augminutes

Minutes of the General Membership Meeting
May 24, 2002, 10:00 a.m.
Atlantic City Boardwalk Hall

Sgt Barry Wythe, Investigator for the Atlantic County Prosecutors Office and newly appointed Chairperson welcomed everyone and lead the Flag Salute at 10:15 a.m. He then turned the meeting over to Teresa.

Introductions:

Teresa introduced herself and recognized newly appointed Executive Board Member Joe Callavini, Director of Transportation for the Vineland Board of Education. Mr. Callavini was appointed by Freeholder Director James Sauro and replaces retired Bridgeton Police Chief Courtlandt Turner. Teresa went on to announce that Mr. Callavini will present a program he has to deter motorists from illegally passing a school bus when the flashing red lights are on at the Aug 27^th meeting.

Teresa announced that the Executive Board of the Alliance appointed several Associate Board Members to advise the board. They include: Tim Chelius, SJTPO Executive Director, Jodilyn Tofts, AAA, and NJSP Troop A Traffic Officer.

Minutes

Teresa started the meeting by referencing the Executive Board Meeting Minutes of the January 8^th and March 16^th, 2002, and the General Membership meeting on February 26th.

Ongoing Business

Update on 2002 Child Passenger Safety Program. Teresa recognized Officer Bongiovanni from the Hamilton Township Police Department as the newest instructor for the Child Passenger Safety Inspection Campaign. He completed his candidacy at the May 13^th certification course , where 20 new technicians in the region, including 7 from Cape May, 7 from Atlantic, 2 from Cumberland, and 3 from Salem County.

The 3 from Salem County are from the Salem County Sheriffs Office and will allow the Sheriffs Office to receive a Diversity Grant from the NJDHTS.

Ed OConnor has approved a small (class of 10) CPS Certification course to be taught by the Alliances instructors, Sgt Bieniakowski and Officer Bongiovanni. Mr. OConnor will monitor the course as well as another candidate instructor Lillian Ernst from Millville Rescue.

Teresa said the Boost America Campaign in Cape May County was a little slow going but going and that she would be moving into Atlantic County next. The next CPS events are at Burks Motors and Kindle Ford, Monday, June 10^th from 4 to 7.

Bicycle Safety Bowl

Teresa stated that the progress of the Bicycle Safety Bowl was very good. There were over 5,000 pamphlets distributed to participating schools. She referenced the list in the meeting packet, attached hereto.

Teresa announced Oldmans Township School as the Salem County Winner with 12,223 points, an average of 108 per student out of 125.

Buckle Up Stencil Campaign

Teresa showed the stencil to be used. It will be painted on the driveways of businesses and organizations, near exits, to remind drivers to buckle up before entering the roadways. The Atlantic County Kick Off will be June 3, 2002 at LOWES in Egg Harbor Twp. The Cape May County Kick Off will be scheduled toward the end of June, probably at HOME DEPOT in Rio Grande.

Letters have already been sent to the County Executive and Mayors asking for their participation. Participation is voluntary and free. The Alliance takes all responsibility for the work and there is a cooperative agreement with the Sheriffs Offices to use reporting inmates to paint, all the companies need to do is let the alliance know that they want it done.

Teresa mentioned an article that America is Buckling Up, But Drinking More. So that will probably be the next major push, drinking and driving.

May Mobilization

Teresa reminded those in attendance to send completed forms to her. At the present time only 2 have been sent to her. Additional copies of the form were supplied at the meeting.

Captain Cancelosi, Ventnor Police, commented that he was under the impression that forms were to be completed at the end of the month and submitted then. Teresa responded that whatever was most convenient for the departments.

