Police Captain Michael McCabe (WNG File Photo)
WESTFIELD – In introducing the Police Department budget of $7,923,336, Police Captain Michael McCabe said, “There are no major surprises at all. Year after year, we come in fairly clean and accurate. Probably, the most contentious things are how we are going to pay for personnel on the expense side.”
McCabe said discretionary items under POS are all well within historical and previous years confines, with the exception of the vehicle account. “This time, going through the Mayor, we have three vehicles. I implore you guys to leave it as it is,” McCabe said.
Finance sub-committee chair Daniel Allie remarked that one of the major impacts last year was to overtime.
“It should be fairly close,” McCabe said, describing some of the personnel issues they faced that impacted overtime. He said of 64 patrolmen, they had nine out with long-term injuries. He said they did their best by using 12 reserve officers to augment their staffing.
McCabe said reserve officers are new, and may have aspirations to join the force. They have been through field training which comes out of the training budget. He said between the training account of $60,000, and overtime at $232,000, the total impact in FY18 was $290,000.
McCabe said eight officers are still out. “Hopefully, we get some of those officers back,” he said. He said three officers went for recent surgeries with an expected six to eight months of recovery. “It’s been an interesting few months,” he said, adding that 12% of the force has been impacted.
Allie asked about officers who were called up for military service last year. “Still impacts us,” McCabe said, adding that some are called up on longer deployments, and some over weekends.
“If you have five on long-term, and five on weekend callups, that leaves us in a deficit,” McCabe said, explaining that by contract the station has to be filled to “minimum manning,” and not by reserves. He said they also use no more than two reserve officers in terms of public safety aspect of experience.
“What’s your opinion on the new marijuana law,” asked Ward 3 Councilor Andrew K. Surprise, adding whether the 3% local option, could be diverted to the Police Department for more police cruisers.
McCabe said they can recover money for calls for service, specifically for police training in terms of drug recognition and awareness. He said as far as the claim that no one has ever been killed by a person on marijuana, the drug has never been recognized as an intoxicant before. He said there is a hidden cost of $350 to $400 per shift per attendee to a workshop, that they may be able to recover.
McCabe also said that voters enacted the laws before the legislators had their act together.
At-large Councilor Matthew Emmershy asked whether the Police Department had people going home with vehicles.
“Several people – If you are an administrator such as myself, you are considered to be on call 24/7. If I get called, I have to show up, which means I have to show up every time the phone rings,” he said. McCabe listed the captains, dog officer, the Chief. “(There are) probably four of us that do that. Maybe the detective on call takes the vehicle home,” he said.
McCabe also presented the Animal Control budget of $221,237, which he called “status quo.” He said there are three full-time animal control officers who are tasked with “an incredible menu of things they are responsible for and do a very good job at it.”
McCabe said their budget is lean, and said they’ve been able to get over some of the budgetary issues. He said Westfield Animal Control is now the “epicenter, the model for most of the animal control in the area,” and serves several surrounding towns, including Easthampton, Southampton and West Springfield.
“I know you guys can’t add money; but if you could, I would suggest adding it to POS (purchase of services) in Animal Control,” which he said is $40,000, and “very tight as it is.”
In response to a question, McCabe said the money raised by Animal Control, including $10,000 paid by West Springfield goes back into the general fund.
“They hold their breath, and hope that nothing goes wrong. If it does, look to the Mayor,” commented Allie.
“They would look to you. It would come to you to appropriate the money,” McCabe said.
McCabe added that they are in pretty good shape, with an operational fleet for their members for the first time; something that works. He said those vehicles came through the Mayor’s office. “I can’t compliment him enough,” he said.
Surprise asked since they contract with other communities, does the city apply for grants for animal control. McCabe said they do, but they are usually only for the animals themselves. Mayor Sullivan said on the Thursday’s City Council agenda is the acceptance of a grant for $1,000 from Missing Dogs Massachusetts Board for identification chips.
“Our animal control officers do look for grants. Lori Charette is actively looking for grants all the time,” McCabe said.
Ward 2 Councilor Ralph J. Figy asked how many more years there are on the Westfield Animal Shelter building lease. Mayor Sullivan said the city is on a first five year with an option to renew, and has seven more years.
