City debates security costs

Police: Officers stretched too thin at events, city needs money

“It is only becoming more burdensome to work within these restrictions and staff critical situations.”

— Lorain police Capt. Roger Watkins

Lorain could add two community gatherings to the list of city sponsored events that don’t have to pay fees for insurance and police.

However, Lorain police command staff say auxiliary officers are stretched too thin and the city needs money to pay to ensure public safety.

On Oct. 9, Lorain City Council’s Police, Fire and Legislative Committee considered updating the city list of parades and special events.

The full Council will consider the issue at its next regular meeting Oct. 16.

In the proposal, Cinco de Mayo and Waterfront Winterfest would be added permanently to the city’s Memorial Day parade and International Festival parade as events that organized, maintained and operated by the city.

The designation is a potential money-saver.

Ward 4 Councilman and committee Chairman Greg Argenti noted the organizers would not have to pay fees associated with police and insurance.

To hold an event, planners must get a city permit costing $300 and put down a security deposit of $1,000.

Parades also must carry an insurance policy with at least $1 million in coverage for property damage or injuries.

In the original legislation, Cinco de Mayo and Winterfest are considered citysponsored events in 2017 and 2018, allowing organizers time to raise money for fees and insurance.

Argenti suggested leaving the event list as is, while Ward 1 Councilman Brian Gates supported adding Cinco de Mayo and Winterfest for a total of four city sponsored events.

Gates called for the up or down vote by the full Council.

Argenti noted in a letter to Council, Lorain police Capt. Roger Watkins asked the board to consider a shortage of auxiliary police officers is a primary reason in limiting the number to two city sponsored events and parades.

The fees are needed to cover full time police officers when they are needed to cover events, said Argenti, citing the police concerns.

“The Lorain Police Auxiliary is only now renewing its ranks and they are still restricted by the Department of Labor on the number of hours they work each month,” Watkins said.

The auxiliary officers increasingly are being tasked by the Lorain Police Department and other city departments, he said.

“It is only becoming more burdensome to work within these restrictions and staff critical situations,” such as traffic crashes, flooding, power outages and fires, Watkins said.

“If the Auxiliary would be unable to staff an event/ incident, Lorain police officers would have to take their place, very likely at an overtime rate of pay,” he said.

In discussion, Ward 3 Councilwoman Pamela Carter asked the Juneteenth parade to be added to the city sponsored events.

Lorain had a large number of parades and pared that down to a small number, but the city is diverse geographically and ethnically, so Cinco de Mayo, Waterfront Winterfest and Juneteenth should be added, said Councilman-at-Large Mitch Fallis.

The Cinco de Mayo parade averages 95 groups, including schools, community groups and local elected officials, said Ward 6 Councilman Angel Arroyo Jr.

Arroyo also supported adding the city events and for the Lorain police to participate.

“These are events for the people, and now we’re trying to say that we’re going to limit events for the people,” he said. “These events are heavily participated in and have a diverse population that participates in these events.”

As a money and time saver, Councilman-at-Large Joe Koziura suggested eliminating the auxiliary officers providing a security checkpoint at Lorain Municipal Court on the second floor of City Hall when auxiliary officers also are security screeners at the main entrance of the building.

Safety-Service Director Dan Given, speaking for the Police Department, said the issue is that Lorain has fewer auxiliary officers and Fair Labor and Standards Act, which limits how often auxiliary officers can work.

Less than a year after Council approved the fees, Council is considering adding events — and could add more than just two, Given said.

But it is a dollars and cents issue, he said.

“And we’re forgetting the premise of, we don’t have the auxiliary officers to deal with the situation,” Given said. “If we don’t have auxiliary, we’re going to put regular, licensed patrol officers out there.

“So, if we’re going to do this, I just want you to be aware, make sure you fund the budget.”

It is possible to have celebrations that are not a drain on city resources, Given added.

In public comment, city residents Colin Lehman and Bill Madanski supported keeping the city sponsored parades at two.

Council also heard from Inez James about the Juneteenth celebration, Ward 1 write-in candidate Kyriece Brooks, Cinco de Mayo parade Chairman David Flores and resident Barry Knicely.

“These events are heavily participated in and have a diverse population that participates in these events.”

— Ward 6 Councilman Angel Arroyo Jr.