Presentations

n Helmet for Life Program
Vince Jones, Atlantic County Department of Public Safety

This program involves the schools that allow children to ride their bikes to school to adopt a policy that requires them to wear a helmet. The idea is to expand the responsibility of enforcement of the NJ Helmet Law to the schools. To date there are 11 schools in Atlantic County participating. The goal is to have the school adopt a policy that requires children riding a bike to school to wear a bike helmet. It states if the child rides their bike to school, then they are responsible for riding with a helmet on, if the child does not have a helmet, they will be provided a helmet, if they come to school without a helmet, they will be given a warning, then if they are seen without the helmet they lose their privilege of riding to school on their bike.

n Enforcement Campaign

This campaign is being strictly enforced at all departments for seat belt checks and speeding. This also starts the time for DWI checkpoints and thorough inspections of vehicles. On days when there is extra manpower to dedicate the extra man to traffic enforcement, whether it is a full or half shift. A schedule had been given to keep track of the departments in the case that more can be done on Rts 9 & 30.

Sgt Barry Wythe offered additional information, saying a series of DWI Checkpoints in Galloway Twp, Egg Harbor Twp, and Mullica are starting tonite. In addition to that, the Prosecutors Office is asking for departments to dedicate the extra manpower to traffic enforcement. The Chiefs have provided his office with a list of when that manpower will be out and what they will be doing. Hamilton Twp came up with 700 hours through August. The whole , concentrating on Routes 40, 322, 30, 9 and Atlantic, Ventnor and Pacific Avenues, as a direct result from Atlantic having the highest number of fatalities in 2001. Those numbers were 66 crashes, 72 dead in 2001. To date in 2002 (Aug 27^th) we are 3 crashes less but 1 more death.

On May 2^nd , the Prosecutors Office held a training day to teach departments in Atlantic County how to handle the preliminary, administrative and statistical work to qualify and justify the checkpoints. This also allows the checkpoints and backup information to be uniform and to hold up in court. He then offered to help any other counties or departments the information.

Open Discussion

Sharane Orendas spoke of the Safety Bus and stated that the bus is available to be shown for different meetings, occasions. She said that there is still time to reserve it, but before it can be used she needs a letter stating the hours, reason and exactly what it will be used for. The bus needs two spaces (9 feet), because there is an awning to do programs outside.

Teresa presented an award to Officer Bongiovanni for his help with the Alliance meet their goals. Teresa also had a clock to present to Sheriiff Plousis but he did not attend the meeting. Also for Sgt. MacKaffee from the NJ State Police for his work with the Aggressive Driver Campaign.

Teresa spoke about the fabulous Bike Rodeo in Salem County. It was organized with different high school students from different counties who designed a village for the smaller kids to ride their tricycles through.

Teresa has mugs to present to the office staff of the United Way and sent all the students that participated a letter for their resume folder.

Tim Chelius stated that one major project the Alliance supported and helped start up that will soon be complete. They are the sidewalk projects on Route 9 in Northfield and Route 130 in Pensgrove.

SJTPO has gone through all the federally required environmental homework, engineering and design and DOT has decided to put them in there Region 4 maintenance group out of Cherry Hill and can expect them

to go to construction in next year or two. Thus, the Alliance will have had its first actual federally funded capital project completed.

Article in SJTPO Newsletter, stating that Teresa attended a convention in Florida in March, she spoke in front of the Institute of Traffic and Engineering and completely discussed the Alliance and all of the work that we do. Teresa is also scheduled to attend another convention in Cincinatti this September for the Transportation Research Board. Tim Chelius stated that the upcoming event in September is a nationwide convention that specifically is for small and medium sized communities, which is what the Traffic Safety

Fall Activities

Teresa asked if anyone had any special requests or issues to discuss about back to school. Seminars will be held when schools are closed and try to get teachers to get involved and attend. The purpose would be to let teachers know what type of safety educational material the counties have. Teresa mentioned that an application is being sent to get a booth at the Teachers Convention in Atlantic City.

Defensive Driving Courses

Teresa stated that Mr Calavini has agreed to send someone from his department to attend the NJ State Safety Council School Bus Driver Defensive Department, however that particular course has been postponed until the Spring 2003. There is also a 6/8 instructor course which Teresa will be attending.

Saved By The Seat Belt Club

Teresa stated that there are quite a few more candidates to be inducted into the club. But there is always a need for more, so if there is someone that is known or someone that can be referred to let her know.

Teresa said that the PSAs are out, there is one for Child Safety Seat and one for the Saved By The Seat Belt Channel 8 is playing them, she is currently working on Channel 40 to play it as well.