1999-02-23 Board of Selectmen Minutes

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Board of Selectmen Meeting February 23, 1999 The meeting convened at 7:00 p.m. in the Lecture Hall at the Reading Memorial High School, 62 Oakland Road, Reading, Massachusetts. Present were Chairman Bruce MacDonald, Vice Chairman Sally Hoyt, Secretary Matthew Nestor, Selectmen Camille Anthony and George Hines, Town Manager Peter Hechenbleikner and Police Chief Edward Marchand. The Board conducted a Selectmen's Forum, Cable TV call in show. At the beginning of the session, the Board asked for a briefing by Chief Marchand of an incident relating to stopping of a Drug Enforcement Agent in Reading. Marchand relayed the chronology to date. He noted that there has been no suit filed, no paper work filed, and a preliminary investigation is being conducted by the FBI. The Board conducted the call in Foruin until 9:00 p.m. at which time the Forum was adjourned and the Board reconvened in regular session. George Hines asked Chief Marchand about the second incident that was reported involving a Lynn Police Officer. Chief Marchand noted that, contrary to the report in the Boston Globe, there was no report received from the Police Officer. He did get a verbal report from Sgt. Garchinsky and Lt. Silva. He relayed the incident in which an individual came into the Reading Police Station lobby, represented himself as a Lynn Police Officer although he was not in uniform, and wanted infonnation on a location in Reading. Sgt. Garchinsky asked him for identification and asked Lt. Silva how to proceed. Lt. Silva suggested checking with the Lynn Police Department to make sure that he was an Officer. It was determined that he was. Garchinsky engaged the Officer in conversation, and led him to the location in Reading where he wanted to go. It turned out that where he wanted to go was in North Reading. That was the end of the incident. Camille Anthony asked what the training in the Police Academy is for new Officers relative to diversity and community relations. Chief Marchand will get a copy of the curriculum for that section of the trainincy, George Hines noted that the Board of Selectmen needs to be kept "in the loop" relative to major issues like this. They will develop a policy. The Board talked about how we will get closure on the Drug Enforcement Agent incident. Chief Marchand will talk to the FBI Agent who contacted him about the preliminary investigation to see if we can get closure. Camille Anthony mentioned the need for follow up on citizen complaints for traffic. Hines noted that he had attended a Parking, Traffic and Transportation Task Force meeting and was very impressed with all of the information and detail.