When I first started doing Underground Town Hall and making my comments, I secretly used to say to myself, “boy do I wish just one person on the Town Council would start asking the hard questions.”

Well, I think we have someone who is asking —- Councilor Tim White. But one thing that must be kept in perspective–question government because it is the right thing to do, not because of a personal feeling.

We must realize that most of the changes brought about in our society and in this world were motivated by hate or greed or both. That is the way of the world. But there are people who believe in open and honest government. I have had to deal with my personal feelings about this police department for many years. I really try to keep things in perspective. I try to balance things out, but sometimes it may not look that way.

Hopefully soon, many of my questions will be answered and many of my feelings will be put on the table to rest once and for all. That is all I will say about that.

I always try to attend as many Town Council meetings as possible, especially during the budget. I do attend the Police Department budget, because it is not so much the Cheshire Police Department as it is a Police Department. This is the most powerful department in town. It is a para-military organization. So checks and balances must be in place and kept there. It has nothing to do with who is running the organization. Not at all. My husband could be the Police Chief and I would insist on the same standards. That is my belief and that is the duty of every citizen in this nation, to oversee and watch the government. That was the will of our founding fathers.

Someone said they are not “buying” what I am saying. I am NOT SELLING IT!!!

Now the police over the past several years has been very efficient. This year’s budget is up approximately $200,000 with the bulk of the increase ( $184,000) coming from salaries. According to the Town Manager, there is $16,000 in the non salary account.

Out of these salaries is the hiring of two new police officers to basically replace officers who have either left the department or retired. I believe the Police Chief said that in July of 2008, approximately 33.7 percent will be eligible for retirement. That is ELIGIBLE, not meaning they will all take retirement mind you.

Now the big issue the past several weeks was the topic that Councilor Tim White first brought up at a recent Town Council meeting regarding a gas use policy by municipal employees. Tim asked about the policy for all municipal employees, not the just the police department.

So I was pleased tonight to see quite a lengthy presentation by the Police Chief on just this issue. GOOD!!

Now I still do not have a scanner unfortunately but I did want to show all of you the handout that was given to everyone at the Police Budget Hearing which went from 6:30 p.m. to a little after 8 p.m. Many questions were asked about staffing, hiring, equipment use, and my favorite, the new cruiser purchases, tire wear and tear. It was great and very informative.

Right now, I want to concentrate on the big topic, the municipal gas use.

According to the”Cheshire Police Department Gas/Mileage use 2005 to 2006:

For Calendar Year 2005: Total Gallons used was 34,392: Average Gallons per month in 2005 was 2,866; Total Miles Driven in 2005 was 326,386 and Average Miles Driven Per Month in 2005 was 27,199.

In 2006: Total Gallons: 34,576; Avg. Gallons Per Month: 2,882: Total Miles Driven: 337,941: Avg. Miles Driven Per Month 28,162.

In 2007: Total gallons: 31,489: Avg. Gallons Per Month: 2,624: Total Miles Driven: 306,955; Avg. Miles Driven Per Month: 25, 580.

Jan/Feb 2008: Total Gallons: 4,969: Avg. Gallons Per Month: 2,485: Total Miles Driven 48,370: Avg. Miles Driven Per Month: 24,185.

PROJECTED TOTAL GALLONS FOR Calendar Year 2008-2009: 29,820: PROJECT TOTAL MILES DRIVEN FOR Calendar Year 2008-2009: 290,220.

FISCAL YEAR

Fiscal Year 2004/2005: Total Gallons: 39,148: Avg. Gallons Per Month, 3,262: Total Miles Driven: 359,638: Avg. Miles Driven Per Month: 29,970.

2005/2006: Total Gallons: 37,657: Avg. Gallons Per Month: 3,138: Total Miles Driven: 312,380: Avg. Miles Driven Per Month: 26,032.

2006/2007: Total Gallons: 33,003: Avg. Gallons Per Month: 2,750: Total Miles Driven: 332,111: Avg. Miles Driven Per Month: 27,676.

2007/2008: Total Gallons: 20,233: Avg. Gallons Per Month: 2,530: Total Miles Driven: 198,076: Avg. Miles Driven Per Month: 24,760.

Projected Total Gallons for Fiscal Year 2008-2009: 30,353: Projected Total Miles Driven for Fiscal Year 2008-2009: 297,116.

Now according to Lt. Jay Markella the gas pumps ( I believe he said there are two) at the Police Station is located in the north east corner of the department and is monitored by a camera. I know this to be the case because I saw it being montored when I was in the dispatch area of the police department during the tour of the station as part of the Citizens Police Academy.

Lt. Markella said up to three cameras can monitor the pump if necessary. The gas is old according to Markella but the recording system is adequate. What happens is that the two pumps are on a stand alone system with a gauge. The officer who needs to dispense gas into a police vehicle, marked or unmarked, records what the gauge says and these records are kept on a daily schedule.

Lt. Markella (whom I hope and I really mean this, goes to the pool when I am there because I would love to see this man in a bathing suit–whew), ok, enough of that Cindy!!!, said that the way the monitoring system works is that the system, which he said is very sensitive, has the Officer pulling around to the pump. The Officer must enter the vehicle ID#, the vehicle gas code and the odometer reading which automatically triggers a printout inside police headquarters.

This is something because I swear this sounds like the Madison Wisconsin gas card system I spoke about in front of the Town Council last week. Go to Home Page “Featured Video” to hear my speech on the Municipal Gas Use Policy.

A report is filed and each report has the date, time, amount of gallons pumped, which is then turned into a chart.

Now apparently the department will be using a pump and the system used by the Public Works which involves a plastic key. A number is issued for each key, so if a municipal employee decided to give his key to a non-authorized user, that municipal employee would be charged for the unauthorized use, because his or her key number would show up in the system. All for what it is worth I guess.

Now the Chief also handed out a chart of what looks like the entire CPD fleet: i.e. the marker number, the year make and model the year purchased, what department the vehicle is assigned to, total miles and 2007 miles. THANK YOU!!

A resident had a question: how much does the Town pay for gasoline? Are they exempt from state gasoline tax? Is there a bid waiver? We will find out.

I will scan this in for Wednesday, but I know Tim White will have it on his blog. What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours. Oh, let’s play that song.

WHAT A DIFFERENCE A (QUESTION) DAY MAKES!!