Darien board to talk about police coverage
DARIEN — The subject of an April police referendum could be on the Darien Village Board’s table Monday night.
Meanwhile, it is not clear how the board will resolve things with fired Police Chief Steve DeVoy.
An item on Monday’s agenda calls for approval to request a quote from the Walworth County Sheriff’s Office for providing 24-hour police protection in the village.
Dennison said board members Kurt Zipp and Cheryl Kaufenberg asked to place the item on Monday’s agenda. The Gazette was unable to reach Zipp on Friday night. Kaufenberg declined to comment.
In a non-binding April referendum, residents voted 203-152 against reducing the village police department.
The ballot read: Should the village of Darien reduce 24-hour coverage by village of Darien Police, therefore reducing the village of Darien budget and tax levy?
Public safety makes up 47 percent of the village’s annual budget, according to a referendum document Administrator Marc Dennison provided to the Gazette. Police protection makes up 90 percent of the public safety budget, according to the document.
The village budgeted $540,000 for police protection in 2009, Dennison previously told the Gazette.
The referendum question was intended as a planning tool as the board looked to cut costs in the village, Zipp said in April.
The intent was not to eliminate the police department or even eliminate 24-hour per day police protection, Zipp said. The intent was to gauge how “passionate” residents were that village officers provide police services, Zipp said in April.
Also on Monday’s agenda:
-- Village engineer Brandon Foss will talk about the sewer-televising project. Engineers have taken video footage of parts of the village sewers to help village officials plan for reconstruction or repairs.
-- Board members will give Dennison suggestions to update the village employee manual.
Not on the agenda:
-- The board met Thursday in closed session to get advice from legal counsel about the legal issues “related to the disciplinary proceedings against” DeVoy.
DeVoy was suspended with pay in December and fired in March. But he still is getting paid pending a hearing that would make the firing official.
The board did not take action in open session Thursday, attorney Mark Hazelbaker said.
On Thursday night, Hazelbaker said a resolution generated in the closed-session meeting could be on Monday’s agenda.
But the resolution did not get to Dennison on Friday in time to be put on the agenda, Dennison said.
Sep 21, 2009 at 8:51 a.m.
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How many Grants have we gotten since DeVoy has been gone? And where are the computors that he got for us (for free) not in the new car which was purchased without board approval. Where are the new rifles he got the village (for free)nobody has even been trained to use them. Maybe if the vindictive board members would loosen the strings on their puppet,maybe he could do a good job. As stated at the last police committee meeting,"Danz is looking into personel proceedures" The VA should be writing the Personel proceedures for the depts. not the Attorney.
Administrator:: one who administers especially business, school, or governmental affairs
Sep 20, 2009 at 7:29 p.m.
Sep 20, 2009 at 7:13 p.m.
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NCBOY:YADA YADA YADA.
Sep 20, 2009 at 9:31 a.m.
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From down here it looks like the same old Devoy lovers that are always on the blog. From what I read on line the V A has done more for Darien the last 10 months than Devoy did in the last 20 years. The board is asking for a quote, their not hiring the county to take over police protection of the village. Can't you people read? If it was a roof for a building you would want to know what 2 or 3 other firms would charge for the job.
Sep 20, 2009 at 7:25 a.m.
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NO BODY WANTS TO WORK FOR DARIEN....
Sep 20, 2009 at 6:37 a.m.
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Doesn’t it seem kind of odd that Hazelbaker said he had a resolution generated at Thurs. Meeting, but Dennison says he didn't receive it on time for Friday’s agenda? Was Dennison not at this meeting? Boy, the plot thickens people.
Correct me if I am wrong, but why does the Gazette even talk to Zipp, thought we all voted for EE for President? April couldn't get here soon enough, I am sure the people have figured KZ out by now.
Sure spending allot of money to save a little bit of money. And yet our taxes are still rising and the sewers are crumbling. Instead of messing with our personal safety of our family’s and neighbors, maybe we should contract out lawn mowing and get rid of some high paid and heavily insured employees.
Sep 19, 2009 at 11:41 p.m.
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taz -
what do you mean "if they can change the vote on police coverage"? Nobody can change peoples votes!
Sep 19, 2009 at 10:30 p.m.
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The village residents spoke with the referendum..WE WANT 24 HOUR POLICE PROTECTION! No offense to the county, but we want our local department!
It's even in the NEW comprehensive plan to keep our police department!
Zipp and Kaufenberg need to go!
Sep 19, 2009 at 9:51 p.m.
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If they can change the vote on police coverage even when people voted to keep it they need to vote to shut down the board and all members. Because if they start writing and changing the laws the village don!t need a board.I guess Russia is back.How come the town don!t have all these problems.If a real judge got hold of this he would put all in jail. And the cops and the board members that are in breaking the law need to be fired and made to step down.They are only human but they should set a standard for the rest of us to look up to.The children of this place don!t have a chance.
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Sep 19, 2009 at 7:08 p.m.
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There is a new agenda that was issued and it IS on for a vote Monday night! Everyone needs to get their butts to the meeting to protest the village going to a hearing AND the elimination of our police department and contracting with the county!
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