1 cruiser totaled, 2 damaged in Jan. Three patrol cars were involved in crashes in January, including one totaled on Jan. 7 when a driver failed to stop at a blockade where officers were directing traffic on the Berlin Turnpike. A second car damaged in the same incident is back on the road. A third police vehicle was damaged on Jan. 19 when a 25-year-old suspect reportedly rammed the vehicle on the Berlin Turnpike after fleeing Meriden police. “It's never good when we’re down cars,” Deputy Police Chief Chris Ciuci said. No Berlin officers were injured in any of the incidents.
BOE passes $47.4M budget By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
a lack of funding for new cruisers has been a problem in past budgets. “… we have an aging fleet, so when it rains it pours …,” the deputy chief said. In the current budget, the department received two specialized canine vehicles. Two additional patrol vehicles were funded using money transferred from another account. One has yet to arrive. Police are requesting five vehicles in the town’s capital plan. One has already been cut. During its Feb. 4 meeting, the Town Council approved $18,649 to purchase a vehicle to replace the cruiser that was totaled on Jan. 7.
When there’s more officers on a shift than patrol cars, officers are doubled up in one vehicle, which reduces the need for backup on some calls but also means less patrol coverage.
The town also received a $15,783 insurance payout.
The town garage does a great job keeping police vehicles maintained and putting them back on the road quickly, Ciuci said, but
He believes police vehicles should be cycled out when
“I believe the department needs additional vehicles to work with … we are behind on replacing vehicles,” said Fleet Manager Jim Simons.
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See Cruisers, A12
The Board of Education passed a $47.4 million budget Monday night, trimming $500,000 off the proposal given by Superintendent Brian Benigni presented last month. Board President Richard Aroian said he’s confident that the budget will be Board of Finance Chair fairly reviewed by the Sam Lomaglio. Board of Finance, which can revise the proposal before passing it to the Town Council and subsequently the referendum on April 28.
Superintendent of Schools Brian Benigni.
“They want the same things we (want) and that’s an excellent school system,” he said. Board of Finance Chairperson Sam Lomaglio told the board that he believes supporting the school district is in the best interest of the whole town. "To have an excellent school system, I consider part of it our economics. If we don't have a very good school system the way I believe we have, then we're not going to encourage businesses and companies to move in town," he said.
Political signs outside the polling location at the Berlin American Legion during the April 30, 2019 referendum. | File photo
The school budget would still grow by $2.4 million under the board’s revisions, which constitutes a 5.4 percent increase in spending. The largest area of growth is an increase in pay and benefits the district is contractually obligated to provide, which make up $1
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million of the increase. An additional $770,000 is budgeted for new staff requests, which includes four teachers, seven paraprofessionals and a computer technician to maintain recently added security equipment.
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By Devin Leith-Yessian The Citizen
Thursday, February 13, 2020
www.berlincitizen.com
Volume 22, Number 50