolidated police agency, made up of the County Executive, the City Manager and a third party jointly selected by City Council and the Board of Supervisors. The basic responsibilities of this joint committee should be established by a formal agreement between the City and the County. Once the agreement is formalized, organization, staffing, structure, ranks, pay schedules, beat layouts, building facilities, and impact of such a merger on other agencies can be established. 601 February 7, 1983 (Adjourned Night Meeting) (Adjourned from February 2, 1983) Lastly, the report contained a summary of a phasing timetable for possible implemen- tation of the formation of a joint police department. Mr. Lindstrom asked what a joint police department could achieve that a separate police and sheriff's departments in the City and County presently cannot. Mr. McLaren said most of the obvious advantages are noted in the report on pages six and seven, but one major advantage would be the immediate availability of a more substantial number of men in the case of serious crime or disaster. Mr. Conover asked if the possibility of including the University of Virginia Police in a merger was studied. Mr. McLaren said that was outside of the scope of the study, but he could see no reason why this idea could not be studied in the future. Mr. Butler asked how long a period of time it would take to place Albemarle County Sheriff Department employees on an equal plateau with City Police Department employees as far as training. Mr. McLaren said he estimated between four and eighteen months, and added that first Albemarle County Sheriff Department employees would have to have training made available to them, then all employees of the joint police department could be judged on an equal basis. Discussion next revolved around the present staff capabilities and whether or not the present staff of the City and County law enforcement departments would be adequate or excessive once merged into one unit. Mr. McLaren said he felt the present City staff was adequate, the County was not. Mr. McLaren said if combined, staffing would be adequate to cover the entire area effectively. Mr. Lindstrom asked if a more detailed breakdown of financing this joint police department would be available. Mr. McLaren said it could be broken down more specifically, but t'hat the majority of the costs would be for twenty additional Sheriff's deputies as recommended in the report. Mr. McLaren said Part II of the study report would contain more specific information for the actual merger of the two departments and the implementation of that information. Agenda Item No. 3. Adjourn. At 9:55 P.M., Mr. Fisher declared the meeting adjourned.