Council hears about children's conference
Peabody Police Chief Jeff Pohlman and Peabody-Burns Superintendent Tom Alstrom made a presentation Monday night to the Peabody City Council about their participation last month in the "Missing and Exploited Children's Conference" in Washington, D.C.
Focus of the meeting was to encourage communities to have a resource officer present in the school buildings on a regular basis to establish a presence, not just in times of trouble or crisis.
Because the local school district is small, funds are not available for a resource officer, but Pohlman and Alstrom reported they have been working on a plan to use all the Peabody officers as resource officers on a part-time basis.
"The main thing we are after," said Alstrom, "is a way to make the officers' presence a regular occurrence in the schools. We hope that the kids will go to them if there are things happening in their lives that they don't know how to handle. We want them to know its OK to talk to an officer."
"The way it is now, kids feel very obvious if they talk to the police. They're afraid their friends will think they are ratting on someone," Alstrom continued.
Alstrom said that the school board is behind the plan. He and Pohlman wanted the council to know that if their plan is implemented, police officers would be spending more time in and around the schools.
The council asked that the two return mid-summer with a progress report. Council members voiced support for the project and asked to be kept informed.
Alstrom also presented photos of the current concession stand at the park and entered into a discussion with council members about replacing the concession stand-press box with something more sturdy and up-to-date.
After discussion, the council agreed to look at funding a percentage of such a project if cost and usage questions could be firmed up. Tom Schmidt requested that Alstrom get some figures on a new building and renovation of the current structure and return to a meeting before July when the council considers budget items for the coming year.
Council members heard from Joanna Brazil about the year-end review for the Peabody Main Street Association. Peabody was given good marks for bringing the local program back up to where it needs to be. Brazil said the state review also indicated the Main Street newsletter would be recommended for a Governor's Award at the state meeting in October.
In other business:
— The council approved a $50 donation to the after-prom committee and a $100 donation to the Peabody Historical Society in memory of former mayor Muriel Wolfersperger who died Feb. 24.
— Asked City Clerk Cindy Harms to create a job description for the vacant health and safety officer position so that it can be reviewed by the council and be made available to applicants.
— Heard that Russell Atwater has resigned as head of the Peabody-Burns Rec Commission effective immediately. Atwater has been called to active duty and is being sent oversees.
— Heard from DTN Speednet that a connection with Peabody is on the March "build schedule" and that they are still actively seeking a site.
— Reviewed the liability insurance on all city-owned structures and property. The council asked Harms to seek an additional quote on the insurance before the April 1 renewal date. Currently the city's policy is with W.E. Avery Insurance.
— Scheduled a special meeting on March 18 for the purpose of discussing creating a city manager's position.
— Approved the purchase of 23 jackets for members of the fire department with the city paying half of the $632.50 total cost. New firemen will get a jacket after a year of service.
